Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations: Revised and Updated

by Robert Schnase

Over the past ten years, thousands of church leaders have successfully transformed congregations with the principles from the original Five Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and Service, and Extravagant Generosity. However, much has changed in the world and the Church. Leaders have discovered new ways to implement the Five Practices in settings that were not imagined when the original book was released. This revised and updated edition of the ministry leadership classic includes a significant amount of new material. How are the Practices being used now, in new types of congregations? How has each Practice changed in the last decade? What new issues or concerns do leaders need to consider in relation to each Practice? This revision provides leaders with a 'next step' look at the original practices. Schnase gathered ideas and other content from ministry leaders who have been using the Five Practices, and explains how those ideas work, how leaders adapted the principles to their own settings, and how they expanded them. A new preface redefines 'Congregations' given their evolving nature. When the original book was written, the new forms of Christian community either did not exist or were barely known. The Five Practices are, however, just as essential to the new types of congregations as they were to the traditional church. Since the original book, there is more variety, diversity, and experimentation in worship. The revised Five Practices includes material based on these new forms. Small group study has always been important for intentional faith development. But since the original book, the nature of those groups has transformed to include secular settings and a wide variety of affinities profoundly affecting how faith leaders approach issues of faith development, and in many cases radically changes what they offer in their communities. Imagine the topic of Risk-Taking Mission and Service before Black Lives Matter, the Syrian refugee crisis, and the Trump administration. This new version gives instruction and specific ideas for how we might best serve today’s world.

190 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2018

About the author

Bishop Robert C. Schnase

Reviews

[Jeff Luchun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want Church Revitalization?

This book provides an excellent structure to work through a process of revitalization for any church struggling to stay alive in the present world.

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book on 5 practical ways congregations can reach out in their world for Jesus. Now comes the challenge, applying what I’ve learned 🙏 Thank you Pastor for recommending this book.