The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church

Reggie McNeal

John Wiley & Sons, Mar 23, 2009 - Religion - 176 pages

In this provocative book, author, consultant, and church leadership developer Reggie McNeal debunks these and other old assumptions and provides an overall strategy to help church leaders move forward in an entirely different and much more effective way. In The Present Future, McNeal identifies the six most important realities that church leaders must address including: recapturing the spirit of Christianity and replacing "church growth" with a wider vision of kingdom growth; developing disciples instead of church members; fostering the rise of a new apostolic leadership; focusing on spiritual formation rather than church programs; and shifting from prediction and planning to preparation for the challenges of an uncertain world. McNeal contends that by changing the questions church leaders ask themselves about their congregations and their plans, they can frame the core issues and approach the future with new eyes, new purpose, and new ideas.

Contents

• The Collapse of the Church Culture: 1
• The Shift from Church Growth to Kingdom Growth: 20
• A New Reformation Releasing Gods People: 43
• The Return to Spiritual Formation: 69
• The Shift from Planning to Preparation: 92
• The Rise of Apostolic Leadership: 120
• Things I Didnt Say: 140
• Conclusion: 146
• References: 149
• The Author: 151

About the author

Reggie McNeal serves as the Missional Leadership Specialist for Leadership Network of Dallas, Texas. McNeal is the author of Missional Renaissance, A Work of Heart, and Practicing Greatness from Jossey-Bass.

Leadership Network fosters church innovation and growth through strategies, programs, tools, and resources consistent with their far-reaching mission. Contact Leadership Network at www.leadnet.org.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church; Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series
• Author: Reggie McNeal
• Edition: reprint
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2009
• ISBN: 0470503815, 9780470503812
• Length: 176 pages
• Subjects: Religion / Christian Education / General; Religion / Christian Ministry / Pastoral Resources; Religion / Christianity / General; Religion / Education; Religion / General