Every church holds the key that will unlock the door to a rich spiritual inheritance. That key is the church's unique internal culture, the characteristics that make it unique, according to Robert Lewis and Wayne Cordeiro, authors of Culture Shift. The key to understanding and changing a congregation is found in its attitudes, customs, and beliefs.

Sounds simple enough. Look for a key. Some of us in church leadership have assumed it requires a club.

As a leader in a church attempting such a cultural shift, I was immediately hooked by the book's thesis. Our church, only 11 years old, already has a deeply entrenched culture and power structure. I've discovered that change, even in a relatively new church, requires time and strong leadership. I eagerly read Culture Shift looking for a road map for our church's journey.

No plug-and-play solutions

Culture, they contend, must be discovered not imported. The authors are clearly against what they call the "plug-and-play" approach that attempts to ...