Spiritual Maturity: Preserving Congregational Health and Balance

Like all human bodies, the body of Christ that we call "church" needs to attend to its health or it may become ill. Renowned pastor, preacher, and teacher Frank Thomas believes that many congregations exhibit a number of dysfunctional habits in conducting business that lead to rifts, divides, and even congregational splits. Often they are caused by leadership styles that are ineffective and controlling. Thomas examines how poor congregational leadership is often the result of personality conflicts among leaders and how many key leaders—both clergy and lay— participate in keeping unhealthy methods alive.

Thomas's book will help lay and clergy leaders improve the health of their congregation by taking a close look at the styles of church leadership, methods of information flow, and levels of participation that exist within the body. Thomas offers a holistic solution based on a model of spiritual maturity for creating and preserving a healthy congregation.

"We welcome Frank Thomas' fresh, workable, and expertly detailed approach to victorious Christian living and leadership. This is more than mere slogans about spiritual growth and fulfillment. This book offers a delightfully realistic prescription for the habitual attitudes and actions so commonly known to rob pastors, and laity of the power and joy of service together."
— Drs. Ella P. and Henry H. Mitchell
Authors of Together for Good: Lessons from Fifty-five Years of Marriage (1999)

Preface
Introduction

Module 1
The Call to the Victorian Christian Life
Lesson 1: The Call to the VCL
Lesson 2: The Few, the Proud, the Victorious
Lesson 3: Overcoming the Fear of Freedom

Module 2
The Mature Self
Lesson 1: The Sin of Playing Victim
Lesson 2: The Sin of Playing Savior
Lesson 3: The Dance of Immaturity
Lesson 4: Walk into the Storm

Module 3
The Mature Church Member
Lesson 1: The Privilege of Participation
Lesson 2: Love and the Privilege of Participation
Lesson 3: Abuse by Secrets
Lesson 4: Abuse by Scapegoating
Lesson 5: The Illusion of Participation
Lesson 6: Separation Anxiety
Lesson 7: Mobilizing by Initiative

Module 4:
The Mature Church Leader
The Story
Lesson 1: Prayer as the Vehicle to Clarity
Lesson 2: Decisiveness Is Faith at Work
Lesson 3: The Courage to Lead
The Mature Leader

Epilogue
Appendix
Notes