Church 3.0: Upgrades for the Future of the Church (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series)

An expert practitioner answers to questions about the burgeoning organic church movement Neil Cole's best-selling book Organic Church described the fastest growing segment of contemporary Christianity-the so-called organic church. Now in this next-step book, he answers questions about how to deal with theological and organizational issues that come up. He talks about issues such has what to do with finances, children, heresy, leader training, and rituals and ordinances. Without the top-down structure of a denomination, even people who are proponents of this small, house-church model worry that they are not doing it right. Offers an important resource for anyone involved with or thinking of starting an organic or house church Addresses practical issues of theology, rituals, doctrinal heresy, how to handle children, finances, and other important questions Written by an acknowledged expert who is now and has been for over twenty years an organic church planter and practitioner A new Leadership Network title and follow-up to Organic Church Church 3.0 offers solid information about organic churches based on Cole's extensive experience in starting, nurturing, and mentoring in the organic church movement. Church 3.0: Upgrades for the Future of the Church......Page 1 contents......Page 9 about leadership network......Page 11 foreword......Page 13 preface......Page 15 acknowledgments......Page 19 introduction: what about this book?: shifting from church 2.0 to 3.0......Page 25 upgrading the operating system......Page 28 what is this book about?......Page 34 part one: global changes demand a better church......Page 37 chapter 1: what about the world we live in?......Page 39 a single and dominant superpower......Page 40 a single, global trade language......Page 41 technological advances create a global community......Page 42 relativistic philosophy......Page 43 pagan and occult activity......Page 44 aslan is on the move......Page 45 what is postmodernism?......Page 47 neither a modern nor a postmodern church......Page 49 shifting values of an emerging world......Page 51 what postmodern culture values......Page 52 conclusion......Page 66 part two: structural issues......Page 67 chapter 3: what about the church’s mission?......Page 69 attractional versus missional......Page 71 what is a church?......Page 80 this scares the devil into hell......Page 88 chapter 4: what about church growth?......Page 90 what is a movement?......Page 94 the seduction of addition......Page 99 the true test of multiplicative ministry......Page 100 ten essential principles of a spontaneous multiplication movement......Page 107 roadblocks to reproduction......Page 109 beware the institutional trap......Page 111 chapter 5: what about church models? part one......Page 116 networks......Page 117 the formation of organic church networks......Page 118 new testament church models......Page 123 transitioning models......Page 137 chapter 6: what about church models? part two......Page 140 awakening chapel’s development......Page 143 decentralized versus centralized expressions of organic church......Page 145 advantages and disadvantages of being decentralized......Page 151 accountability in decentralized networks......Page 153 chapter 7: what about larger gatherings?......Page 161 the natural order of social groupings......Page 162 the base unit of life: two or three people......Page 163 the leadership team: four to seven people......Page 167 the family unit: twelve to fifteen people......Page 169 the training group: twenty-five to seventy-five people......Page 171 the relational network: 100 to 150 people......Page 172 the occasional public gathering: 200–500 people......Page 174 unlimited multitudes......Page 177 following christ’s pattern......Page 182 the perils of violating these natural patterns......Page 183 part three: pragmatic concerns......Page 187 chapter 8: what about evangelism?......Page 189 apostolic genius......Page 190 the catalyst of movements......Page 192 six qualities of a good catalyst to ignite and accelerate movements......Page 194 the six catalytic qualities in cma......Page 204 chapter 9: what about baptism and communion?......Page 213 on baptism......Page 215 communion......Page 222 the lord’s prayer......Page 228 chapter 10: what about kids?......Page 233 integration is better than segregation for children......Page 235 integration is better than segregation for adults......Page 241 practical ideas......Page 243 chapter 11: what about heresy?......Page 246 what is the true threat?......Page 248 the heretics in history are often heroes in the future......Page 257 chapter 12: what about finances?......Page 265 old testament church practices......Page 266 new testament tithing......Page 267 offerings......Page 268 new testament church finances......Page 270 awakening chapel’s example......Page 275 conclusion: what about my church?......Page 277 notes......Page 281 the author......Page 289 index......Page 291

"In this comprehensive labor of love, Neil brings his wonderfully unique, home-grown, and organic insights to bear on what it means to reawaken a movement ethos in the twenty-first century church. Nothing less than the spontaneous expansion of the church is being considered here. This is perhaps the book that Neil was born to write." -Alan Hirsch, author, The Forgotten Ways, and coauthor, Untamed, The Shaping of Things to Come, reJesus, and The Forgotten Ways Handbook

"Church 3.0 is an all-in-one compass, survival manual, tool kit, leadership agenda, and imagineering workshop. It is a treasure trove that distributes the wealth of Neil Cole's rich experience and insight. I cannot imagine trying to navigate—without it."-Reggie McNeal, author, Missional Renaissance

"Neil Cole is one of only a handful of people in the West uniquely qualified to write about church multiplication movements from an insider perspective. His extensive, hands-on experience in reproducing movements of healthy disciples, leaders, and churches has enabled him to not only ask the right questions, but also to develop and field test the principles that cause these organic movements to occur. Essential reading for anyone with a passion for extending God's Kingdom beyond the confines of the church walls."-Felicity Dale, member, board of directors, House2House; author, An Army of Ordinary People; and coauthor, The Rabbit and the Elephant

"Neil has done it again. Church 3.0 is the first book focused on the big picture of releasing healthy church movements. In my work in this season of life, I am committed to releasing the body of Christ to be the Church, and Neil's book will serve as a strong guide to assist leaders in getting there."-Bob Buford, founder, Leadership Network, and author, Halftime and Finishing Well Neil Cole is the real deal. We've all known his passion for church multiplication. In Church 3.0, he moves from passion to practice, laying out a vision that is challenging, and compelling. He will challenge everyone who loves the church and its mission."Ed Stetzer, president, LifeWay Research

Foreword Preface Introduction: What about this book? : shifting from church 2.0 to 3.0 Part I: Global changes demand a better church What about the world we live in? : from a village church to a global village What about our changing culture? : from ministry in a modern world to postmodern Part II: Structural issues What about the church's mission : from coming to going What about church growth? : from incremental to exponential What about church models, part one : from congregations to networks What about church models, part two : from centralized to decentralized What about larger gatherings? : from one-size-fits-all to tailored groups for effective function Part III: Pragmatic concerns What about evangelism? : from drawing converts to catalyzing movements What about Baptism and Communion? : from sacerdotal rituals to apostolic genius What about kids? : from a scholastic model to a spiritual family What about heresy? : from better-trained pastors to better-trained people What about finances? : from ten percent to the whole enchilada Conclusion: What about my church? : from being educated to being empowered. "In Church 3.0, Cole makes the argument that Christianity needs more than new programs, buildings, or worship formats. It needs a complete upgrade to a new operating system. The early church shifted to a more institutional form in 300 AD and has been stuck in the 2.0 operating system ever since. We are overdue for the next upgrade. Church 3.0 discusses issues such as how to deal with heresy, how to handle finances, what to do with children, and what to do with worship, rituals, and ordinances. Even the most enthusiastic proponents and practitioners of organic churches often wonder how to handle such matters in a faithful way." "Based on Cole's extensive experience in starting, nurturing, and mentoring thousands of churches, Church 3.0 offers insight and information about how to make this shift to a more organic form of church. Church 3.0 is an insider's look at the important considerations necessary to release spontaneous church multiplication movements in a Western context."--BOOK JACKET