180 days--that's the critical time every pastor has to establish their role in a new church position. That first six months can make an enormous difference and give them a powerful foundation to impact the Kingdom of God in a positive way, or it can present them with growing challenges that linger for years to come. Pastor Charles Stone draws on 40 years of ministry service to present an easy-to-read guide for new and seasoned pastors alike who want to make the most of those first 180 days.

"This book is a guide for pastors on how to put good practices into place at the beginning of a ministry, thus allowing the pastor to gain the congregational trust necessary to initiate change. Although it is written primarily for lead pastors, the lessons apply to associate roles, transitioning pastors in their third or fourth locations, and even students preparing for their first pastoral assignments." --Back cover.

Why closing the back door of your church is even more important than opening the front door wider. In Sticky Church, author and pastor Larry Osborne offers a time-tested strategy for doing so: sermon-based small groups that dig deeper into the weekend message and tightly velcro members to the ministry. It's a strategy that enabled Osborne's congregation to grow from a handful of people to one of the larger churches in the nation—without any marketing or special programming. Sticky Church tells the inspiring story of North Coast Church's phenomenal growth and offers practical tips for launching your own sermon-based small group ministry. Topics include: Why stickiness is so important Why most of our discipleship models don't work very well Why small groups always make a church more honest and transparent What makes groups grow deeper and sticker over time Sticky Church is an ideal book for church leaders who want to start or retool their small group ministry—and velcro their congregation to the Bible and each other.

Does your life ever feel like one series of rushed moments after another? Do you want to feel more present and connected to those you love? Do you want to be able to listen without thinking the whole time of what you’re going to say next? Do you want to feel less distracted, less busy, and more whole? Most of us spend our distracted lives longing to get to the next, better moment and fail to notice the present one. We lack space between one task and the next, one thought and the next, one email and the next. Social media, TV, work deadlines, and family stress steal our enjoyment and engagement in the moment. Holy Noticing will teach you how to: become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and environment recognize Christ’s presence in the moment reduce your stress by developing the ability to focus on God and people rather than tasks Many today think mindfulness is dangerous, unchristian, or associated with Eastern religions—and often it is! But Dr. Charles Stone reveals that the art of holy noticing—purposefully paying attention to God as he works in us, our relationships, and our world—is a spiritual discipline Christians have practiced for millennia. Holy Noticing explores the historically Christian and biblical roots of this lifestyle, as well as Dr. Stone’s BREATHe model, which teaches you to be more engaged with Christ in the everyday moments that too often slip right by us. Discover the lost spiritual discipline of holy noticing today and learn to engage the world like Christ.

Leadership demands constant reframing and reappraisal of the situation at hand. It requires focus, objectivity, honest appraisal of self and others, and evaluation of available resources. An effective Christian church leader must also align the congregation’s vision and practices with God’s vision and the teachings of Christ. Perhaps most importantly, the church leader must love others. Author Charles Stone uses recent neuroscience research to show how basic brain processes affect leadership. He writes in layperson’s language, with memory-boosting illustrations and acronyms, helping readers to increase productivity, handle stress, create and sustain healthy teams, and manage change in the church. Brain science complements and reinforces Christian teaching on life and leadership; Brain-Savvy Leaders equips readers to use that science as a tool for improvement for life and for the church. Brain-Savvy Leaders is… … the best book I have read on the brain science of healthy thinking and effective leadership. Dr. Stone has done an incredible job of balancing modern brain science with Biblical truth, making complex ideas simple to understand and providing practical tools to enhance mental performance. --Timothy R. Jennings, M.D, FAPA; President, Tennessee Psychiatric Association; Vice President, Southern Psychiatric Association; author, The God Shaped Brain: How Changing Your View of God Transforms Your Life … an engaging and fun read that's also insightful, informative, and practical. A valuable resource for spiritual leaders. --Golnaz Tabinia, neuroscientist and assistant professor, Carnegie Mellon University … will help you with emotional regulation, personal productivity, team collaboration and change management. It's a winner! --Dan Reiland, Executive Pastor, 12Stone Church, Lawrenceville, Georgia; author, Amplified Leadership … shares helpful tips on how to master leadership in the church. I needed this book. --Ron Edmondson, Senior Pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church, Lexington, Kentucky … can help you take your church to the next level and help you better align your leadership with God's desires. It will help you achieve greater focus and design more cohesive and collaborative teams. I highly recommend it. --Jeffrey M. Schwartz, M.D., author of You Are Not Your Brain and Brain Lock

Create a church unchurched people absolutely love to attend. Deep and Wide provides church leaders with an in-depth look into North Point Community Church and its strategy for creating churches unchurched people absolutely love to attend. Now available in an expanded edition, this trusted resource has sold over 250,000 copies. In it, Andy Stanley explains: His strategy for preaching and programming to both mature believers and cynical unbelievers North Point's spiritual formation model: The Five Faith Catalysts Three essential ingredients for creating irresistible environments How to tackle the challenge of transitioning a local congregation If your team is more concerned with who you are reaching than who you are keeping, the expanded edition of Deep and Wide will be more than a book you read; it will be a resource you come back to over and over! New bonus content includes a study guide, church staff helps, and an interview with Andy on the most frequently asked questions about Deep and Wide.

Realistic preparation for ministry can go a long way toward easing a new pastor's make-or-break first year. Drawing on decades of pastoral experience, Charles Wingard gives you the essentials and provides the real-world help needed for navigating the primary duties of the minister: from sermon preparation and sacraments to visitation, counseling, and hospitality. Get the tools you need to establish you in your ministry and lead with confidence.

Before pastors reach burnout and leave the ministry, they experience frustration and disappointment in ministry. Charles Stone, a veteran pastor, helps his fellow pastors understand and meet these challenges, regaining hope and energy to continue their calling. Based on information from the Barna Group and additional research, Stone shows readers what pastors are saying about ministry and offers practical help to overcome the obstacles, rebuild community within the congregation, and persevere with joy. Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research, says, "Read this book and be encouraged."

Highly respected pastor and mentor challenges pastors to remember their calling, redefine success, and avoid the pitfalls of self-focused ministry.

Charles Stone's research on thousands of pastors and ministry leaders demonstrates the dangers of approval-motivated leadership. Bringing together biblical insights and neuroscience findings, Stone shows why we fall into people-pleasing patterns and what we can do to overcome these tendencies for more effective ministry.