Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations by Robert C. SchnaseMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I taught this as a small-group study at church, and the class loved it. You know the book is good when your students tell the preacher he should read it.
Schnase's book is full of thought-provoking ideas. I was pleased to say that a lot of suggestions we could check off as "got it," but there were still plenty of creative ideas to implement.
The author is Methodist and most of his examples come from that tradition, but I am sure any Protestant church -- any church, probably -- can glean information from this book to use in its own congregational life.
I found the author's Biblical examples to be a little thin, but then he wasn't writing a Bible study. I was teaching one, though, so I found a parable to illustrate each practice.
I especially appreciated the way Schnase shows how each practice provides a foundation for those that come after it.
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