The simple revolution is here. From the design of Apple products to Google's uncluttered homepage, simple ideas are changing the world.
Now in paperback, multi-awarded #1 national bestseller Simple Church guides Christians back to the simple gospel-sharing methods of Jesus. No bells or whistles required. With insights based on case studies of 400 American churches, Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger prove the disciple-making process is often too complex. Simple churches thrive by taking four ideas to heart:
Clarity. Movement. Alignment. Focus.
Simple Church examines each idea, clearly showing why it is time to simplify. This updated trade paper edition includes a new chapter with further insights the authors have gained through hundreds of conversations with church leaders since this landmark book's original release.
Simple Church
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Thom S. Rainer is president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, one of the largest Christian resource companies in the world. He is also a best-selling author and leading expert in the field of church research. Rainer and his wife, Nellie Jo, have three grown sons and three grandchildren and live in Nashville, Tennessee.
Eric Geiger serves as executive pastor of Christ Fellowship, a large and growing multicultural church comprised of more than seventy nationalities near Miami, Florida. He and his wife, Kaye, have one daughter, Eden.
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More About the Author
Thom S. Rainer (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, Tennessee. He was founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His many books include Transformational Church, Essential Church, and Simple Church.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Rupricht
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have mixed feelings about this book. There are a number of places that prompted thoughts and notes, and there were some genuinely good points made along the way. But taken as a whole I couldn't help but feel that the end product of the kind of simplification suggested here would be just that: a product. While the concept sounds great - simplify! - the whole process left me feeling what a souless franchise this would create - highly efficient, growing numerically (according to the data), and possessing a vibrancy of the type one expects from large crowds - but reminiscent of a dozen other bland franchised concepts.
The authors seem to be well intentioned, and their enthusiasm for their hypothesis is commendable, if expected. But it smacks a little of "fad" in the way Wagner's Church Growth craze did in the 80s.
To be fair, there are some good practical points made throughout, but honestly, I sat there thinking: "someone had to write a book about this?!" Most of it is just common sense of the type that was around when preachers could preacher, pastors actually pastored, and evangelists evangelized. [e.g. "Leaders should outline the simple process but then allow ministry leaders to implement with freedom and creativity," p175]. Mindblowing! Somebody write that down!
The real issue for me, however, is the inescapable emphasis on moving people through the production line of church that all this ultimately leads to. Perhaps that's a little harsh given that the authors would describe their production line as discipleship, a process that all of us are truly after. But it comes across more as involvement in the church rather than being a disciple of Jesus ["The church is designed to move people to greater levels of commitment and relationships," cited in an example of a succesfully simple church].
I'm trying to imagine Jesus getting together with the Acts church leadership and telling them they need to market the message more clearly, they must get it to "roll off their tongues with ease. It must make its way into the hallway discussions, lunches with key leaders, and the meetings." Perhaps a fill-in-the-blanks test would help (p128). State the same phrases; use the same vocabulary. Now, repeat that several times till we're all on the same page.
I could go on. The book is riddled with examples because, well, this is the method. Nice in the corporate world where if things are messy and complicated your competition stomps on you. Businesses should run like a well-oiled machine. The Church, fortunately, is not a business or a machine. It is messy. It is made up of people (including its leaders) in various states of unpreparedness and disarray. A simplifying process and message may help to reverse this, but if the result is a souless Burger King drive-through I might as well worship with the Mormons.
The book itself probably deserves 3 stars but I couldn't escape the sense of horror I would feel if Church ended up as formulaic as this, hence the lower rating.
The authors seem to be well intentioned, and their enthusiasm for their hypothesis is commendable, if expected. But it smacks a little of "fad" in the way Wagner's Church Growth craze did in the 80s.
To be fair, there are some good practical points made throughout, but honestly, I sat there thinking: "someone had to write a book about this?!" Most of it is just common sense of the type that was around when preachers could preacher, pastors actually pastored, and evangelists evangelized. [e.g. "Leaders should outline the simple process but then allow ministry leaders to implement with freedom and creativity," p175]. Mindblowing! Somebody write that down!
The real issue for me, however, is the inescapable emphasis on moving people through the production line of church that all this ultimately leads to. Perhaps that's a little harsh given that the authors would describe their production line as discipleship, a process that all of us are truly after. But it comes across more as involvement in the church rather than being a disciple of Jesus ["The church is designed to move people to greater levels of commitment and relationships," cited in an example of a succesfully simple church].
