Missional Renaissance: Changing the Scorecard for the Church (J-B Leadership Network Series) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: real talk, missional renaissance, missional followers, North American, New Testament, Holy Spirit (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Reggie McNeal's bestseller The Present Future is the definitive work on the "missional movement," i.e., the widespread movement among Protestant churches to be less inwardly focused and more oriented toward the culture and community around them. In that book he asked the tough questions that churches needed to entertain to begin to think about who they are and what they are doing; in Missional Renaissance, he shows them the three significant shifts in their thinking and behavior that they need to make that will allow leaders to chart a course toward being missional: (1) from an internal to an external focus, ending the church as exclusive social club model; (2) from running programs and ministries to developing people as its core activity; and (3) from professional leadership to leadership that is shared by everyone in the community. With in-depth discussions of the "what" and the "how" of transitioning to being a missional church, readers will be equipped to move into what McNeal sees as the most viable future for Christianity. For all those thousands of churches who are asking about what to do next after reading The Present Future, Missional Renaissance will provide the answer.

From the Inside Flap

When Reggie McNeal's best-selling book The Present Future was published, it quickly became one of the definitive works on the "missional church movement." McNeal helped to define the widespread movement among churches that wanted to become more oriented toward the culture and community around them. In that book, McNeal asked the tough questions that churches needed to wrestle with to begin to think about who they are and what they are doing.

In Missional Renaissance, the much-anticipated follow-up to his groundbreaking book, Reggie McNeal shows the three significant shifts in the church leaders' thinking and behavior that will allow their congregations to chart a course toward becoming truly a missional congregation.

To embrace the missional model, church leaders and members must shift

• From an internal to an external focus, ending the church as exclusive social club model

• From running programs and ministries to developing people as its core activity

• From church-based leadership to community-engaged leadership

The book is filled with in-depth discussions of what it means to become a missional congregation and important information on how to make the transition. With an understanding of the nature of the missional church and the practical suggestions outlined in this book, church leaders and members will be equipped to move into what McNeal sees as the most viable future for Christianity.

Missional Renaissance offers a clear path for any leader or congregation that wants to breathe new life into the church and to become revitalized as true followers of Jesus.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass (February 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470243449
• ISBN-13: 978-0470243442
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,979 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #2 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living > Leadership
  #4 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > By Topic > Leadership
  #12 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Evangelism > Missions & Missionary Work

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Clarity, April 20, 2009

By	Donald Waybright (Sugar Land, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

McNeal captures the current of the stream of the Holy Spirit working in the N American church today. He is saying what most of us are saying, but with brilliant clarity. This book will continue to fuel the intensity of the God movement taking place.

The Scorecard is a challenge...the new movement requires new measurements (if we need to measure?). McNeal gives ideas to help generate this scorecard, but this will continue to be a challenge for missional leaders. If anyone has quality solutions send me an email at [e-mail]

Also...the attractional model is not evil. The Great Commission is the overriding purpose and goal of the church. Both the nation of Israel in Old Testament and the Holy Nation of the church in New Testament have attractional and incarnational elements. In many cases the church in N America has abandoned its incarnational gifts by conforming to the dominant culture. The Holy Spirit is birthing a renaissance, as Reggie implies, that is restoring this spirit-filled dynamic to the church.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars He gets it., February 17, 2009

By	Daryl Eldridge "Rockbridge Seminary Online" (Springfield, MO) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

McNeal gets it. This book provides hope for every church that wants to make more and better Christians. This is not a theoretical read, but a practical handbook for the missional leader. One of my favorite quotes: "We bought and paid for the lie that Six Flags over Jesus was what the world needed. We believed that if we built better churches, our cities would be better off. . . The jig is up . . . The program-driven church has produced a brand of Christianity that is despised, not just ignored, by people outside the church."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buying 10 more today!, May 14, 2009

By	Aaron Acton (Whitestown, IN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Save yourself some time and shipping costs and just buy a copy for your whole leadership team now. I've only read a handful of books that have impacted my desire to change the world more (Organic Church is another good one). I wish I could buy a copy for every pastor in America! As an organic church that still struggles with old paradigms (everyone in the midwest has been "to church" and has ideas burned into their brain), this book will help our team communicate God's true heart, give us dozens of ideas and help us evaluate our progress better. Thanks, Reggie!