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The Connecting Church 2.0: Beyond Small Groups to Authentic Community, by Randy Frazee
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The development of meaningful relationships, where every member carries a significant sense of belonging, is central to what it means to be the church. So why do many Christians feel disappointed and disillusioned with their efforts to experience authentic community? Despite the best efforts of pastors, small group leaders and faithful lay persons, church is too often a place of loneliness rather than connection. In this revised and updated version of his bestselling book, Randy Frazee shows us how church can be so much…better—more intimate and alive. The answer may seem radical today, but it was a central component of life in the early church. First-century Christians knew what it meant to live in vital community with one another, relating with a depth and commitment that made "the body of Christ" a perfect metaphor for the church. What would it take to reclaim that kind of love, joy, support, and dynamic spiritual growth? Read this book and find out.
- Sales Rank: #394426 in Books
- Brand: HarperCollins Christian Pub.
- Published on: 2013-03-12
- Released on: 2013-03-12
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 8.58" h x .67" w x 5.43" l, .55 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 256 pages
About the Author
Randy Frazee is the senior minister at Oak Hills Church, one of the largest churches in America, leading alongside author and pastor Max Lucado. A leader and innovator in spiritual formation and biblical community, Randy is the architect of The Story church engagement campaign. He is also the author of The Heart of the Story, The Connecting Church 2.0, and The Christian Life Profile Assessment. He and his wife, Rozanne, live in San Antonio, Texas.
Most helpful customer reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful.
The Connecting Church
By Sheep23
Many will be familiar with Pastor Randy Frazee, he is the senior pastor of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio where ministers alongside Max Lucado. This second edition of the Connecting Church is Randy's distillation of his study and research in the span of the last ten years since Connecting Church was published. This book is really a goldmine of biblical and spiritual truth! The book is divided into four major sections with the major labels: common purpose, common place, commons possessions, and connecting church. What was most helpful in each section was the remarkable clarity of thought that Randy brought to the table. In each section, he addressed the problem, wrote about characteristics of the theme he was developing and brought it all together by a rediscovery of the outworking of his goal.
In addressing the difficulty in small groups, Randy points out a particular problem about the individualism found in these small groups. Bolstering his argument by using the work of Robert Wuthnow, Randy writes, "He identifies that most small group members do not enter the group with a common set of beliefs and purposes. Instead, everyone carries his or her own individual set of beliefs and purposes into the group" (40). Even in small groups with a direct purpose, often there is a tendency to shy away from making challenging remarks to others in a call for discipleship for fear of what might happen. Randy is right that often small groups fail to bring about a close sense of community because there is no clear belief and purpose structure which holds everyone together. Fearing that holding to close to a firm set of doctrines and purposes will lead to an abuse of power (44), many reject the notion of a band of brothers meeting together. Yet, as Randy points out, it is the steady explanation and application of basic Christian teaching that will help overcome this radical individualism. It is most difficult to act as the church without the knowledge of who and why the church exists.
In the section on Rediscovering Biblical Purpose, Randy makes a powerful statement about the nature of the church by writing, "Our command is not to "go to church" but to "be the church." We are not to hide our light under the bushel of a church building but let it shine out in the community" (69). The body of Christ are Christ's representatives upon Earth to reflect his glory and to imitate his life. The following pages in the chapter elucidate the nature of belonging to a community of believers, sharing a meal, growing, serving in the neighbor hoods they find themselves in. What I thought was insightful here was that Randy makes no formal distinction between the church on Sunday and the church throughout the week. Later on in the book he distinguishes church's that focus on Sunday for their programs and growth and ones that start with neighborhoods, but here he casts a vision of the church that is appealing as much to the street cleaner as it is to the business owner in your neighborhood.
