Description
A vision of church partnerships that will elevate churches to greater gospel fruitfulness and enable them to thrive.
Networked churches are the primary church planting force in evangelicalism today-but what makes them so effective, why do they remain so under-appreciated, and what are the common pitfalls that can ensnare them?
In Stronger Together, veteran church planter and pastor Dave Harvey draws from his experiences and study of networks to walk Christian institutions, church leaders, and planters through tested strategies for starting and sustaining healthy and biblical church partnerships.
By focusing on key virtues and shedding light on the pitfalls that oppose them, Harvey unpacks seven dichotomies that offer a practical roadmap to healthy patterns:
- Conviction vs. consumerism
- Gifted leadership vs. isolationism
- Collaboration vs. radical individualism
- Renewal dynamics vs. institutionalism
- A kingdom mindset vs. tribalism
- Humility vs. egotism
- Modesty vs. triumphalism
When churches are vitally connected to other churches, they thrive, multiply, and last longer. Scripture exemplifies this, and research proves it. Stronger Together-part of the Exponential series on ministry growth and discipleship-will teach you exactly how to pursue biblical collaboration that will allow your church to flourish and your ministry to grow.
About the Author
Dave Harvey serves as the president of Great Commission Collective, a church planting ministry in the US, Canada and abroad. In his 37 years of ministry, Dave was president of Sojourn Network; led church planting, church care, and international outreach for Sovereign Grace Churches; and served as a senior pastor for 19 years. He is the founder of AmICalled.com and writes at revdaveharvey.com. Dave serves on the board for the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF) and has traveled nationally and internationally doing conferences where he teaches Christians, trains pastors and church planters, and conducts marriage events. Dave is the author of When Sinners Say I Do; Am I Called?; Rescuing Ambition; and The Plurality Principle: How To Build and Maintain a Thriving Church Leadership Team. Married for 40 years, Dave and Kimm have four kids, six grandkids and reside in southwest Florida. (For videos or articles, visit revdaveharvey.com or follow at @revdaveharvey)
Reviews
'A timely and essential resource, Stronger Together gives you the heart and the strategy for starting and sustaining church networks. If you're a church leader--especially one who longs for a regional or city movement--this book is your go-to guide for humbly leading and stewarding church networks.' * Daniel Yang, director, Church Multiplication Institute *
'As the leader of Acts 29, I am entirely convinced of the value of churches in partnership together, which is why I'm thrilled by the message of Stronger Together. This excellent resource is a model for choosing and thriving in church partnerships, and I commend this book to you.' * Brian Howard, executive director, Acts 29 *
'Collaboration is a necessity for the fulfillment and completion of the Great Commission. Dave Harvey does a brilliant job reminding us that the mission is larger than any one church, network, or denomination. If we long to see true kingdom movement happen, relational networks outside of our tribe will be needed to ignite the fire. Stronger Together will help light the match.' * Will Plitt, executive director, Christ Together *
'Dave Harvey draws on several decades of pastoral ministry, network leadership, and the teaching of the New Testament to coach us into a more collegial and fruitful way of leading--linking arms with other churches and watching the gospel surge forward more effectively than any single church could ever experience.' * Dane Ortlund, senior pastor, Naperville Presbyterian Church, and author of Gentle and Lowly *
'Dave Harvey has gifted us with a humility-nurturing, Christ-accentuating, strengthening work for church and network leaders and pastors. His personal journey brings a gospel-soaked wisdom and a compelling vision for the issue of why churches are 'stronger together' in following Christ in his Great Commission.' * Sean Cordell, executive director, Treasuring Christ Together church planting network *
'Dave Harvey provides a clear and compelling argument for the necessity of church planting networks to satisfy the Great Commission call. But he does so without diminishing the role of the local church. The wisdom displayed here will save many pastors and network leaders from falling into serious mistakes, including the growing tragedy of self-idolatry.' * Zach Nelson, executive director, The Pillar Network *
'Dave Harvey writes with honest vulnerability and gospel centrality. Stronger Together will lead you toward an interdependent team approach in ministry. We all want that, but our self-serving habits are hard to break. I couldn't put the book down because of my passion for this kind of partnership in the gospel.' * Scott Thomas, executive pastor of church multiplication, Immanuel Nashville, and author of The Gospel-Shaped Leader *
'God is honored by collaboration, and that's why I'm excited to recommend Stronger Together. Dave Harvey makes a strong biblical case for gospel partnership and collaboration, and he identifies the benefits of church partnerships and how networks can help the church produce more fruit. If you are passionate about Jesus and long to see greater impact on gospel outreach, read this book.' * Patrick O'Connell, global director, NewThing *
