Membership Matters: Insights from Effective Churches on New Member Classes and Assimilation [Hardcover]

Chuck Lawless (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 9, 2005

Insights from Effective Churches on New Member Classes and Assimilation Findings from a national study to improve membership classes and to motivate current members into active ministry How do churches move members---both old and new--- into ministry? Many church staff and lay leaders know they need to start new member classes as a point of entry into their churches but don't know how. This book is based on a national study of effective churches and shows how growing churches implement new member classes and motivate their members into ministry. Membership Matters is designed to be a guide for church leaders wanting to start or improve a membership class. It includes models for classes and examples of resources such as church covenants, class schedules, and lesson outlines. It also gives direction on motivating uninvolved members to participate in ministry. One chapter chronicles an ongoing discussion among pastors of growing churches that are effectively motivating members to do ministry.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Insights from Effective Churches on New Member Classes and Assimilation Findings from a national study to improve membership classes and to motivate current members into active ministry How do churches move members—both old and new— into ministry? Many church staff and lay leaders know they need to start new member classes as a point of entry into their churches but don’t know how. This book is based on a national study of effective churches and shows how growing churches implement new member classes and motivate their members into ministry. Membership Matters is designed to be a guide for church leaders wanting to start or improve a membership class. It includes models for classes and examples of resources such as church covenants, class schedules, and lesson outlines. It also gives direction on motivating uninvolved members to participate in ministry. One chapter chronicles an ongoing discussion among pastors of growing churches that are effectively motivating members to do ministry.

About the Author

Chuck Lawless is professor and senior associate dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served as a pastor for almost twenty years, and is the author of Spiritual Warfare: Biblical Truth for Victory, Discipled Warriors: Healthy Churches Winning Spiritual Warfare, Making Disciples through Mentoring, Serving in Your Church's Prayer Ministry, and Eating the Elephant. Dr. Lawless speaks extensively around the country.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (August 9, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310262860
• ISBN-13: 978-0310262862
• Product Dimensions: 0.9 x 5.2 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,581 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #76 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Ministry & Church Leadership > Church Institutions & Organizations

More About the Author

Chuck Lawless is professor and senior associate dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served as a pastor for almost twenty years, and is the author of Spiritual Warfare: Biblical Truth for Victory, Discipled Warriors: Healthy Churches Winning Spiritual Warfare, Making Disciples through Mentoring, Serving in Your Church's Prayer Ministry, and Eating the Elephant. Dr. Lawless speaks extensively around the country.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and practical September 27, 2005

By Scott A. Blue

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've known Chuck since he was my grader in Thom Rainer's "Introduction to Church Growth" class at Southern Seminary in the Fall of 1995. During my own M.Div. and Ph.D. work, he became more than a grader. Chuck became my friend.

I'm currently serving as chairman of my home church's Long-range Planning Committee. One area in which we've identified a great need for improvement is in our new member orientation and current member commitment and service. I consider it providential that in researching books to aid in our task, I came across Lawless' work on those very subjects. I read "Membership Matters" over two days, taking copious notes in the margins and underlying liberally.

Few books address membership classes and church member assimilation. Thom Rainer's "High Expectations" called churches to ask more from members as a means of increasing church health and commitment. Lawless' book moves a step further by providing a practical guide for church pastors and leaders to design and implement membership classes, not only to better incorporate new members, but also to inspire older, non-serving members to get involved in ministry service.

Buy this book. Digest it. Discuss it. But more importantly, put its suggestions into practice.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent -- Loaded WithHelpful Information! June 27, 2006

By David R. Bess VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is THE book to own for a pastor or church leader who needs a resource on new member classes. I've seen several approaches described in various places, but nothing until now that brings the numerous concepts together in one cover. In addition to sound advice in the narrative, there are 15 appendices that offer sample forms and outlines for nearly every step of the new member assimilation process.

Lawless has hit a "home run" here -- for me this title is a keeper!

5.0 out of 5 stars STOP THE CONFUSION #### EFFECTIVE INSIGHT#####HOW TOO IMPLICATE####### February 7, 2013

By DR. Randy

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Great Wisdom revealed .This book membership matters is a GREAT TOOL to help the BODY OF CHRIST GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR>>>>> CHRIST JESUS<<<<<