I'm trying to imagine Jesus getting together with the Acts church leadership and telling them they need to market the message more clearly, they must get it to "roll off their tongues with ease. It must make its way into the hallway discussions, lunches with key leaders, and the meetings." Perhaps a fill-in-the-blanks test would help (p128). State the same phrases; use the same vocabulary. Now, repeat that several times till we're all on the same page.
I could go on. The book is riddled with examples because, well, this is the method. Nice in the corporate world where if things are messy and complicated your competition stomps on you. Businesses should run like a well-oiled machine. The Church, fortunately, is not a business or a machine. It is messy. It is made up of people (including its leaders) in various states of unpreparedness and disarray. A simplifying process and message may help to reverse this, but if the result is a souless Burger King drive-through I might as well worship with the Mormons.
The book itself probably deserves 3 stars but I couldn't escape the sense of horror I would feel if Church ended up as formulaic as this, hence the lower rating.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By GJR
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I read some of the other reviews prior to ordering; I tried to figure out where some of these people were coming from based upon their reviews. Then I read the book. One review talked about "poorly written", "grammatical and structural" errors, and even speling (intentional) errors; too busy critiquing and totally missed the point! Another rather long winded one asked if "someone had to write a book about this?" Apparently the answer is yes!!! There are too many churches today rather pleased with themselves that they have programs for every imaginable "need" but do not do what the Bible commands us to do; go into the world, preach the gospel to see people saved and then disciple them. It is a simple duplication process, designed by Jesus himself, in Mathew 28.
Thank you for writing this book Mr. Rainer and Mr. Geiger. The world always wants to ignore what God has done or said or they feel compelled to make it better by adding to it (Pharisees); Jesus paid it all (nothing I do can earn eternal life or deserve it) and then he showed us by example what to do and then gave us or orders. It's simple!
Thank you for writing this book Mr. Rainer and Mr. Geiger. The world always wants to ignore what God has done or said or they feel compelled to make it better by adding to it (Pharisees); Jesus paid it all (nothing I do can earn eternal life or deserve it) and then he showed us by example what to do and then gave us or orders. It's simple!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Timmy G
Format:Kindle Edition
I appreciate the clarity or focus in this book. It is about letting go of excess and getting serious about spiritual transformation.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for church leaders
This is a great book for church leaders. Explains and statistically demonstrates why churches should reduce the number of programs it offers to focus on the few that matter most.
Published 6 days ago by MikeL
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good
Love it, great inspiration for starting a church or changing your church. If we want to reach people for God's kingdom, we need to keep it simple.
Published 1 month ago by JT
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simple Read!
Very well written and easy to understand. Giving me lots of ideas to simplify our church programs. A must (and simple) read for any church wanting to grow.
Published 1 month ago by Dan Davis
1.0 out of 5 stars
Building a church
Did not really like this. Read it as an assignment. Too much repetitive and too much about ho great the authors were to think up the system.
Published 1 month ago by J. Bleckley
5.0 out of 5 stars
awesome and convicting
I just finished Simple Church as part of our staff process to work on these issues. It's hard to argue with facts, but it will be even harder to execute the realities in our... Read more
Published 2 months ago by J. Messerli
5.0 out of 5 stars
I highly recommend "Simple Church" --
This book is changing the way our church reviews and prioritizes ministries - aligning with the analogy of a 'scapel vs. a chainsaw' in how we dream, implement and review. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Chad Herndon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
This book really clarifies what church should be about. Clearly spells out that church should involve 3 relationships - with God, with other church members, and with the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Gail
4.0 out of 5 stars
A simple thesis
The church has been trying to replicate Acts 2:42-47 since the beginning. The authors, while not necessarily mentioning this passage, show it doesn't have to be that difficult. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Matthew Anthony
5.0 out of 5 stars
Have needed this information for decades.
I have read numerous books on church growth (and lack thereof). This is the first to make clear that process (following Biblical patterns) is far more effective that any number of... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Airport Engineer 69
4.0 out of 5 stars
Simple Church offers a Simple Reminder, Keep it SIMPLE.
Having served the church for over 25 years as lay leader to senior pastor, it's easy to see how cluttered and busy "church" can become. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Gerald Higham
