The Second Coming of the Church - Hardcover

Barna, George

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0849914906 ISBN 13: 9780849914904

Publisher: W Pub Group, 1998

Synopsis

In this "blueprint for survival," Christian sociologist George Barna evaluates the moral and spiritual decline of society and the corresponding stagnation within the Church. Using hard data, Barna unveils the status quo and argues convincingly that the Church must re-invent itself or face virtual oblivion by the mid-21st century.

About this title

About the Author:

George Barna is the founder of The Barna Group (a leading research firm focused on faith and culture) and currently serves as the Founder of Metaformation (a company dedicated to helping people optimize their journey) and a Senior Partner in the Strategenius Group (business development and marketing). He is the author or co-author of more than 40 books, including various best sellers and award-winning volumes. He lives with his wife and three daughters in southern California.

From Publishers Weekly:

Barna, the George Gallup of the Christian church, opens this book with a rather dire prediction: "within the next few years America will experience one of two outcomes: either massive spiritual renewal or total moral anarchy." Most Christian churches, he argues in the first part of the book, are operating on models of authority, leadership and congregational structure that are more than 30 years old and fail to meet the needs of a changing culture. In Part II, Barna pulls out his demographic toolkit of surveys, interviews and polls to measure how contemporary culture is becoming more pluralistic and syncretistic. Part III explores "a biblical perspective on what God expects of His church," and Barna uses scripture to draw a portrait of the "true church," one grounded in a worldview that reflects God's priorities and principles. Finally, in Part IV, Barna suggests three steps for renewing the church so that it might spearhead an American spiritual renewal: caring for existing members so that they "grow strong enough to reach others"; training future professional and lay leaders; and preparing new models of ministry service. Barna's book is recommended for anyone interested in the relationship between church and culture.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: W Pub Group
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0849914906
• ISBN 13: 9780849914904
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 223