I was given this book in 1984, shortly after it was first published. Since then the bible and this book have been the foundation of my daily prayer life. I have given countless copies to family and friends. Each of the men I meet with each week for prayer all use it as the foundation of their spiritual reading. There is hardly a week goes by that one or the other of us begin our sharing with the words, "I was reading THE BOOK this week and came across...."

As a retreat leader, I have used this book as the source of readings for reflection and sharing on many retreats. I've built whole retreats around one week's scripture and reading selections.

A must for all seekers.

I've used this book for about two years as a simple, predictable structure for prayer and bible reading. Each week, new area or faith is explored, following the lectionary used in most churches today. A simple invocation (or opening) prayer is presented, followed by a Psalm reading. Next is a reading on the subject, which is borrowed from other resources (these readings cross all boundaries in terms of geography and date written), followed by a Scripture reading. Next is a time of reflection, where one is encouraged to journal and reflect upon the topic in light of the information presented from man and the Word. Next is prayer time, a hymn, and a closing prayer. A weekly "recipe" with some ingredients provided, the book has a life span of 4 years, with the current edition 2001-2004.

A wonderful book of daily Bible readings and excerpts from the spiritual classics. The readings for each week are devoted to a theme; this week of October 4 is "Faithfulness". This is a book I dearly love and depend on...it's wonderful.

This 159 page paperbook may seem pricey for its size, but it's a priceless resource for church leaders, clergy and lay. Internal conflict, demographic change, technological advances, increasingly pluralism, and other factors demand that churches today approach ministry in a more intentional, systematic, and rational fashion. Without a system for management of the church, the church may fade from the scene, or at least, the churches that do approach church life in a systems approach.

The authors, both noted writers, consultants, and professors in church management, sunccintly state the purpose of their book: to provide "a practical theology for the church seeking to be missionally effective in its ministry to a turbulent environment." The nine chapters of the book go a long way to accomplishing this goal and without being too dry or "bookish."

After an introductory chapter, chapters two through nine present the systems approach of management in a readable fashion. Areas such as program planning, budgeting, and problem and decision analysis are addressed. The last chapter will have a particular interest for clergy with its title "The Pastor as Church Manager."

This book is a definite, must read, for churchmen today, regardless of denominational affliation or theological outlook.

All of the prevailing management theories are built around systems theory. Shawchuck does an excellent job of helping us understand ministry through a systems perspective. The book is spiritually sensitive and practically helpful.

There has been no Biblical proof yet offered which shows that Jesus was a marketing man, or that marketing is to be part of the growth of Jesus' Kingdom.

See my critique in Testing the Claims of Church Growth.

This is good marketing, but poor theology.