Finding Organic Church: A Comprehensive Guide to Starting and Sustaining Authentic Christian Communities

by Frank Viola

Publisher:

David C. Cook

, 2009

Overview

What is an organic church? It’s a community of people framed by a common life in Christ, not religious programs. A community whose foundation is birthed by God, not built by methods. A vibrant family of Jesus where genuine, authentic relationships are fostered.

Influential leader and author Frank Viola is calling the church back to its biblical and spiritual roots. It’s a call grounded in a profound truth: in all things spiritual, origin determines destiny. This is why so many religious congregations today are struggling to survive. It’s not because of bad planning, but poor planting. So how do we return to God’s original plan and purpose for his church?

Viola presents an essential guide for finding, planting, and nourishing organic church communities. Within this comprehensive guide, he unearths rich spiritual insights from God’s Word and revisits the original design for the church. Drawing from both Scripture and real-world experience, this comprehensive guide offers fresh and practical tools for finding and planting life-changing churches that won’t just grow, but thrive.

In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Scripture citations link directly to English translations, and important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.

Key Features

• Presents a theology of organic church planting
• Includes practical advice for those who embark on planting an organic church
• Appeals to Scripture, experience, and New Testament scholarship to support the tactics set forth

Contents

• Part I: Planting the Seed—Biblical Principles for Church Planting
  • The Divine Pattern of Church Formation
  • Restoring the Itinerant Worker
  • The Master Plan of Church Planting
  • Apostolic Covering vs. Apostolic Help
  • The Modern House Church Movement
  • Restoration or Revolution?
• Part II: Tilling the Ground—Answers to Questions
  • Can the New Testament Example Be Applied Today?
  • Was Paul an Exception?
  • Is Church Planting Elitist?
  • Can’t Anyone Start an Organic Church?
  • Wasn’t Paul the Last Apostle?
  • Don’t Apostles Perform Signs and Wonders?
• Part III: Cultivating the Soil—Practical Steps for Beginning
  • Discovering Organic Church
  • Five Unmovable Principles
  • Learning How to Meet
  • Corporate Singing
  • Building Community
  • Twelve Essential Ingredients
• Part IIII: Pulling the Weeds—Health and Development
  • The Growth Stages of an Organic Church
  • The Seasons of an Organic Church
  • The Diseases of an Organic Church I
  • The Diseases of an Organic Church II
  • How an Apostolic Worker Cares for a Church
  • The Journey Ahead

Top Highlights

“By organic church, I mean a church that is born out of spiritual life instead of being constructed by human institutions and held together by religious programs. Organic church life is a grassroots experience that is marked by face-to-face community, every-member functioning, open-participatory meetings (as opposed to pastor-topew services), nonhierarchical leadership, and the centrality and supremacy of Jesus Christ as the functional Leader and Head of the gathering.” (Page 20)

“The foundation that is laid and the seed that is planted is Jesus Christ. Thus those who are called to apostolic ministry must know Christ well. They must also know how to show others how to know Him well.” (Page 173)

“Repeat: Let prayer come slowly, naturally, and spontaneously. And when it does come, let it be centered on giving gratitude and praise to the Lord.” (Page 213)

“There are two phrases that will not serve you well as you move forward: ‘church service’ (or simply ‘the service’) and ‘going to church.’” (Page 193)

“Genuine apostolic workers never permanently settle down in the churches they plant. Nor do they assume exclusive authority over them.” (Page 97)

Product Details

• Title: Finding Organic Church: A Comprehensive Guide to Starting and Sustaining Authentic Christian Communities
• Author: Frank Viola
• Publisher: David C. Cook
• Publication Date: 2009
• Pages: 318
• Christian Group: Evangelical
• Resource Type: Topical
• Topic: Theology

About Frank Viola

Frank Viola is a bestselling author, an A-list blogger, and a popular conference speaker. Viola helps serious followers of Jesus know their Lord more deeply so they can experience real transformation and make a lasting impact. His blog - frankviola.org - is regularly ranked in the top 5 of all Christian blogs on the Web and his podcast - Christ is All - has ranked #1 in Canada and #2 in the USA on iTunes.