So if you’ve actually been following this list of books on church planting, my #4 pick is An Unstoppable Force by Erwin McManus.  This book is just plain phenomenal!  I am totally convinced that the books church planters need to read are by people that are actually doing it!  You can’t figure out what needs to be done to build a church by reading stats and examining data.  You’ve got to actually do it!  And Erwin is leading a great ministry in Los Angeles called Mosaic.  Erwin’s insights about where the church is currently and how the church has forgotten … Read More

We’ve been a church for 4 1/2 years, and we’ve met in 3 locations.  What’s interesting is that each of these locations came with their own set of unique challenges.  While they frustrated me to no end at the time, I look back kind of fondly and think of all that God has done.  #1 – Church in a hotel – When we met in a hotel, there were only 2 meeting rooms so we put all the adults in one room and all the kids in the other.  Think about that for a moment, Birth through 5th grade all … Read More

My #3 selection for best books for a church planter is “The Upside Down Church” by Greg Laurie. This book is not your average book on church planting. It’s the story of how Greg Laurie’s church, Harvest Christian Fellowship has grown without using any of the church growth principles that have filled 100’s of books. I’ve read a bunch of books on church planting, church growth, church health. etc… but the one that I believe the one that most matches what we do at CCML is this one. It’s a simple approach that uses Acts 2:42 as a model of … Read More

Here’s a question I’ve been thinking about recently. Since I’ve started this blog 3 weeks ago, I’ve gotten to meet a few church planters. So here’s my question, “At what point are we not church planters anymore?” Is there a time limit? Is it like “You’re only newlyweds for a year, then you’re just married?” But are we ever done planting? Or at some point is the church planted? What are the markers of a planted church to a planting church? Is it time, facility, attendance? Who’s got the 411 on this? “Who is this one so wise in the … Read More

I’ve decided that it’s too hard to number the best books on church planting, so these next posts will officially be in no particular order. So the 2nd book I’d like to mention is “When God Builds a Church” by Bob Russell. The thing I really liked about this book is that Bob isn’t trying to tell you how to build a cookie cutter model of Southeast Christian. Instead, the book is simply the story of their church and the elements that he believes should be in every church. This is so refreshing because I’m totally sick of books on … Read More

Based on a recent post, I’ve decided to put together a list of what I believe to be the most important books for any person that wants to get involved in the insanity we call “Church Planting.” So here goes: #1 – 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley – We just had someone from our staff leave to start a church in Hartford, CT and I don’t think I would have let him pack up his U-Haul without reading this book. This is the 1 book that I believe every Pastor needs to read when it comes to … Read More

I know this is probably going to upset a few people (Mostly non-church planters), so let me say sorry right up front. But I find that many of the guys writing books about church planting have much to say about demographics, sociological issues, trends, and what’s hot, but many lack one key ingredient: they’ve never planted a church. So when we started CCML, I read all of these books about how to plant and healthy church. Then I realized this was all theory. Surveys can help to a degree (If they are done in your area), cultural changes are very … Read More