Sustainable Church: Growing Ministry Around the Sheep, Not Just the Shepherds

by Walt Russell

Sustainable Church is a thorough, Bible-based exposition of how the ministry of every church should be organically built around all of the Spirit-gifted followers of Jesus within that local body. It critiques the shallow pragmatism and unsustainability of non-organic churches and biblically showcases the sustainability of the organic church. “Body Discipleship” is a key part of the church’s sustainability and the author explains biblically how it corrects the model of discipleship that has been popular for the last 2-3 generations. Additionally, Sustainable Church showcases the servant-model of biblical leaders who are supposed to equip the saints to do the work of ministry on behalf of Jesus, the true Pastor/Shepherd of every local church!

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2016

Reviews

[Junior · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had Dr. Russell while I was in seminary. Reading this book was like taking a trip down memory lane when I was taking his class. I’ve grown to appreciate moving away from centralized control where the “clergy” is expected to do everything from allowing the gifts within the body of Christ to also minister and serve one another. Dr. Russell calls this “Body Discipleship” where church leaders are to equip the body of Christ to do the work of ministry. When you put all the responsibilities on the elders of the church that is unsustainable. The sustainable approach, as Dr. Russell argues, is tapping into the gifts among the members and to integrate them into the service of the church.