Gene Mims, The Kingdom Focused Church: A Compelling Image of an Achievable Future for Your Church. Broadman and Holman, 2003.
Referenced in: Congregational Renewal – Integrated Spiritual / Strategic
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
This reads like an inspiring sermon for leaders of churches to focus on discerning the unique kingdom purpose God has for their church, and to believe that regardless of their setting and situation, all churches can expand God’s kingdom on earth. Mims encourages leaders to go beyond current church growth resources that parrot popular secular ideas. Instead, they should have a kingdom focus that is not necessarily a focus on growth, seekers, worship, minister, evangelism, missions, ministry, social causes, etc. Mims tells many stories from his experience that illustrate what happens when lesser issues than the kingdom become the focus, and others that equally describe the maturation and ministry that God gives a church when it is indeed focused on what is important to Him. This book is not heavy in theology or strategy, although one will find some time-tested wisdom on a variety of subjects.
From the Publisher
You will never find the full meaning of your church or the pathway to a healthy, successful church in methods, conferences, or overhead transparencies. You will only find the full understanding of your church’s life and mission in the heart of God and His will for you. Success doesn’t come from copying someone else’s ideas or methods, but from knowing the biblical model of a church and understanding how to conform your church—regardless of size, location, resources, history, or any other variable—to that biblical pattern.
Your answer is in knowing the biblical model of a church and understanding where you are, which direction you need to head, and how to fix things as they break down along the way. In Mims’ warm, engaging style, he encourages you to discover for yourself why a Kingdom focus will work when all else fails.
The Kingdom-Focused Church will give you everything you need to achieve your church’s full potential—and relief from the smorgasbord approach that does more harm than good by distracting you from the unique focus, nature, and mission of the church God has saved for you alone.
“If you’re not ready to believe this yet, I don’t blame you,” Mims admits. “I only hope you’ll read on to learn why a Kingdom focus will work when everything else fails.”
About the Author
Dr. Gene Mims currently serves as Senior Pastor of Judson Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Mims previously served thirteen years as Vice-President of Lifeway Christian Resources in Nashville, Tennessee and as President of International Baptist Network for two years.
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