For the Sake of the House is written to heighten awareness of the organizational dynamics of the church and advance new strategies to meet the demands of this century. Despite the growing urgency on today’s organizations to poise themselves for sustainability, many local congregations and religious organizations continue to function as they have for decades, seemingly oblivious to the vicissitudes of life experienced by their members, those who work and live in a world that is changing at an accelerating rate. My objective is to present challenges and perspectives overlooked or ignored by many church leaders.

It is organized into four parts with three streams of ideas making up the first three parts and then converging in part four to unveil the integrated whole. An introductory chapter sets the stage with a challenge to traditional perspectives of church organizational structure and leadership. Part one stresses the critical need to understand the church as an organization. Part two defines strategic leadership qualities essential to today’s church. Part three addresses the significant advantages of strategic foresight. Part four deals with organizational leadership from a global perspective with local impact.

You will be challenged to reevaluate conventional thinking patterns that, while confortable for us, can get in the way of our mission and distort our vision. You will be challenged to rethink leadership styles and organizational structures the Church adopted years ago.

We have changed our dress, our modes of transportation, our communication tools and access to information, our music, and many other things. Now it is time to ensure the organizational models and the leadership styles we adopt do not thwart the message. For the sake of the house and the Gospel upon which it is built, we must be strategic in our leadership, wise as serpents yet harmless as doves.

 

For the Sake of the House is written to heighten awareness of the organizational dynamics of the church and advance new strategies to meet the demands of this century. Despite the growing urgency on today’s organizations to poise themselves for sustainability, many local congregations and religious organizations continue to function as they have for decades, seemingly oblivious to the vicissitudes of life experienced by their members, those who work and live in a world that is changing at an accelerating rate. My objective is to present challenges and perspectives overlooked or ignored by many church leaders.

It is organized into four parts with three streams of ideas making up the first three parts and then converging in part four to unveil the integrated whole. An introductory chapter sets the stage with a challenge to traditional perspectives of church organizational structure and leadership. Part one stresses the critical need to understand the church as an organization. Part two defines strategic leadership qualities essential to today’s church. Part three addresses the significant advantages of strategic foresight. Part four deals with organizational leadership from a global perspective with local impact.

You will be challenged to reevaluate conventional thinking patterns that, while confortable for us, can get in the way of our mission and distort our vision. You will be challenged to rethink leadership styles and organizational structures the Church adopted years ago.

We have changed our dress, our modes of transportation, our communication tools and access to information, our music, and many other things. Now it is time to ensure the organizational models and the leadership styles we adopt do not thwart the message. For the sake of the house and the Gospel upon which it is built, we must be strategic in our leadership, wise as serpents yet harmless as doves.

 

God is going to hold us all accountable. Pastors are responsible for the accountability of their flock. Believers are responsible for the accountability of other believers and are responsible to willingly submit to accountability. Yet most churches do not have planned accountability programs. The Christian Life Accountability Program seeks to provide guidance to begin an accountability program.

The first section in this book identifies the foundation for creating an accountability program. The second section seeks to provide a solid foundation about the reason for living the Christian life. The next three sections provide brief training courses that can be used as an introductory training for accountability in the areas of finances, health, and relationships.

Believers must realize that God has a plan for their life. Satan seeks to destroy that plan by damaging the believer in basic areas of life, such as finances, health, and relationships. The way that Satan damages believers is through sins such as greed, laziness, gluttony, selfishness, and pride. The three introductory accountability training courses in this book are intended to provide a foundational discipline for believers to stand up to sins in their life that are harming them in the areas of finances, health, and r elationships.

If we are ever going to make any progress in the divine life, we will have to have a real foundation. There is no foundation except that of faith for us. All our actions and all that ever will come to us of any importance will be because we have a Rock. If you are on the Rock, no power can move things established in you to bring it forth. There is no establishment outside God’s Word. Everything else is sand. Everything else will break apart. If you build on anything else but the Word of God—on imaginations, sentimentality, or feelings—it will mean nothing without the foundation, and the foundation will have to be in the Word of God. In Now Faith, author William T. Capers Jr. attempts to get you to believe that God has selected you, just as He did Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You too can receive unlimited blessings from God. Capers hopes it will prove to be helpful and a blessing to you, as you read. Go raise up a standard over the earth, and become an overcomer in all you put your hands to.

The earth made in seven days—could this be?

A loving God imagined and longed for me?

