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The Second Coming Of The Church (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "LET'S CUT TO THE CHASE..." (more)
Key Phrases: absolute moral truth, biblical worldview, emerging leader, Jesus Christ, Barna Research Group, United States (more...)
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

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  Kindle Edition, April 10, 1998 $9.99 -- --
  Hardcover, April 9, 1998 -- $3.00 $0.01
  Paperback, March 5, 2001 -- $79.77 $2.76

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Barna, the George Gallup of the Christian church, opens this book with a rather dire prediction: "within the next few years America will experience one of two outcomes: either massive spiritual renewal or total moral anarchy." Most Christian churches, he argues in the first part of the book, are operating on models of authority, leadership and congregational structure that are more than 30 years old and fail to meet the needs of a changing culture. In Part II, Barna pulls out his demographic toolkit of surveys, interviews and polls to measure how contemporary culture is becoming more pluralistic and syncretistic. Part III explores "a biblical perspective on what God expects of His church," and Barna uses scripture to draw a portrait of the "true church," one grounded in a worldview that reflects God's priorities and principles. Finally, in Part IV, Barna suggests three steps for renewing the church so that it might spearhead an American spiritual renewal: caring for existing members so that they "grow strong enough to reach others"; training future professional and lay leaders; and preparing new models of ministry service. Barna's book is recommended for anyone interested in the relationship between church and culture.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Product Description

In this "blueprint for survival," Christian sociologist George Barna evaluates the moral and spiritual decline of society and the corresponding stagnation within the Church. Using hard data, Barna unveils the status quo and argues convincingly that the Church must re-invent itself or face virtual oblivion by the mid-21st century.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Thomas Nelson (April 10, 1998)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0849914906
  • ISBN-13: 978-0849914904
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #897,158 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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More About the Author

George Barna
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
LET'S CUT TO THE CHASE. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
absolute moral truth, biblical worldview, emerging leader
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Jesus Christ, Barna Research Group, United States, Holy Spirit, God's Word, American Christians, Word of God, King of Kings, Church of Christ
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Customer Reviews

17 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.9 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Barna asks the hard questions, gives the hard answers., November 28, 1999
By Ronald E. Keener (North Aurora, Illinois) - See all my reviews
Some will say George Barna's interesting book is alarmist; others will view it as a wake-up call. Either way, reading it causes bells to ring for how we view the future of the church. He subtitles the book a "Blueprint for Survival." That Great Awakening, so often forecast for the New Millenium, may just not happen. Barna's analysis gives no basis for such belief. But what makes his diagnosis so compelling is his solid reputation as a professional market researcher; he backs up his conclusions with data. Barna calls for a revolution--"a lay-driven explosion of spiritual angst and piety." A strategic focus. A transformational movement of God. More than most forecasters, he has the feeling of truth telling, speaking hard realities we don't want to hear. (Chapter five on "The New Cultural Realities" gives little encouragement for the future church.) Read his book and you'll be asking yourself, "How can I renew my coimmitment to the struggle?" True to his profession as a researcher into church and religious trends, he uses the hard facts to hit at the failings of the church. The local church needs reengineering. He says: "The likely structural changes that will redefine the church must be taken seriously. We must be prepared to reengineer the contours of ministry without compromising its content." Barna underscores the views of church growth enthusiasts and closes with a remarkable challenge. It's evident he worries for the church in coming decades. He sees the trends and believes that only leadership and vision can save the church from its otherwise certain future. The resolution is in who leads the church. "Marrying the resources of both the laity and the clergy could introduce an exciting era of Christian renewal. But the catalyst for this new reformation will be the people, not the professionals." -- first appearing in "Strategies for Today's Leader," Fall 1998.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A Wake Up Call to the Church in America, October 13, 1999
By Todd Hudnall (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
George Barna paints a gloomy and desperate portrait of the current church in America. He explains that the majority of churches are archaic in style, irrelevant to the culture and impotent to impact society. With the nation in dire moral straits, it needs the church to rise up to be salt and light. Barna charges the church to take up this mantel and then gives a prescription of necessary changes. Barna does a fine job of explaining the problems and challenges facing the America church. He also lists her shortcomings. His assessment and indictments were blunt and fairly accurate. I felt his comment about America that we have done a "repositioning of religion as a commodity that we consume, rather than one in which we invest ourselves" was accurate and inditing. I also felt his list of solutions were viable and worth embracing. Barna's passion comes across in the pages of the book. I recommend the book to anyone interested in a new church reformation.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars THE TRUTH HURTS, CHURCH WAKE UP, June 7, 2000
By J. Amick "southern lacrosse fan" (the Buckle of the "Bible Belt") - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
If the numbers don't tell us something, then we that call ourselves the Church are just plain ignorant. The reality is that the moral choices people in our pews are no different than those mowing grass on Sunday morning at 11am. Barna surfaces the crisis we face. We have great buildings and lots of money, but we are losing a generation. I work with teenagers everyday of my life. This book hits home, for the old way of doing "church" will not cut in the the near future. There is nothing unbiblical about Christ-centered change. Barna gives clear direction for the church to survive and thrive. Any church leader that reads this book and continues a mundane, boring church, shame on you!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Analysis but Obviously Dated
This title is one of those books I've wanted to read for a long time but didn't get to it until now. Read more
Published on March 16, 2005 by David R. Bess

4.0 out of 5 stars Prematurely correct about where the church will be
Barna lays out a multi-faceted vision of where the church will need to go in order to remain relevant in our ever-shfiting culture. Read more
Published on December 30, 2003 by Roy Massie

2.0 out of 5 stars Misses the mark
Barna should be applauded for the amount of sociological research that is found in this book that shows what many have long suspected, the Church is in almost indistinguishable... Read more
Published on June 3, 2003 by James T Humphrey II

3.0 out of 5 stars Stunning research, awful solutions
Once again, pollster and pastor George Barna has trotted out a set of figures guaranteed to fan the flames of controversy within the Church. Read more
Published on November 8, 2002 by Daniel L Edelen

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book - too bad you can't buy it
This is an excellent book. I borrowed it from a friend and read through it in two nights...couldn't put it down. Read more
Published on October 31, 2002 by Donnie Karabotsos

5.0 out of 5 stars Relevant Facts and Diagnosis
Barna's surveys and studies provide church leaders with a dependable source of diagnosis. Barna's expertise lies in his ability to pinpoint exactly what is happening. Read more
Published on March 4, 2001 by Edward J Vasicek

1.0 out of 5 stars Come and get it boys
I am very pleased that we are getting back to the roots of religon > intolerance for ideas other than our own. That is what this church was founded on right. Read more
Published on March 15, 2000

2.0 out of 5 stars For a balanced discussion, see . . .
For a balanced discussion of what the Church is to do in these coming decades, see "Selling Out the Church," by Phil Kenneson and James Street. Read more
Published on December 20, 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars Good read for people interested in church change.
The Second Coming is a well worth read for anyone interested in church change. "While poverty is growing and welfare is declining,the average church spends $6... Read more
Published on July 10, 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars An eye-opening challenge to church leaders and laity!
Don't read this book if you or your church plan on just doing the same old things. He challenges the reader to examine his/her own perceptions of the church, to look at the... Read more
Published on February 12, 1999 by mrlance@juno.com

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