One of the best chapters in the book was entitled Rediscovering Neighborhood. Randy delineates some guiding principles for acting upon our desire to be a good neighbor. One of the principles was `the ten-minute rule. Stop by to see neighbors spontaneously, but don't stay more than ten minutes' (119). I have found this principle immensely helpful when working in the yard. When seeing a neighbor working outside in the yard, taking ten minutes to talk with them is really not hard at all. Often, you end up talking for longer because you find out more things about them you never knew. I would add one thing to this list; sometimes it is very important to be open to just ask questions of your neighbors. Finding out what your neighbor's passions and things they live for gives you an indication of their heart as well. Overall, the points about downsizing, cutting out the commute, and living simply go a long way in promoting a life that is less concerned with stuff and more concerned with people.
Much of the last few chapters deal with church growth strategies targeted at the neighborhood approach. I think this book will greatly encourage believers to engage in ministry in the context they live without the spurious notion that only church ministry inside the church walls really counts. Randy's challenge for small groups to come together for a common purpose around common beliefs is a great reminder to every church.
Thanks to Zondervan and Cross Focused Reviews for the copy of this book in exchange for review.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
Book Review - The Connecting Church 2.0 by Randy Frazee
By Jeff Randleman
This week, I finished reading one of the best books on church growth and discipleship that I've found. It's called The Connecting Church 2.0: Beyond Small Groups to Authentic Community, by Randy Frazee.
I really didn't know what to think about the book when a friend sent it to me to review. My only knowledge of the author is from The Story, NIV: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, a comprehensive look at the Bible as a whole, which our church is journeying through right now. Really, all I knew about Frazee is that he is on staff with Max Lucado at Oak Hills Church, in San Antonio.
But as I read more and more of The Connecting Church 2.0, I grew more and more excited. His premise, originally written ten years ago and recently updated and revised in 2.0, is that the church has to move beyond small groups, or any of the other standard attempts we've made in the past few decades to grow. Frazee makes a solid case for biblical community.
This excites me for two reasons. First, I've seen the positive effects of community personally. I know it works. I've seen it. And if an entire church body catches the vision for biblical community, the possibilities are enormous!
The second reason this excites me is because it's biblical. For too long, I think we've permitted culture to dictate how we do church in America. It's time we accept that the early church did things they way they did them for a reason. They didn't just get lucky and find a method that helped them grow. No, they had the help of the Holy Spirit. Biblical community was God's idea, making it the best idea. Perhaps we should stretch ourselves out of our comfort zones and give it a try.
Frazee takes a look at three individual areas that people and churches need to connect to in order to establish biblical community: a common purpose, a common place, and common possessions. Sounds sort of Acts 2 ish, doesn't it?
As Americans, we celebrate our individualism. But if we want to develop biblical community, we will need to set ourselves aside and consider a common purpose instead. Frazee's chapter on rediscovering this biblical purpose (chapter 5) is perhaps the best chapter in the book. In these pages, Frazee explains that community isn't just something God thinks is a good idea. Rather, community is inherent in his very nature. In the trinity, our one God is three. And three, by definition, is a community.
Frazee next tackles the topic of connecting to a common place. And the place he identifies as the most natural place to do this connecting is in our very own neighborhoods. This is the place we do most of our living, and the people around us can be the easiest people to connect with, especially in a fluid culture where we may travel an extended time just to get to work or church or other places we may need to go. Start building community where it naturally occurs: in your neighborhood.
Third, Frazee discusses the need to connect to common possessions. When we do life together with the people around us, we share what we have if it will help meet their needs. Pitching in and helping those in our own neighborhoods may be the closest we can come to the community modeled in the book of Acts until our culture shifts to be more conducive to community over individualism.
The final section of The Connecting Church 2.0 is given to implementation of this structure. Frazee gives examples of churches who do this well, as well as some of his own mistakes along the way.
I found The Connecting Church 2.0 to be an incredible resource. I know I will be referring to this a lot in the future. I suggest you grab a copy and spend some time reading it carefully. It just might change the way you look at ministry and the church.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from Cross Focused Media as part of their Cross Focused Reviews blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
A Necessary and Needed Resource for Church Leaders
By Vicki Tiede
No doubt... as Americans, we live in an individualistic society. We live in a country where we are encouraged to believe: "What's in it for me?" or "What about me?" Living in a nation and in communities with this mindset can be a very lonely experience. Yet people also need to belong; they need to feel connected to one another. How does someone balance the world they live in with the human need to feel connected with one another?