 

At one time or another, we all ask ourselves about the Genesis account of creation. How we view creation, and how we understand the lessons in Genesis, deeply affects how we view our lives and our faith. Through original poems, artwork, and photography, In Seven Days?, by author and artist Roslyn Gatts Alexander, presents a fresh, positive outlook on God’s creation of the universe and offers new understanding of the Bible account for readers old and new.

 

Alexander’s bold and beautiful illustrations enhance our journey through the first seven days, and her lyrical verse provides a playful, modern retelling of the creation story to which we all can relate. Also included are Original Sin, God’s plan for our redemption, and a celebration of His light and glory. God desires relationship with us, and by personally seeking Him we return his admiration and walk in his everlasting love.

 

So how BIG could a tomato become is you had faith as small as your thumb?
 
Tommy and his little chicken friend, Noodle take us on an adventure to show us just how very important faith is---even if it's as tiny as a yellow mustard seed.   Tommy shows us that faith, even when it's as small as your thumb, can be very BIG indeed! And as faith grows so do the things in Tommy's world.  For if you had no faith at all, Tommy says, that tomato would be smaller than a ladybug's nose!  But when you have faith that tomato could be bigger than your imagination could possibly conceive!
 
In addition, correlating scripture verses further enlarge and expand you child's faith in God.

So just how BIG could a tomato become if you had faith as small as your thumb?  This book will show you how far a little bit of faith can take you!

 

 

There is a wide gap between how pastors are trained and what churches expect of them. Pastors are trained to preach, while congregations expect them to manage a complex, non-profit organization, measuring their success by the people in the pews and the dollars in the plate. On top of that, the ever-increasing complexity of local church ministry is demanding more money while the rules of funding ministry are changing, leaving many pastors feeling uncomfortable, unprepared, and overwhelmed.

Ben Stroup understands this dilemma well. While serving as pastor of a small, rural congregation that grappled with a changing community and the need to build a more sustainable funding model, he sought in vain for a resource to help manage the tension between balancing money and ministry.

Building on his church staff and business experience, Ben has effectually translated non-profit development strategies and techniques into the language and practice of the local church. With practical tools and effective leadership principles that can be immediately implemented, he assists churches in changing the conversation from “What do we have to cut to survive?” to “What does God want us to do next?”

If you desire to gain a better understanding of how to lead your church through tough and prosperous economic times, and if you believe God will provide all you need to accomplish the ministry he has placed on your heart, this book will be an invaluable resource to help you fund your God-inspired vision.

Praise for Church Giving Matters

“We owe Ben a debt of gratitude for his courageous and helpful approach to a topic that has virtually been a four letter word to the church--"cash." We often pretend that we can effectively advance the kingdom through a great commission strategy without talking about money. Ben strips away all the pretense and tells us that more money translates into more ministry. You will love the emphasis on sustainability.”

Dr. Ken Hemphill, National Strategist for Empowering Kingdom Growth and author of Making Change: A Transformational Guide to Christian Money Management

 

“In a day when budgets are tight and giving is incredibly challenging, this book is worth its weight in gold...if not diamonds. For every pastor, staff member, and committed lay leader, this volume is invaluable.”

Dr. Jerry Sutton, former President of the Southern Baptist Convention's Pastor's Conference and Professor at the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary

 

“Every decade a stewardship resource comes along that influences positive change in giving. Masterfully crafted advice lies within the pages of this book which if followed, will positively impact “what you’ll have” for “what you want to do.” Give one to every deacon and elder in your church. I did!”

Dr. Scott Preissler, Eklund Professor of Steward Leadership, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

 

“This book hits at the heart of what pastors and lay leaders need to know about giving. Ben has thoughtfully and carefully provided practical applications that will help church leaders increase the base of resources from which their ministry takes place.”

Bill Gruenewald, former President of the Southern Baptist Church Business Administrators Association and Minister of Business Administration, First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, Tennessee

 

“It’s time for pastors and church leaders to approach funding in a different way. The old has gone; the new has come. Ben is on the cutting edge of this new direction toward long-term, sustainable church ministry. Read this book!”

Patrick Johnson, Vice President of Church Services, National Christian Foundation

 

"There have always been a few bright individuals who could see the future. Ben Stroup is one of those guys! Here is an opportunity to get ahead of the curve on funding and doing more ministry."

Ashley Clayton, Associate Vice President of Stewardship, Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention