Any church, whether growing numerically or not, faces the basic question: Are we healthy? The following books suggest ways to measure and improve the effectiveness of the church.
Banks, Robert. Paul’s Idea of Community: The Early House Churches. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1980. A study of the differences of the priorities of Paul’s churches versus the priorities of the contemporary church.
Carroll, Jackson W. Small Churches Are Beautiful. New York: Harper and Row, 1977. A compendium for effective ministry for the small (attendance under 200) local church.
Chaney, Charles and Ron Lewis. Design for Church Growth. Nashville: Broadman, 1978. Outlines diagnostic factors by which the effectiveness and healthiness of a church congregation can be measured.
Cook, Jerry and Stanley Baldwin. Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness. Glendale, Calif.: Regal, 1979. How a church can demonstrate its authenticity and a congregation be equipped to share the ministry. A penetrating look at the atmosphere and relationships necessary for church health.
Diehl, William E. Christianity and Real Lik. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1976. Written from a lay person’s perspective regarding how the church can prepare the laity for Christian living in the secular world.
Dudley, Carl S. Making the Small Church Effective. Nashville: Abingdon, 1978. Insights on how modest churches can fulfill their God-given calling.
Getz, Gene. The Measure of a Church. Glendale, Calif.: Regal, 1975. Measures the effectiveness of the local church according to the biblical values of love, faith, and hope.
Girard, Robert C. Brethren, Hang Loose. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1972. A case study of one church that found renewal in its ministry through a re-evaluation of what the lordship of Christ meant.
Hauck, Gary. Is My Church What God Meant It to Be? Denver: Accent, 1979. A biblical approach to balance in the various aspects of church life.
MacNair, Donald J. The Growing Local Church. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1975. Discusses ways to increase the local church’s ability to meet needs of parishioners and outsiders.
Mallone, George. Furnace of Renewal. Downers Grove, III.: InterVarsity, 1981. An examination of the prophecy of Malachi with a vision for the refining of the local church. Shows God’s measures of effectiveness.
Martin, Ralph P. The Family and the Fellowship. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980. How the New Testament defines the effectiveness of the local church in its role as a new community.
McGavran, Donald and Win Arn. Ten Steps for Church Growth. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1977. Outlines ideas for effective church growth and for creating a growth environment in the local church. Good list of resources.
Minear, Paul S. Images of the Church in the New Testament. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1970. Ninety-six terms from the New Testament defining the nature of the church. Excellent for reflection on the theological definitions of the church.
Mylander, Charles. Secrets for Growing Churches. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1979. Designed to promote church growth according to biblical standards of measurement.
Schaller, Lyle. Effective Church Planning. Nashville: Abingdon, 1979. A discussion of the process of goal setting for the local church, with the observation that goal setting promotes better evaluation of effectiveness in ministry.
Snyder, Howard A. The Problem of Wineskins. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1975. Discusses how the structure of the church must be re-evaluated to be effective and biblical in our technological age.
Spurgeon, Charles. An All-round Ministry. London: Banner of Truth, 1978. A classical examination of the effective pastor.
Stott, John R. W. God’s New Society. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity 1979. A study of Ephesians that contains many challenges and insights regarding God’s plan for and definition of a healthy church.
Stott, John R. W. What Christ Thinks of the Church. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972. Examines the church by Christ’s standards seen in the prophecies of Revelation 2 and 3.
Tillapaugh, Frank. The Church Unleashed. Ventura, Calif.: Regal, 1982. Ways a church can free its members to minister effectively in the world.
Wagner, C. Peter. Your Church Can Be Healthy. Nashville: Abingdon, 1979. An analysis of the symptoms and causes of eight common diseases in American churches.
Wagner, C. Peter. Your Church Can Grow: Seven Vital Signs of a Healthy Church. Glendale, Calif.: Regal, 1976. A helpful tool in diagnosing effectiveness in the local congregation.
Waymire, Bob, and C. Peter Wagner. Church Growth Survey Handbook. Santa Clara, Calif.: Global Church Bulletin, 1980. A church growth tool designed to help churches understand what their strengths and weaknesses are. Helpful-even for those who do not equate the terms growth and health.
Weisbord, Marvin R. Organizational Diagnosis. Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, 1978. An evaluative tool that measures the effectiveness of an organization and diagnoses changes needed in structure, purposes, relationships, rewards, and leadership.
Copyright © 1983 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal. Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.
