The Big Idea and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more


or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
or
Amazon Prime Free Trial required. Sign up when you check out. Learn More
Kindle Edition
 
   
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
The Big Idea: Aligning the Ministries of Your Church through Creative Collaboration (Leadership Network Innovation Series)
 
 
Start reading The Big Idea on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

The Big Idea: Aligning the Ministries of Your Church through Creative Collaboration (Leadership Network Innovation Series) [Paperback]

Dave Ferguson (Author), Eric Bramlett (Author), Jon Ferguson (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

List Price: $18.99
Price: $12.97 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $6.02 (32%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Only 6 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).
Want it delivered Tuesday, January 31? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition --  
Paperback $12.97  
Audible Audio Edition, Unabridged $14.95 or Free with Audible 30-day free trial

Book Description

Leadership Network Innovation Series January 23, 2007
Community Christian Church embraced the Big Idea and everything changed. They decided to avoid the common mistake of bombarding people with so many 'little ideas' that they suffered overload. They also recognized that leaders often don't insist that the truth be lived out to accomplish Jesus' mission. Why? Because people's heads are swimming with too many little ideas, far more than they can ever apply. The Big Idea can help you creatively present one laser-focused theme each week to be discussed in families and small groups. The Big Idea shows how to engage in a process of creative collaboration that brings people together and maximizes missional impact. The Big Idea can energize a church staff and bring alignment and focus to many diverse church ministries. This book shows how the Big Idea has helped Community Christian Church better accomplish the Jesus mission and reach thousands of people in nine locations and launch a church planting network with partner churches across the country. This book is part of the Leadership Network Innovation Series.

Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this book with Exponential: How You and Your Friends Can Start a Missional Church Movement (Exponential Series) $12.91

The Big Idea: Aligning the Ministries of Your Church through Creative Collaboration (Leadership Network Innovation Series) + Exponential: How You and Your Friends Can Start a Missional Church Movement (Exponential Series)


Editorial Reviews

Review

'One of the Best Preaching Books of 2007! The Big Idea offers an abundance of ideas on planning and developing a 'big idea' model in the local church. This book is packed with solid and helpful ideas, and the 'big idea' of the book is one that churches should carefully consider trying in their own setting.' -- Preaching magazine

(Preaching magazine )

From the Publisher

The Leadership Network Innovation Series presents real-life case studies and insights from leading practitioners and pioneering churches that are successfully navigating the ever-changing streams of spiritual renewal in today's culture. Each book in this series will feature ministry stories about churches who are doing authentic ministry in innovative and healthy ways and will equip you to do the same.

Product Details

  • Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  • Paperback: 208 pages
  • Publisher: Zondervan (January 23, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0310272416
  • ISBN-13: 978-0310272410
  • Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #377,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Authors

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

 

Customer Reviews

14 Reviews
5 star:
 (9)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars So Good, February 6, 2007
This review is from: The Big Idea: Aligning the Ministries of Your Church through Creative Collaboration (Leadership Network Innovation Series) (Paperback)
I had a hunch that this book would be good. Especially from a "practical" standpoint. But I was taken back how the authors were able to weave theology & missionality within the context of The Big Idea. Therefore the book, in my opinion, had an even a deeper impact than I was expecting. I also enjoy the fact that the book was written by men who are actively engaged in the process. It's not a history book about how they built a multi-site mega church and planted multiple churches in some of the least-church cities in America (Boston & NYC) 10 years ago. These boys are living within the mess and complexities of the Jesus mission via the local church. Which I think adds so much power and purpose to the book.

I also really like the "adaptability" of the book. It's more fluid than stoic, and every church can take the ideas and principles and tweak them for their local community and environments.
This book can also "cross-pollinate" to various "streams" of church and even the business world. Whether your a mega-church, emerging church, church plant, or traditional/contemporary church, at the end of the day if you do a weekly gathering, then this book can quickly help you process that gathering and be more effective. And if the principles are followed, I think a lot of churches will see an overall improvement that will create a healthy local church culture. Good planning will help cause less stress and conflict, and increase the value of the church in their local community as we (church) strive to truly do our very best to communicate the Jesus story.

I think this book should be apart of every pastors library. Matter-of-fact, I think all church planting organizations should add this text to their "must reads" for future planters, it's that helpful. I also like the fact the The Big Idea calls churches to be more effective, to become good stewards of our time and resources and to put our best foot forward as we try to serve the world and move the mission of Jesus forward.

You can also check out The BIG IDEA Resources & The BIG IDEA Blog
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Overcome Information Glut & Decision Paralysis at Church, August 17, 2007
This review is from: The Big Idea: Aligning the Ministries of Your Church through Creative Collaboration (Leadership Network Innovation Series) (Paperback)
I am an information junkie. I read newspapers, magazines, books, and blogs. I watch TV and listen to talk radio. I consider myself a well-informed guy. But being well-informed is not the same thing as being wise or effective. Indeed, too much information can paralyze our ability to make decisions.

Our churches often contribute to this glut of information. The pastor preaches on one topic, Sunday school teachers teach on another, the worship leader sings new songs with multiple verses, and the announcement guy rambles on with the church's upcoming events. No wonder parishioners get stuck in their spiritual lives. They have too much information to act on. They know more than they can do.

In their new book, The Big Idea, Dave Ferguson, Jon Ferguson, and Eric Bramlett tackle the topic of information-glutted, decision-paralyzed churches. They argue that churches should teach one big idea per week, and that this big idea should be reinforced in all the church's venues (worship services, Sunday school classes, and small groups). They demonstrate the multiple benefits of the big-idea approach. And they offer practical guidelines for how to implement this model of ministry in your church based on their own experience.

Do you want to make more and better followers of Jesus Christ? Do you want to see a greater connection between people's faith and works? Then, as The Big Idea's subtitle puts it, "focus the message" so that you can "multiply the impact." Teach your parishioners one thing a week. They can do more with less.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Review: "The Big Idea: Focus The Message, Multiply The Impact", February 3, 2007
By 
This review is from: The Big Idea: Aligning the Ministries of Your Church through Creative Collaboration (Leadership Network Innovation Series) (Paperback)
Review: "The Big Idea: Focus The Message, Multiply The Impact"

A Leadership Network Innovation Series by
Dave Ferguson, Jon Ferguson, and Eric Bramlett

A Review by Dr. Henry Judy

It has been a long time since there was a book published that has the God ordained ability to impact the church in such a huge way as The Big Idea. For a long time, I have been saying that the people in churches today for the most part are just NOT getting it. We think it is a program problem but it is not. It is a process problem and Dave Ferguson, with Jon Ferguson, and Eric Bramlett have not only brought the problem to the forefront, but provided a process for correction. Hence the concept of "The Big Idea."

Now what is paramount is that this process is not hypothetical in nature. It is a proven concept being used with great success by Community Christian Church in Naperville, Ill. So it works and it will work in every single church out there that is serious about the Jesus Mission. How do we know it works? It is measurable. Not only in terms of individual transformations but in terms of fruitful reproduction of other churches.

The Big idea is the gasoline that will be the foundation for life change in a new movement of reproducing churches. It is Spirit written, Spirit, conceived, and Spirit applicable and if you are serious about wanting to reach people for Jesus and have their lives transformed, then you will devour this book like Momma's Sweet Potato Pie.

Buy This Book and put its principles to work if you want to be a part of people's lives being transformed.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews











Only search this product's reviews



Inside This Book (learn more)
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums



So You'd Like to...


Create a guide


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject