Tom Berlin – författare

Thousands of congregations are in serious trouble. Children are not being taught the faith. Disciples are not being made. Lives are not being transformed. The poor are not being blessed. Communities are not being redeemed. These congregations know something is terribly wrong. And in most cases, the problems have little to do with the pastor''s prayer life or whether the pastor takes weekly Sabbath time. In fact, in many of these churches members deeply respect their pastors as sincerely spiritual people of utmost personal faith and integrity. But they need more from their pastoral leaders.   They need leaders who define ministry in terms of fruitfulness as well as faithfulness. They need pastors and lay leaders who ask about the outcomes of any given ministry or program, not just its process. Mostly, they need a vision of ministry that focuses on changing people’s lives. Absent that vision, ministry will fail.   In this helpful volume, Lovett Weems and Tom Berlin provide readers with the tools they need to assess the fruit their ministry bears in the lives of their congregations, their communities, and the world.

At the heart of why any church exists is to glorify God and to share God as revealed in Jesus Christ; thus worship is at the center of the congregation’s life. The church, of course, is more than worship, but without vital worship attendance, it is unlikely that members are growing and new disciples are being brought to faith. Worship attendance is also the one factor where improvement tends to help every other aspect of the church’s ministry.There is another reason for focusing on worship attendance. After relatively strong attendance in the 1990s and a rise in attendance for five Sundays after the tragedy of Sept 11, 2001, attendance has been more likely to decrease instead of increase for most U.S. churches since 2002.Churches that grow connect people with God, and compelling and inspiring worship is a primary means of connection.

Our possessions can create unbearable weight and affect our abilityto serve and thrive. How do we defy gravity and find freedom? In this4-week small group study and stewardship campaign, pastor and author TomBerlin explores what is required to sustain a vibrant life, what weneed versus what we want, and what we can do to avoid being pulled intothe orbit of materialism. The Generous Church helps the pastor and leadership team thinkstrategically about financial planning and giving beyond the annualcampaign vision. Tom Berlin believes and teaches that the church, inorder to inspire generosity in individuals, needs to be seen andunderstood as generous. People will embrace giving if they see the waystheir gifts are used in the community and the world. Generous church…generous people.Sermon helps and fresh illustrations will be included, broken down intofour segments: Think About It – How do I think through the key aspects of our church’s financial reality and plan? Communicate It – How do we tell our story so the whole congregation shares a vision who we are, what we do, and what changes we can make in the world with our people and resources. Plan It – What’s the short-term campaign plan, the annual plan, and our long-term plan for the financial and spiritual life of our congregation? Manage It - How do we set up processes, reports, goals, and metrics to stay true to our plan?

Often we make a mess of our lives and wonder if there is any redemption. In this book, pastor and author Tom Berlin helps us see our mess through the eyes of Christ to find redemption and restoration. Using Scripture, devotional tools, and the writings of Ignatius of Loyola, John of the Cross, St. Augustine, John Wesley, Evelyn Underhill, and others, Berlin encourages reflection and meditation through our own brokenness. Only then can we focus on the cross as the place where we truly surrender control, leave our mess, and find redemption.Chapters include: This Is a Real Mess Who Left This Mess? Bless This Mess No Messing Around Address This Mess The Message in the Mess

Often we make a mess of our lives and wonder if there is any redemption. In this six-week study, pastor and author Tom Berlin helps us see our mess through the eyes of Christ to find redemption and restoration. Using Scripture, devotional tools, and the writings of Ignatius of Loyola, John of the Cross, St. Augustine, John Wesley, Evelyn Underhill, and others, Berlin encourages reflection and meditation through our own brokenness. Only then can we focus on the cross as the place where we truly surrender control, leave our mess, and find redemption.The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the 6-week study for Lent, including session plans and discussion questions, as well as multiple format options.

Often we make a mess of our lives and wonder if there is any redemption. In this six-week study, pastor and author Tom Berlin helps us see our mess through the eyes of Christ to find redemption and restoration. Using Scripture, devotional tools, and the writings of Ignatius of Loyola, John of the Cross, St. Augustine, John Wesley, Evelyn Underhill, and others, Berlin encourages reflection and meditation through our own brokenness. Only then can we focus on the cross as the place where we truly surrender control, leave our mess, and find redemption.Everything needed to conduct a six-session study of Restored, using current examples that have meaning to young people grades 6-12. Includes leader helps. Includes leader helps and discussion questions that can be used with the adult-level DVD.

