Customer Reviews

Pouring New Wine into Old Wineskins: How to Change a Church Without Destroying It

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The author quotes Barna to tell us that it is easier to start a new church than to attempt to resurrect and old one. This being the case, one wonders what might be the advantages of trying to pour new wine into old wineskins. The question itself is presented in the opening chapter of the book, but it is never really addressed until the very end of the book where it is summarily dismissed. We are given a listing of the problems faced in trying to change the church without ever answering the fundamental question of whether we should even be trying to change it.

Throughout the book the reader is given to opportunity to look over the shoulder of Pastor Gary and his attempt to bring change to Chapel Hill Community Church. This is used as a springboard in each chapter to catapult us into the next series of tactics and strategies on change. Fundamental to the process of change is the person of change. The reader is invited to compare the qualities of a successful change agent with his own personality to see whether he "measures up."

The work is highly useful is setting forth necessary steps in bringing about change. By utilizing real-life examples, we are treated not only to the theoretical, but to the flesh and bone practicality of change. If there is a downside to the book, it is perhaps in not stressing what can be the disadvantages in attempting to bring change or in attempting to bring it too hastily. We are told on page 118 that the average pastoral tenure among Protestants is 3.7 years. It is likely that some of these are cases where change was attempted far too rapidly.

On pages 49-50 we are treated to a wonderful parable of animals attempting to function outside the realm of their gift. I personally have a tendency to see the need for evangelism and feel as though I ought to be doing more in this area. But the Lord has gifted me primarily as a teacher and I do my best evangelism when I am functioning in this role.

The wise leader will use the nostalgia and the difficult circumstances as a foundation to build a better tomorrow... The pastor calls for a return, not to the "good old days," but to the Biblical values that made the old days good (Page 131).

Malphurs shines again in this volume regarding how to be a church change agent without destroying the congregation. I have yet to read a title Malphurs has written that was not worth the purchase price. In this book, the author analyzes change from several different perspectives, and then offers his insights on how and when to affect it.

I recommend this title to any pastor or any other full-time staff person who is wanting to introduce change into an established church congregation.

Pouring New Wine into Old Wineskins by Aubrey Malphurs is an enlightening book for pastors
and consultants who want to face and deal with change. The thesis is that we need to promote
change in a planned and incremental way. We are challenged to enlist leaders for buy-in to our
goals, knowing that there are early adopters, middle adopters, late adopters, and never adopters.