'Grounded in Scripture and filled with examples and exercises, Stronger Together is essential reading for network leaders who want to lead more effectively, pastors who want to develop or deepen partnerships, and church members who want to understand how networks can strengthen church leaders and multiply church impact.' * Dave Owens, executive director, Harbor Network *
'If we're blessed to see revival in our churches, I bet it will look a lot like the beautiful vision of partnership laid out by Dave Harvey. I encourage your church's leaders to work through this book together and trust God to develop a vision for growing stronger together.' * Collin Hansen, vice president of content and editor-in-chief of The Gospel Coalition *
'In this masterwork, Dave Harvey makes a clear and compelling case for the necessity and power of gospel-centered partnerships among churches for the advancement of God's kingdom. If you pray, 'Your kingdom come,' this book will help you better understand how God wants to use you to be part of his answer to that prayer.' * Bob Lepine, teaching pastor, author of Love Like You Mean It, longtime cohost of FamilyLife Today *
'No one I know is better qualified to write a book about gospel partnership than Dave Harvey. Dave has experienced firsthand the incredible missional benefits of cooperation and the difficult challenges associated with Christian cooperation. Stronger Together offers a thoughtful, biblical, and balanced case for partnerships that every pastor should read.' * Clint Clifton, founder, Praetorian Project, and author of Church Planting Thresholds *
'Partnerships plant churches! I loved reading Stronger Together and being reminded that our mission as a church is more effective when we work together. If your heart beats for churches that are stronger together, you'll want to read this book.' * Chad Clarkson, executive director, Houston Church Planting Network *
'Rarely will you find a book whose questions leave you reflecting for days on end, where the applications are so practical you can apply them immediately and the principles so clear that you find your biblical conviction renewed and passion reinvigorated. Stronger Together is one of those rare books.' * Dhati Lewis, founder and president, MyBLVD, and lead pastor, Blueprint Church *
'Read carefully, examine yourself willingly, confess openly, and learn humbly because here is mature, gospel-rich, battle-formed ministry wisdom. In a season when the culture's individualism has tragically infected and weakened the church, this call to partnership in gospel ministry is an essential commitment that every pastor or leader needs to make.' * Paul David Tripp, pastor and author of Lead *
'Striking a perfect balance between the practical and the ideal, Dave Harvey offers us a vision for collaboration that is rooted in Scripture and that reaches for the blue sky of the kingdom. This is the conversation and these are the tools we most need for the future of the church.' * Brian Sanders, founder, Underground Network, and author of Underground Church *
'Stronger Together is an exceptional work on the partnership of churches in multiplication. I appreciated the virtue-vice structure of the book, which made it easy to digest and apply. Everyone interested in or actively involved in church planting should read this book as a resource for ensuring that our collaborations are healthy and helpful.' * Clayton Greene, director, Summit Collaborative *
'Stronger Together makes a compelling biblical case for the necessity of collaborative gospel partnerships in the fulfillment of the Great Commission. This book is clearly the fruit of many years in the cauldron of learning and losses that produce practical wisdom. I'm grateful for Dave Harvey's humble and helpful counsel that prompts us to create strong, healthy networks for gospel saturation.' * Jeff Vanderstelt, founding leader of Saturate and the Soma Family of Churches and author of Gospel Fluency *
'Stronger Together provides the rare opportunity to enter conversation with a seasoned leader who cares deeply about your calling and loves the gospel. Dave Harvey's words are wise, clear, and humble; they are biblically grounded and culturally astute. You will find empowering grace here.' * Zack Eswine, pastor, Riverside Church, and author of Imperfect Pastor *
'This work from Dave Harvey provides a way for you to discover your position on the network matrix and to examine each quadrant's strengths and weaknesses. A book that celebrates virtue and warns against vices, Stronger Together will strengthen partnerships for kingdom advance across the country and around the world.' * Trevin Wax, author, The Thrill of Orthodoxy *
'While many people long for unity in the church, Dave Harvey offers us a smartly written textbook on biblical collaboration. He speaks from years of experience as a network leader to offer us a field-tested guide for how to make networks work. If you believe that Jesus' prayer in John 17 was not just inspirational but also mission-critical, read Stronger Together and begin to live it out.' * Dave Ferguson, lead pastor, Community Christian Church, and author of B.L.E.S.S. *
Book Information
ISBN 9780310140221
Author Dave Harvey
Format Paperback
Page Count 208
Imprint Zondervan
Publisher Zondervan
Weight(grams) 290g
Dimensions(mm) 213mm * 139mm * 16mm