How did Jesus teach the Greatest Commandment to his disciples?In his latest book Reckless Love, author and Pastor Tom Berlin writes that Jesus taught them to love neighbor first as a way to more deeply love God.In his exploration of Jesus’ teaching and travels with his disciples, Berlin suggests that Jesus teaches us how to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength by showing us how to love our neighbor. While many hope to learn to be better family, friends, leaders, neighbors but finding a deeper relationship with God, what if becoming a better neighbor leads you to that deeper love of God.In Reckless Love, you will see the ways Jesus’ care for others disrupted the way his disciples thought and acted so deeply that they learned love God fully and join Jesus mission to share the good news unambiguously. In so doing, you will have the opportunity to consider your life, and learn how loving the people around you will completely renew your faith and give you a new experience of loving God.Additional components for a six-week study include a DVD featuring Tom Berlin and a comprehensive Leader Guide.

How did Jesus teach the Greatest Commandment to his disciples?In his latest book Reckless Love, author and Pastor Tom Berlin writes that Jesus taught them to love neighbor first as a way to more deeply love God.In his exploration of Jesus’ teaching and travels with his disciples, Berlin suggests that Jesus teaches us how to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength by showing us how to love our neighbor. While many hope to learn to be better family, friends, leaders, neighbors but finding a deeper relationship with God, what if becoming a better neighbor leads you to that deeper love of God.In Reckless Love, you will see the ways Jesus’ care for others disrupted the way his disciples thought and acted so deeply that they learned love God fully and join Jesus mission to share the good news unambiguously. In so doing, you will have the opportunity to consider your life, and learn how loving the people around you will completely renew your faith and give you a new experience of loving God.The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the six-week study including session plans, activities, and discussion questions, as well as multiple format options.

Courage is the foundational virtue required for the Christian life. But often we wonder if we have what it takes to live the vital life Jesus offers his disciples.In Courage: Jesus and the Call to Brave Faith, pastor and author Tom Berlin challenges us to unlock the courage that we already possess as Christ followers. By examining the life of Christ, we will begin to understand what true courage is and how God works in the lives of Christ followers as they exhibit a brave faith. Once we have eyes to hear what Jesus is showing us, once have ears to hear, we can begin to find the remarkable life Jesus offers us.Additional components for a six-week study include a DVD featuring Tom Berlin and a comprehensive Leader Guide.

Courage is the foundational virtue required for the Christian life. But often we wonder if we have what it takes to live the vital life Jesus offers his disciples.In Courage: Jesus and the Call to Brave Faith, pastor and author Tom Berlin challenges us to unlock the courage that we already possess as Christ followers. By examining the life of Christ, we will begin to understand what true courage is and how God works in the lives of Christ followers as they exhibit a brave faith. Once we have eyes to hear what Jesus is showing us, once have ears to hear, we can begin to find the remarkable life Jesus offers us.The Leader Guide includes session outline for each group meeting with Scripture, prayer, opening activity, discussion questions, activity, and ending call to action.

On the third day, he rose again.In The Third Day: Living the Resurrection, Tom Berlin uses his gifts of storytelling and understanding the Scriptures to connect the reader to the experiences of several individuals around Jesus in his final days, focusing on new life and redemption rather than loss.Join Peter, Mary Magdalene, and Thomas as they feel the despair of losing Jesus and the surprise and joy that awaits them in the resurrection. This study traces events around these characters, along with Paul and the disciples at Emmaus, and how the resurrection transforms their lives.The book can be read alone or used for a six-week group study and church-wide Lenten program. Components include a comprehensive Leader Guide and video teaching sessions featuring Tom (with closed captioning).

On the third day, he rose again.The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the six-week study, including session plans, activities, discussion questions, and multiple format options. In The Third Day: Living the Resurrection, Tom Berlin uses his gifts of storytelling and understanding the Scriptures to connect the reader to the experiences of several individuals around Jesus in his final days, focusing on new life and redemption rather than loss.Join Peter, Mary Magdalene, and Thomas as they feel the despair of losing Jesus and the surprise and joy that awaits them in the resurrection. This study traces events around these characters, along with Paul and the disciples at Emmaus, and how the resurrection transforms their lives.Additional components include the book, The Third Day: Living the Resurrection, and video teaching sessions featuring Tom(with closed captioning).