Customer Reviews

It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It

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This book really should be read by church leaders and lay people alike. I'm not the head of any ministry at my church, but "It" convicted me in how I think about the ministries I do participate in, and encouraged me to go out and get more of "it" and give more of "it".

My only gripe about the book is that even though Groeschel states "it" is not about money or the number of people, the churches he profiled as "it" churches are all big churches with thousands of people and well known pastors. He frequently quotes Bill Hybels and Andy Stanley, pastors of BIG "It" churches. So, even if Groeschel believes that small churches can have "It" he doesn't produce the evidence. Although he says this is not the case, Groeschel's examples seem to say you don't have "it" unless your church grows into a group of thousands of people.

Some ministries have it. Some don't. Most churches want it. Few have it. When a church has it, everyone can tell, according to Craig Groeschel in this book. The author says that he doesn't really know what it is, but his book goes on to talk about where it comes from, what contributes to it, and, if you have lost it, how to get it back and guard it.

A church which has it has a contagiously exciting atmosphere, with many people coming to Jesus and lives being changed. One of the things which contributes to it is an effective vision. Another contributing factor is divine focus, where a church concentrates on doing a few things well, rather than a lot of things poorly. Other contributing factors include unmistakeable cameraderie, innovative minds, willingness to fall short, hearts focused outwards, and kingdom-mindedness.

The book is written in an engaging anecdotal manner, filled with the author's quirky humour. It is fairly short, but addresses a serious issue in an insightful manner. God's special favour is something that can't be controlled or predicted, but there are various things which we can do and other things which we can avoid doing in order to make it more likely. I highly recommend the book.

Craig offers no "easy 1-2-3 steps" to church success, but is right on target.

I've been a minister for almost 40 years in churches of all sizes and have found that the "IT" that Craig talks about does come and go. Often as ministers and church leaders we were so busy that we didn't realize "IT" had left.

Fun to read as well as thought-provoking.

I've got a stack of books on my reading list right now, but this one jumped to the top. While it's a well written book, it might be more accurately described as a candid conversation with one incredible leader who wants you to get it. It's like being at a smaller leadership session or an intimate event where the speaker shares nuggets of truth from their experience that totally blow open your perspective and challenge you to make some changes right away. You experience it with the leader, as opposed to hearing it from them. It's that kind of book. Engaging, insightful, funny, truthful and challenging. The book has "it."

If you haven't purchased a copy yet let me encourage you not just to buy one, but go ahead and bless your team with their own copy!

Craig Groeschel has it absolutely correct in his study of "IT" and how churches have it, lose it, and can get again. Great read and eye opener for the church body, staff, and everyone involved.

Craig Groeschel is one in a million. He is one of today's Christian leaders who simply gets "it." Are You truly trying to be a "legit" Christian organization? Now is YOUR time to read "it" and become "it"! This book will change everything you thought about organized religion. You WILL finally get "it" and become more than you could ever imagine!

Have you ever seen a church or a ministry that just seemed to have "it?" There's huge numerical growth, lots of people becoming Christians, crazy innovation... Whatever the reasons, there's something really special going on.

And you may not know what "it" is, but you know it when you see it.

Craig Groeschel doesn't try to tell the readers of his latest book, It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It, what "it" is--he readily admits that he doesn't know. But he does offers some practical insight into what it means to be a ministry with "it" primarily from his experience as the pastor of LifeChurch.tv.

There's a lot to like in this book, particularly Groeschel's candor. He's extremely open about his failures in ministry, particularly when it comes to getting distracted by the things that really don't matter.

"I believed we needed our own building and all the other things real churches have--like a sports ministry, concerts, conferences and our own church van. I thought those important elements would give us it. Then we'd be a real church. Little did I realize, we already had it. God was doing something very special. Lost people were being found. Found people were growing. The church was spiritually vibrant. All without any of the things I thought necessary" (pp. 61-62).

He goes on to say that eventually the church accumulated all those things he dreamed of--the building, the sports ministry, the conferences & concerts. Even the church van! "Then one day I realized that everything I'd always wanted was slowing killing everything we already had. Our church had it and we didn't know it," he writes on page 62. Programming that didn't align with the vision of the church nearly ended it.

Perhaps my favorite chapter in the book is all about a kingdom-mindset. Too often, there's a temptation to see other ministries and churches as competition, and rather than rejoice in their success, we make snarky comments (and sometimes accuse them of not being "real" Christians because they don't do things like we do). It's a divisive and heartbreaking attitude.

But ministries with it won't ultimately succumb to this. They're far more concerned with what God's doing everywhere than only what he's doing in their own ministry.

"Those who have it know it is not about them. It is not about their personal names. It is not about Willow Creek Community Church. It is not about North Point, Elevation Church, Newspring Church, Mars Hill, Vintage Faith, First Baptist, Wesley United Methodist, Lord of Life Lutheran, Holy Ghost Temple of Righteous Praise, or whatever your church is called. It is not about your student ministry, your children's ministry, your new logo or website. And it is certainly not about your name. It is about Jesus" (p. 144). Amen!

There's one thing that really drives me up the wall about Groeschel's writing. It's that it is very... cute. He tries really hard to be funny, frequently inserting parenthetical statements for humorous effect. Sometimes I got a good laugh, but more often than not the humor fell flat and wound up being distracting. There was honestly just too much.

Curiously, Groeschel's book seems to give the impression that a church or ministry with "it" will always be experiencing astounding numerical growth. Every example in the book of a church with "it" is a church that's exploding numerically. They're places where (as far as I can tell) Jesus' name is made great, and their success is worthy of praise.

But what does it mean for churches and leaders that are faithful to their calling, who point people to Jesus, love & serve their community as best they can... but their ministries are full of toil and difficulty?

I can't help but be reminded of Hebrews 11. The author writes of the Old Testament saints, men like Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets "who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight" (Heb 11:32-34).

That's a powerful testimony to their faith, to be sure.

But then the tone shifts:

"Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated--of whom the world was not worthy--wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth" (Heb. 11:35b-38, emphasis mine).

The world was not worthy of these unnamed saints who gave their lives as a testimony to Christ. They were faithful up until death.

Maybe that's what "it" truly is.

It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It is a very helpful and practical book on leadership. While not everything may be applicable and some content might be debatable, it's a book that's worth your time reading.

This is one of the most contemporary looks at spiritual balance in churches written today. Few churches really have IT, all churches want IT. What is the difference? Groeschel explains in simple, understandable terms. A must read for every church in America!

If you are a church leader, or a leader who is a Christian, you must have this book. The book is an observation of churches who have "it". If you are looking for a formula, don't look here. Formulas don't contain it. The book shows you what it takes to have it. Don't go without it.

This is a motivational book about leadership and development in the church. The author is Craig Groeschel who planted the LifeChurch.TV. This was an successful plant in the Oklahoma City area. He is more of an emergent church leader and author. The book does not bring new insights into church leadership but the book does provide overwhelming motivation to reach out into the world for Christ. The book provides some practical reminders of the need for team work, humility, vision, trust, and passion for Christ. The book is a easy read which will motive the reader during some down time in the day. The stories in the book are excellent and Craig is honest in his approach to ministry. He talks about the ups and downs of leading a congregation. His book "Confessions of a Pastors" was excellent too. This book will provide the discouraged preacher some encouragement to continue to be aggressive in reaching souls within the community. For light read, during a dark week, this book will help. And maybe at the end of the book you will discover what "IT" real is.