N. Graham Standish Livres

Clergy face significant challenges amid the decline of the mainline church, impacting all theological perspectives. Drawing from his extensive experience as a spiritual director and pastor, N. Graham Standish provides insights through dialogues with struggling clergy. Each chapter tackles key leadership issues, merging counseling and organizational development principles. This integrative approach offers practical strategies for pastors to enhance their effectiveness and foster healthier church environments, addressing the real concerns voiced by those in ministry.

Focusing on discerning God's purpose, this book guides congregations in recognizing Christ's presence and the flow of divine blessings within their community. The second edition enhances the original content with three new practical chapters addressing frequently asked questions, making it a valuable resource for churches seeking spiritual growth and clarity in their mission.

Vibrant worship services, argues creative and provocative author Graham Standish, are those in which the congregation obviously asks questions such as: Does our worship help people experience God? Does our worship open people to the presence of Christ? Does our worship encourage people to become available to the Holy Spirit? Unfortunately, he observes, too many worship services are perfunctory, suggesting that most churches don't think much about how to connect people with God. In God's Presence makes the case that congregations must restore intentionality and authenticity to worship in a way that will open people to the Holy. Intentionality, he says, reflects a deep understanding of what tradition has attempted to do, what contemporary people are hungry for, what is going on in our culture, and how to connect the three. Standish advocates what he calls an 'integrated' approach to worship, one that maintains the distinctiveness of each element of worship as a counterpoint to other elements. He first explores the problem of worship in the current church. Then he looks at ways to reconceive worship with an emphasis on restoring the Holy to worship. Finally, he looks at ways to lead a congregation to consider new ways of worshiping. This book is about how to open people to an encounter with the Holy in worship, how to follow God in this pursuit, and how to lead those who have no interest in the Holy.