Andrew Root and Blair Bertrand

When Church Stops Working
Brazos Press, 2023
By Andrew Root and Blair Bertrand

WHO: Andrew Root, an author and professor at Luther Seminary; and Blair Bertrand, a lecturer at Zomba Theological University and teaching consultant with Theological Education by Extension Malawi. 

THEY SAY: “To obey Jesus’ command—to be the body of the living Christ—the church will always be in tension.”

THE BIG IDEA: This book shows how actively watching and listening for God can bring life to churches in crisis.

THE PROGRESSION: In eight chapters, the authors show how getting mired in busyness and new programs can keep us from focusing on God. They also explain that while innovation can be great, waiting on the Lord is the solution a church in crisis needs.

“Your church is sick, but the problem is not decline. The problem is that this secular age has infected it.”

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“We minister to the broken people in our community through many ministries, and we attract a lot of people who want to join our church because of our ministries,” says Art Ayris, executive pastor of administration at First Baptist.

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When You Don’t Want to Read the Bible

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