The Inclusivity And Exclusivity Associated With Power And Manipulation Of Cliques

In the Introduction section of the book, The Hidden Lives of Congregations, Israel Galindo states that a congregation is a “corporate relationship organization” (3) and is not an organization. He points out that the hidden life of a congregation would depict the “nature” of a congregation. This further identifies the relationships and faith of the congregation. According to him, the universal principles are followed by the congregations so that “systemic relationships” can work. The leaders learn the roles that they have within the people who are the congregation. The journal will focus on Dr. Fowler’s question “what is the purpose of this gathering we call the church?”

What do trends indicate about the future of Black Rural Churches? (Chapter 5) Trends indicate this about the future of Black Rural Churches. It has gradually but noticeable reverse migration among black people to the South and the sunshine states of the Southwest. The primary reasons are the search for jobs and the continued industrialization of the South. Extended family ties provide another motivation to move. Most black people in the North have relatives in southern states, and many of them still consider the south as home. However, the reverse migration will not match the previous out-migrations, it will most likely increase the black population base of the South and provide a potential constituency for some rural churches. Finally, the growing class split in the black community are increasing (Lincoln, C. Eric, and Lawrence H. Mamiya

Between 1820 and 1860, Americans constructed 40,000 new churches compared to the 10,000 they constructed in the 40 years before 1820. At the end of the revival period, ”one-third of all Americans attended church regularly.”(P.400) Many of the early revival preachers embraced Christian evangelicalism, the established groups sought to take advantage of the popular enthusiasm to build their particular denominations. Methodists and the Baptists established themselves as leading American denominations as a result of the Second Great Awakening. The two faiths had a mutual sense of affinity with regard to doctrine, but the Baptists created a radically decentralized hierarchy that empowered local ministers and individual churches.

In the past couple of decades the rise in non-denominational churches has been increasing greatly and are said to be the second largest group of Protestants (Moore, 2011). It is said that most that break off and become apart of this fast growing belief come from a protestant upbringing. The study shows that more people are determining on where to worship by how they like the nursery, if the worship music is good, is it close to home, rather than I am a Catholic I need to go to a Catholic Church. As of 2010, four percent of Americans fall into this non-denominational group (Thumma, 2010).

Evangelism is described as a three-way cord; building relationships, sharing the gospel, and introducing people to community. The authors encourage the Gospel and the Word to stay central, as well as community involvement and helping the needy in the name of Christ. There is a great emphasis on home groups (the authors are themselves home-group leaders), and how this practice makes church planting easier. The togetherness of this practice aids in ones spiritual growth because one cannot become holy on his

Norris and Speers’ journey sent them out around the US in search for five different churches that undoubtedly worship differently but at the same time follow the universal Christian belief of the one true God. The goal of their expedition was to set out to explore the amount of politics that are found in many congregations. Out of these five distinguished churches, Norris and Speers’ focused on analyzing the congregation’s worship tactics, along with their leaders and mission of the church.

The author discovered four major factors that church growth in the North American Division tremendously. First factor is empowering servant leadership. In this section, the leaders work hard and they are willing to make sacrifice in the purpose to see a growing church. The second one is passionate and authentic spirituality they believe that it is spirituality that is the source of passion of passion and power behind their effectiveness. The third point is about how their members are committed to get involved in different activity. Some churches they not growing because they expect their pastors to do all the duties of the church. The fourth factor about a growing church is God exalting worship. Worship is one of key factor for church growth.

David Mains wrote this book to explain his belief that the destructive family patterns are one of the issues relating to the relational dysfunctions of the Church body. There are many types of negative behavioral patterns so he has highlighted eight that he will explain. His introduction uses a personal lecture event that changed his view of dysfunctional families and their relationship to the Church. In that hour, the speaker laid out fifteen traits of dysfunctional families. I quote Mains, “Back at the office I set my work aside and again went through the list of unhealthy family traits. Then it dawned on me that the church family can often be marked by the same dysfunctions.” (p. 11) It is David Mains desire that the exposing of these traits

Function, order and fruit issue from this law of life within. It was solely on this principle that what we have in the New Testament came into being. Organized Christianity has entirely reversed this order” (Viola, 2010). After reviewing the Rod Dempsey’s Disciple Making is: Evaluating Church Models Chart, this is more of a cult model: incarnational lived out in the community, relational missional groups, intentional mentoring in the community (Dempsey, 2015).

Needless to say, babies may not be born into this world completely innocent, some things are genetically hard-wired into us. Lying for example may actually be necessary for survival, even if it's not good, bluffing could possibly one day save your life. In-group favouritism to some extent is also necessary, because in nature animals need to flock together with the strongest to survive.

Organized groups such as NAACP, MADD..ect. Are set to inform and give information to others who see the way they do. These groups are helpful with showcasing information within the organization. A group such as mothers against drunk driving are helpful informing drivers that drinking and driving is extremely dangerous. Drunk driving is life threatening. Mothers are especially cautious to drunk drivers due to the life of a young child or children in the vehicle. Drunk driving with a child in a car or drunk driving period is the worst thing you can do to harm yourself and others around you. Alcohol impairs your mind capability, your process of thinking what's right and what's wrong is all off. Now within all these groups there are positive and

Over the years, many models have been developed and implemented to endeavor to make disciples. Some of the models have been effective and others have not. Among some of the most biblical and efficient models are the ones that involve small groups. Within the small groups models, they can be broken down into further detail, such as pastoral involvement, the church’s goal, missions mindedness, etc. In this paper, I will explain my philosophy of small groups in a church and the importance of the relational group in authentic disciple making. I will also explain how missional groups can help the body of Christ move out into the community. Finally, I will summarize my status in regards to living in community with other believers and being missional with that community.

According to our text a church is coexist in a general population with similar practices of that population. Additionally the book describe a sect as an organization that does not fit into the norms of society. These sect eventually gain a large amount of followers and turn into churches. A sect-church cycle is the continuous phases of people belong to a church forming their own organization because of difference in beliefs, gaining large amount of followers and that organization becoming a church in with similar beliefs of the society in which it exist.

In our book a sect or sectarian groups are high- tension organizations that don’t fit well within the existing social environment. These groups usually consist of the poor, less privileged, minorities and outcast. The book says it consist of these people because some “downplay worldly pleasure by stressing otherworldly promises.” A sect- Church cycle is when groups from the church branch off into their own sect to distance themselves from what they think is wrong. I think this can help people understand social change because although the book talks a lot about churches branching off into their own sect, a lot of time people

To begin, there are several unique advantages that occur when a community of faith attains little or no power over its members. Between having unanimous power, increased diversity, creating trust, and attaining community leadership and participation outline a rather lengthy list of potential benefits. Coincidentally, I find this technique to be rather beneficial. It is vital to advance one’s understanding of these potential advantages due to the