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Let Len Lend a Hand
The world we minister in is very different from that faced by the previous generation. It is equally true that churches are much different than they were in the previous century. How do we think through the issues facing the church effectively and respond to them in a redemptive way?
Many church leaders are discovering Leonard Sweet has helpful insights for navigating contemporary currents. Sweet describes
himself as an historian, futurist, and father. He serves as the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew University. His academic background includes degrees from the University of Richmond, Colgate Rochester Divinity School, and the University of Rochester. Sweet is a United Methodist, but his insights transcend denominational perspectives.
Creative Web Sites
All of his materials, whether books or Web sites, have distinctive, creative designs that enhance the insights he shares with churches. In other words, he demonstrates many of the concepts he recommends. Sweet operates at least four Web sites. Inquirers would benefit from starting at www.leonardsweet.com. This site provides a broad overview of Sweet’s ministry, including newsletters, products, speaking calendars, and much more. The other Web site of particular interest to readers of Christian Standard is www.preachingplus.com. This site is a subscription site with sermons, illustrations, PowerPoint presentations, and multimedia enhancements for communicators. Others might well want to explore www.epictivity.com. One can find links from the main site to his other sites.
A Productive Author
Sweet’s productivity as an author is extraordinary, not just in number, but in quality. He has produced many best-sellers with provocative titles and content. Who can forget titles like SoulTsunami, AquaChurch, and SoulSalsa? These books are so packed with statistics, illustrations, and insights that you will surely find something of use in analyzing modern culture as well as church culture. SoulTsunami provides an assessment of postmodern culture and trends, AquaChurch deals with how we might approach church work in this millennium, and SoulSalsa addresses personal spirituality in this new world. Agree or disagree, these three books are must-reads for modern preachers and church leaders. SoulTsunami and SoulSalsa are published by Zondervan, and AquaChurch is available from Group Publishing.
Other books of interest to church leaders are Post-Modern Pilgrims, available from Broadman & Holman, and Carpe Manana: Is Your Church Ready to Seize Tomorrow? available from Zondervan. The second of these two is probably the most practical of the titles mentioned. His newer titles include Jesus Drives Me Crazy and Out of the Question . . . Into the Mystery.
Reading Sweet is a unique experience. Even though the designs are creative and the ideas stimulating, many citations are carefully footnoted. There is wit and sensitivity in his observations. Above all, Sweet, in the midst of sharing some alarming trends, never gives in to pessimism. He sees great opportunities for the church in the future.
Mike Shannon is dean at Cincinnati (Ohio) Bible Seminary.
PREVIOUS COLUMNS:
January 18, 2006 - Dealing With the Dark Side
January 4, 2006 - Libraries Without Walls
December 21, 2005 - Communication Concepts from Secular Circles
December 7, 2005 - Words of Wisdom for Women's Ministry
November 23, 2005 - Magnificent Help from the Magazine Rack
November 9, 2005 - Invigorating Volunteers; Developing Disciples
October 26, 2005 - Overcoming Overwhelm
October 12, 2005 - Big Ideas for Smaller Churches
September 28, 2005 - For You and Youth
September 14, 2005 - A Potpourri of Books
August 31, 2005 - A Potpourri of Web Sites
August 17, 2005 - Hart-to-Heart Talks
August 3, 2005 - Ken Can Help
July 20, 2005 - Easum Has Some Advice
July 6, 2005 - Finding Illustration Gold Mines
June 22, 2005 - Get Real with Bobb Biehl
May 29, 2005 - A New Angle on Church Growth
May 15, 2005 - It's Your Turn
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