In The Connecting Church 2.0, pastor and author Randy Frazee sets out to help those feeling lonely and disconnected discover a rich sense of community. Both the secular and Christian communities understand that belonging is an essential need of people. We certainly saw this in the early church as you read through the book of Acts. What was the church if it wasn't a community of believers? How do we, in a post-modern culture in the 21st Century, get the community that early believers experienced? Frazee contends this is still accomplished through the church. The mission of the church continues to have community built into the model. God intends church to be the very hub of our lives and community. Yet in the 21st Century this is not an easy task (I guess it never has been) for the church. Frazee states:
"The church of the 21st Century must do more than add yet another relational world to an already overbooked society; it must develop new structures that help people simplify their lives and develop more meaning, depth, and purpose in their experience of community." p. 32
This book focuses on the mission of small groups, but Frazee realizes that it is best if the entire church is involved in this restructuring. He also notes for those who embark on becoming a connecting church will need to commit to sacrifices to fully experience what God intended and create us to have in community.
Connecting Church 2.0, releasing March 12, 2013, is a revised edition. The first edition came out ten years ago. The current edition is structured into four sections. In part 1, Connecting to a Common Purpose, Frazee explores individualism and why it is a problem, how it has infiltrated the church and the Biblical foundations and purposes of community. A notable quote from this section is Frazee's observation that in many churches,"church today is not a community, it is a collection of individuals" (p 39).
In Part 2, Frazee explores Connecting to a Common Place. In this section, he looks at why isolation is a problem. He also examines the five characteristics of a common place of gathering and rediscovering our neighborhood as a place of connecting. A notable quote from this section " ...we were created for face-to face, skin-to-skin, eyeball-to eyeball, handshaking, neck-hugging community" (p. 113). Part 3 examines Connecting to Common Possessions. Frazee explores the problem with consumerism, the characteristics of common possessions, and rediscovering authentic community. He looks at money and time and how Americans have a hard time letting go of both. In the end they are left with empty hollow lives. In part 4, Frazee presents the Implementation of a Connecting Church. In this section Frazee looks at models of delivering community through small groups, how to choose a model and lessons learned and mistakes made.
Bottom Line:
Vicki and I have been leaders and participants of a small group for nearly all of our married life. Over the years, we have thoroughly enjoyed the relationships we have developed in these groups. We've laughed together, cried together, grown in our faith together and done community together through these groups. However, I can honestly say we have never done community together the same way Randy Frazee presents in this updated version of Connecting Church 2.0. Frazee lays out a lifestyle that I wish I had known and practicing during these past 15 years. I have not read the previous edition, so I am not able to compare the two editions. However, I can tell you that this is an invaluable resource for Christians and seekers who want to experience an authentic community in their neighborhood and church. Of course, this is a necessary and needed resource for church leaders and pastors who are working to build community in their churches too. I believe the section on Connecting to a Common Place would be worth it alone as a book for Christians as they work to share their faith with their neighbors and community (my favorite section). Yet this resource does not stop there. It fully outlines steps for implementing a strategy not just personally, but across an entire church community. Frazee's style of writing is engaging, easy to read, and incredibly informative. He has the gift of looking at today's culture in America and cutting through barriers and making clear steps any Christian could take to develop more authentic relationships. This ibook definitely a earns a Five Star out of Five rating.
Book Description
The development of meaningful relationships, where every member carries a significant sense of belonging, is central to what it means to be the church. So why do many Christians feel disappointed and disillusioned with their efforts to experience authentic community? Despite the best efforts of pastors, small group leaders and faithful lay persons, church is too often a place of loneliness rather than connection. In this revised and updated version of his bestselling book, Randy Frazee shows us how church can be so much...better--more intimate and alive. The answer may seem radical today, but it was a central component of life in the early church. First-century Christians knew what it meant to live in vital community with one another, relating with a depth and commitment that made `the body of Christ' a perfect metaphor for the church. What would it take to reclaim that kind of love, joy, support, and dynamic spiritual growth? Read this book and find out.
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