The Thriving Church: The True Measure of Growth

by Dean Taylor

The Thriving The True Measure of Growth studies Paul's message to the body of Christian in Ephesians 4:1-16. Dean Taylor explores what church growth is, what causes it, and what affects it. He also addresses what we, as members of the body of Christ, should be doing to help our churches grow. Taylor's message is designed not just for pastors, for church leaders, or for Sunday schools teachers but is intended for all members of the body of Christ because we are all responsible for helping the church grow.

184 pages, Paperback

Published December 6, 2019

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend The Thriving Church:The True Measure of Growth by Dean Taylor. I am part of a small country church and we are exploring ways to grow and share love. The Thriving Church: The True Measure of Growth supports our belief that the growth of our church is everyone's responsibility, not only that of our pastor or the deacons.
In this study of Paul's message to the body of Christ in Ephesians 4:1-16, Dean Taylor explains how it also applies to our present-day churches and church members. I enjoyed learning from this Scripture-based book that gives practical lessons on church renewal and growth.

This well organized book based on scripture with built-in prayers and discussion questions would be great for small group study or individual study. Highly recommend.

***Special thanks to the author Dean Taylor for writing The Thriving Church:The True Measure of Growth. Thanks also to JourneyForth Books, BJU Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Posted on GoodReads, NetGalley, Savvy Reader, Twitter

[Danielle Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SUCH a good book and much needed right now!

[John Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Thriving Church by Dean H. Taylor.

Practical Church Growth Lessons from the New Testament

With so many books being written each year about church growth, it is refreshing to read one that is more based on scriptural wisdom rather than business systems. Dean Taylor effectively interprets the Apostle Paul’s great words to the church in Ephesus, so that they can be applied in this post-modern age when many congregations are struggling.

The book is based on Ephesians 4:1-16 and the author cleverly uses the words of Paul to encourage other ministers and churches to get back to the basics of New Testament Church growth. Dean’s substantial research and knowledge of this passage are easily read, pondered, and applied. The whole book would make a great study for pastors and elders together, especially if they are trying to find a new vision for a congregation that has plateaued or is declining. Pastors could also use the book for a series of sermons based on the insights and applications that Taylor presents. In fact, the best two chapters of the whole book can be found together – 6: Every Pastor Equipping and 7: Every Member Ministering.

At the end of each chapter, there are a number of questions that can be shared and discussed at church classes, board meetings, or staff groups in order to engender a new and hopeful vision for local congregations.

I was given the opportunity to read and review this book for the publisher via Net Galley. I am now looking forward to sharing some of its contents with the congregation that I presently serve.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his new book, The Thriving Church: The True Measure of Church Growth, Dean Taylor provides a great read for those who are seeking authentic church growth. It's well organized and all of his points are biblically-based, which is always a plus for me. Covering such issues as cultivating unity, love, equipping the body, spiritual gifts, and the pattern of grace and truth. It's a down-to-earth book so that those of us who are "normal" people can understand it without having to have a background in theology. And again, Taylor roots all of his points in Scripture, so it's hard to go wrong there! Whether you've been in church a long time or you're new to church, you're still likely to learn a lot. In fact, this would make for a great individual study or small group study with built-in prayer points and discussion questions along the way.

Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Mark Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good at what it tries to do: to present a simple, accessible exposition of Ephesians 4 that focuses on the roles pastors and church members properly play in “church growth.” If there was one thing I really got out of this book, it was a simple and yet clever refocusing of the meaning is that phrase, “church growth.” We usually use it to mean numerical growth, and that’s not necessarily wrong. But it isn’t the focus of Ephesians 4; growing to be like Christ is.

I was looking at the review copy of this book that the publisher sent me, and I did find a small string attached. Oops! FTC rules and all that... I followed the string and it led to charity: I had to write out of love for God and neighbor. Taylor made it easy—his own love for those two things comes through.

[Ronald Spitzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this one took over a year to complete. I created lessons for my local church prayer meetings from this book aimed at my church. I like my lessons more than the book's discussion questions. But having said that, the book's discussion questions are better than those in a lot of Bible study books. As an experienced school teacher, I realized that with God guiding my effort I could do much better. And so it is. The main take for those reading this is that this book is very worthwhile. This should be a study for the entire church, not just a small group like I have done. I recommend this book.

[Curtis · Rating 3 out of 5]

We all want to be apart of a church that is thriving right?
We pray for it. We teach and preach about it but unfortunately there are things that stop this from happening.
This book steps through the key items that often keep our churches from thriving. From disunity to not equipping leaders. This would make for a good leadership study with a small group and/or board team.
The only requirement is to want to see your church thrive for Christ!

Thanks to the vendor for supplying a free ebook for me to review this book.
In no way was I required to rate this book a specific way.

[Aaron Hand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book on church growth. Sadly our Christian culture emphasizes numbers but not God’s Word. I recommend this book!