Autopsy of a Deceased Church: 12 Ways to Keep Yours Alive

by Thom Rainer

Publisher:

B&H

, 2014

Overview

No one wants to see a church die. And yet, far too many churches are dying. For more than twenty-five years, Dr. Thom Rainer has helped churches grow, reverse the trends of decline, and has autopsied those that have died. From this experience, he has discovered twelve consistent themes among those churches that have died. Yet, it’s not gloom and doom because from those twelve themes, lessons on how to keep your church alive have emerged.

Whether your church is vibrant or dying, whether you are a pastor or a church member, Autopsy of a Deceased Church will walk you through the radical paths necessary to keep your church alive to the glory of God and advancement of Christ’s Kingdom!

Contents

Top Highlights

“In dying churches the last expenditures to be reduced are those that keep the members most comfortable.” (source)

“The most pervasive and common thread of our autopsies was that the deceased churches lived for a long time with the past as hero.” (source)

“If you talk to members in a dying church, most will deny that their church is a fortress. But in our autopsy, we found that is exactly what was taking place. People in the community did not feel welcome in the church. Those in the church were more concerned about protecting the way they did church than reaching residents of the community.” (source)

“There was almost never any effort to go into the community.” (source)

“There was a lot of ‘remember when’ about particular years of growing numbers and high attendance days. However, members of dead or dying churches often overlook the reason behind those years of growth and expansion. Thriving churches have the Great Commission as the centerpiece of their vision, while dying churches have forgotten the clear command of Christ.” (source)

Product Details

• Title: Autopsy of a Deceased Church: 12 Ways to Keep Yours Alive
• Author: Thom Rainer
• Publisher: B&H
• Print Publication Date: 2014
• Logos Release Date: 2023
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Church renewal; Church; Leadership
• ISBNs: 9781087795713, 9781433683930, 1433683938, 9781433683923, 143368392X, 1087795710
• Resource ID: LLS:9781433683930
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2023-10-09T17:58:08Z

About Thom Rainer

Thom S. Rainer (born July 16, 1955) is an American author, researcher, speaker, and current president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville, Tenn. He is the author of several books, including Simple Church, named a Church & Ministry bestseller by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and the 2007 Christianity Today Book Award winner in the Church/Pastoral Leadership category.