The Antioch Effect: 8 Characteristics of Highly Effective Churches

by Kenneth S. Hemphill

Book Overview

In this landmark book, Ken Hemphill sidesteps a generation of outreach seminars and market-driven formulas to rediscover the true source of all sustained church growth: a spiritual commitment to God. By identifying eight characteristics of growing, healthy congregations, he makes specific recommendations for evaluating and shoring up the spiritual foundations of your congregation, building its spiritual life on the unique needs and capabilities of...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805420185
• ISBN13: 9780805420180
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: B&H Books
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Emphasizes the spiritual without discounting the methods

The Antioch Effect is a balanced church growth book, which emphasizes the spiritual condition of the church without discounting the importance of methods and strategy. Using the church of Antioch as his model church, Hemphill examines eight characteristics of an effective church. They are supernatural power, worship, prayer, leadership, fellowship, vision, evangelistic passion and discipleship. The book is written from the perspective of a Southern Baptist church consultant who combines the experience of both a practitioner and a consultant. At times I thought the book bogged down but it was worth the read. The Antioch Effect contains solid growth principles to learn and practical methods to implement.

Used As a Textbook in Seminary class

Dr. Hemphill's book is certainly valuable to pastors, college and seminary ministerial students. It was greatly accepted as a textbook for my class in church growth at Temple Baptist Seminary. All pastors who are interested in a Bible base for church growth will find this book very helpful.

An excellent book which focuses on biblical principles.

Hemphill has written an excellent book which focuses on biblical principles, not church growth strategies or techniques. This powerful book assists the reader to examine what kind of church has the power of God in it. As a former pastor, church growth consultant, and current seminary president, Hemphill is very qualified to write a book on church growth.

good nuts and bolts of church growth strategy

This is without a doubt one of the best books on church growth I have ever read. Everything Hemphill mentions is basic fundamental church growth strategy. He takes us back two thousand years to help us get a clear picture of what Jesus had in plan originally when he said, "upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it".