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Kicking Habits Upgrade Edition: Welcome Relief For Addicted Churches
An upgrade to the ground-breaking book that has shown thousands of congregations how to overcome the destructive attitudes and systems that prevent them from focusing on their true making disciples of Jesus Christ.
In this upgraded edition, Bandy continues to explore the meaning of walking with Jesus in the 21st century. Drawing on the stories of exciting new congregations that have arisen within the last few years, he sharpens his portrayal of the thriving church system, demonstrating its essential concern for savvy awareness of the larger culture and fidelity to the core of the gospel.
In this upgraded edition, Bandy continues to explore the meaning of walking with Jesus in the 21st century. Drawing on the stories of exciting new congregations that have arisen within the last few years, he sharpens his portrayal of the thriving church system, demonstrating its essential concern for savvy awareness of the larger culture and fidelity to the core of the gospel.
267 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1997
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 1, 2024
This helped a lot with thinking about my ministry and would be useful to political organizers as well.
May 2, 2013
Quotable:
"Growth" occures when a living organism truly "thrives."
Even in religions where the population is declining, they are in vigorous conversation with the fastest-growing segment of that population, namely, the spiritually yearning and institutionally unhappy public.
The declining church is an addict. Churches are addicted to habitual, self-destructive behavior patterns which they do not even recognize! No matter how well-meaning, sincere, and spiritually sensitive the church is, members still cannot bring themselves to admit or see the inner addictions that dictate church life and mission.
Very few people are actually called to church management. Some clearly discern spiritual gifts for administration, and they may be called to exercise that spiritual gift in the organizational life of the church. Only a few are needed. Others with the gift of administration may be called to organize and supervise a variety of charitable or community organizations. The point is that spiritual maturity does not lead to management, but to ministry. It does not lead to bureaucracy, but to some form of activism.
Just as a system will produce only what it is designed to produce and nothing else - so also, an organization will accomplish only what the system allows it to accomplish and nothing else!
Addiction to "safety nets." People desperately wanted organizations to be tidy, absolutely consistent, simple, and secure from failure. They would sacrifice their own health and opportunity for personal growth to be in such an organization!
"Growth" occures when a living organism truly "thrives."
Even in religions where the population is declining, they are in vigorous conversation with the fastest-growing segment of that population, namely, the spiritually yearning and institutionally unhappy public.
The declining church is an addict. Churches are addicted to habitual, self-destructive behavior patterns which they do not even recognize! No matter how well-meaning, sincere, and spiritually sensitive the church is, members still cannot bring themselves to admit or see the inner addictions that dictate church life and mission.
Very few people are actually called to church management. Some clearly discern spiritual gifts for administration, and they may be called to exercise that spiritual gift in the organizational life of the church. Only a few are needed. Others with the gift of administration may be called to organize and supervise a variety of charitable or community organizations. The point is that spiritual maturity does not lead to management, but to ministry. It does not lead to bureaucracy, but to some form of activism.
Just as a system will produce only what it is designed to produce and nothing else - so also, an organization will accomplish only what the system allows it to accomplish and nothing else!
Addiction to "safety nets." People desperately wanted organizations to be tidy, absolutely consistent, simple, and secure from failure. They would sacrifice their own health and opportunity for personal growth to be in such an organization!
April 24, 2013
To say that this book was devoid of any useful gleanings would be inaccurate and unfair. It had two or three useful bits of information. The rest was a mishmash of muddled mumbo-jumbo and pseudo-Christian jargon. Do churches and denominations become tradition bound? Yes. Does that mean all tradition is to be considered stifling and outdated - hardly. Following the advice in this book would lead one to forming a "church" without any biblical standards, no responsibilities from members (actually you would only have attenders because membership is also an addiction churches have) and a Laodicean approach to ministry that is already condemned by Jesus.
I am very disappointed in this book, but more so by conclusion of churches being transformed into visionary motivators instead of places of spiritual growth according to biblical standards. I definitely do not recommend this as a good read.
I am very disappointed in this book, but more so by conclusion of churches being transformed into visionary motivators instead of places of spiritual growth according to biblical standards. I definitely do not recommend this as a good read.
November 8, 2008
Church organizations are addicted! What a concept!! Tom Bandy is brilliant in his understanding of all church organizations across all denominations and community churches. What a gift to God's people -- if we will listen!
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February 22, 2008Another book I'm reading for church. Very interesting on church growth.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews