Book Review: 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner & Lane Jones

7 Practices of Effective Ministry was an amazing read for anyone in ministry! I would give this an easy 10 out of 10… it was THAT good. I didn’t agree with everything, but a majority of the book was so good that I’ll be in the process of applying and breaking down the practices for our ministry. Some books get you thinking, others are enjoyable. This book was a catalyst for brain. I couldn’t stop brainstorming. I’m sure my wife got sick of my constant thoughts and opinions while reading this. Here are a few of the highlights:

• The tendency in business, or in church work for that matter, is to mistake activity for progress. We think that just because people are busy and doing a lot of stuff that we are being successful. If all that activity isn’t taking you where you want to go, then it’s just wasted time.
• It’s usually good things that knock you off target
• You shouldn’t try to do everything; you should do a few things well
• Teach less for more: The problem wasn’t that they couldn’t teach me one thing. The problem was they tried to teach me EVERYTHING.
• Don’t be concerned about keeping the folks you’ve got, that you neglect the folks you’re trying to reach.
• If you want your church to stand the test of time, then you have to be replaced.
• The principles and practices described in this book are not and cannot be a substitute for God’s blessing or power.
• People tend to stop showing up when an organization is not winning.
• The church should be more determined than any other kind of organization to “clarify the win” simply because the stakes are so much higher: Eternity hangs in the balance.
• If the win is unclear, you may force those in leadership roles to define winning in their own terms.
• Before you start anything, make sure it takes you where you need to go.
• When you think programs you start by asking, “What is the need?”… When you think steps you start by asking, “Where do we want people to be?”… and second, “How are we going to get them there?”.
• Narrow the focus: Do fewer things in order to make a greater impact.
• If you really want to make a lasting impact, then you need to eliminate what you do well for the sake of what you can potentially do best.
• Maybe you feel that you are obligated to teach all of the Bible to a specific age group. Don’t try to do it. You cannot effectively cram all of the Bible into a few hours each week for a few years. That would be information overload- you would be teaching more for less. Teach less for more.
• Presentation, not information, engages a student’s imagination.
• The object of communication is not to cover a lot of material but, rather, to make sure people learn… if the student hasn’t learned, the teacher hasn’t taught.
• If you are surrounded long enough by people who think like you think, you will become more and more certain that’s the best way to think.
• … churches all over this country are striving to reflect the interests, values, and needs of people who are already attending church. The church today is primarily characterized by the insiders reaching insiders.
• This decision can’t be based on who we will keep, but who we will reach.
• If you want the practice to become a habit in your church, you must recognize and reward it when it happens.
• Leaders don’t volunteer, they are recruited.

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