Thomas G. Bandy

In his previous books--Kicking Habits, Growing Spiritual Redwoods, and Moving Off the Map--Thomas Bandy has drawn a compelling contrast between two kinds of congregational systems: The thriving church system, whose focus on hands-on ministry and shared core values propels it toward the future into which God's Spirit is leading; and the declining church system, whose focus on control and hierarchical structures leaves it bound to the past. In this eBook, Bandy argues that the organization of a co... more info>>

Is your congregation concerned primarily with health and stability, or mission and outreach? Does it always or usually seek a pleasant sense of harmony and fellowship, or does it vibrate with an edgy energy? Are the members risk averse, or risk takers? In this innovative book, Tom Bandy explains how harmony--the desire to minimize conflict and change--can deaden our discernment of the leadership of the Spirit, and render us blind to the needs of the world into which Jesus would lead. With the vi... more info>>

Growing Spiritual Redwoods is an effort to help church leaders answer the kinds of questions that confront congregations and Christians in this era of rapid and uncertain change in the church, questions such as: Are you committed to Jesus Christ, or to a particular doctrine, denomination, or church? Do you speak of faith as an experience of Christ, or as a heritage that you protect? Do you believe that ministry is to make disciples or members? William Easum and Thomas Bandy believe that deep spi... more info>>

Lays out the plan for a collection of readings from Scripture designed for the needs of seekers and the unchurched. The church has used lectionaries lists of scriptures to be read on particular Sundays throughout the year across its long history. Yet most lectionaries are inward-looking: they presuppose hearers who are familiar with the biblical story and accustomed to gearing their lives around the Christian year. Yet in the increasingly pagan world of North America, the church's task is to rea... more info>>

An upgrade to the ground-breaking book that has shown thousands of congregations how to overcome the destructive attitudes and systems that prevent them from focusing on their true mission: making disciples of Jesus Christ. In this upgraded edition, Bandy continues to explore the meaning of "walking with Jesus" in the 21st century. Drawing on the stories of exciting new congregations that have arisen within the last few years, he sharpens his portrayal of the thriving church syste... more info>>

Mission Mover calls the reader to go beyond safe, ineffective leadership in service to the institutional church into preparation to follow Jesus into the mission field of contemporary culture. There are, says Tom Bandy, two different paths one can choose in preparing for ministry. On the one hand is the path of training to be a "church leader," in which you wait for 3-4 years to complete a specialized education, then spend your career trying to settle down in a place where you're comfortable, wh... more info>>

In his book Kicking Habits: Welcome Relief for Addicted Churches, Thomas Bandy provided the "big picture" of the five stages of congregational renewal and transformation. Similarly, in Growing Spiritual Redwoods, Bandy and Bill Easum provided new metaphors for change to help congregations break out of outmoded attitudes and assumptions, and described the nature of spiritual leadership necessary to grow spiritual giants that would change the face of the cultural forest. The purpose of Moving Off ... more info>>

"Why should we change?" This book is written for the vast majority of congregations who are cautious, tentative, and ambivalent to change and creative initiatives for mission. The vast majority will find a calm, reasonable explanation of why their stability is more shaky than ever, and their seeming congregational health hides a growing self-destructive addiction.

Although the largest churches in the world are cell-based, many have questioned whether the model will work in North America. The Church In Many Houses: Reaching Your Community Through Cell-Based Ministry makes the case that the cell model will work if key assumptions about spiritual growth and the nature of the church are reexamined and renewed. By drawing on scripture, research, and insights gained through personal experience as the pastor of a growing cell church, Steve Cordle identifies the ... more info>>