Chris Sonksen

The church is in decline for the first time in America's history. For many reasons, fewer people walk through church doors and make meaningful connections. The church has lost its steam. If you have questions regarding what to do about this, Chris Sonksen-pastor and founder of ChurchBoom, an organization dedicated to church growth-has some answers. In his latest book, Traction, through the paradigm of a steam locomotive, you'll explore the importance of the following five facets affecting most churches today: ■ Engine: Growth Strategies■ Fuel: Leadership and Finances■ Tracks: Staying on Course■ Conductor: The Essential Role of the Pastor■ Cars: Alignment of Staff, Leaders, and the CongregationIf barriers have left you feeling stuck, let Traction bring you up to speed, so you can gain momentum and smash through them. Get on board. The kingdom of God is too important to let things slide

"I truly believe that Christ's church is the hope of the world. For the sake of mankind, we've got to keep the lighthouses burning brightly." The church is in decline for the first time in America's history. For many reasons, fewer people walk through church doors and make meaningful connections. The church has lost its steam. If you have questions regarding what to do about this, Chris Sonksen-pastor and founder of ChurchBoom, an organization dedicated to church growth-has some answers. In his latest book, Traction, through the paradigm of a steam locomotive, you'll explore the importance of the following five facets affecting most churches today: ■ Engine: Growth Strategies■ Fuel: Leadership and Finances■ Tracks: Staying on Course■ Conductor: The Essential Role of the Pastor■ Cars: Alignment of Staff, Leaders, and the CongregationIf barriers have left you feeling stuck, let Traction bring you up to speed, so you can gain momentum and smash through them. Get on board. The kingdom of God is too important to let things slide

In the world of ministry, one thing is inevitable-it will stall, it will flounder, and it will feel like you're downright fighting for your life-and for the life of your church. The past few years have only exacerbated this reality. Fortunately, there's hope for any and every pastor . . . you just need a tailored coaching plan In Reviving the Church in America, author and CEO of ChurchBOOM Chris Sonksen provides personal testimonies from pastors all over the country whose ministries were on life support until they recruited Church Rescue for a little CPR This book will inspire you to: Take the struggles of your ministry seriously and reach out for help, Posture your heart in hopeful expectation that God wants to restore and build your church, Open your heart to the opportunities and people God sends for your rescue, Explore Church Rescue as an option to coach you out of famine into harvest time-and win lost souls to the Kingdom Don't measure the future of your ministry by the condition of your church now but by the place God has for it.

It's time for you to leave your comfort zone and reach for higher ground. In the In Search of Higher Ground Study Guide, pastor and author Chris Sonksen unpacks biblical principles and equips readers with everything they need to: -Understand what higher ground is, -Build a group of climbing companions, -Conquer the climb while maintaining motivation, -Find and balance on solid ground, -And so much more Are you afraid to reach for the higher ground that God meant for you to inherit? Take your first step-your higher ground is waiting

What are you willing to do to be great? In the Handshake Study Guide, author and pastor Chris Sonksen empowers readers with the principles they need to find real, lasting success. No matter your starting position or where you are today, success is attainable. Readers will be equipped to: Operate in confidence and with a winning attitude. Create, focus, and pursue vision. Add to the lives of those around them. Live with integrity. And so much more Stop being content with normalcy, and reach for all God has planned for you

What is holding your team back from its full potential? What are the behaviors that are destroying it? In the Saving Your Church from Itself Study Guide, Author and Pastor Chris Sonksen reveals and guides you through six of the subtle behaviors that tear organizations apart-and gives you the remedy for each of them. Through this book and study guide, readers will be empowered to recognize and deal with: Inter-organizational tensionDrifting in leadershipPride in team membersArtificial alignmentAnd so much more Stop sitting idly by as your team destroys itself from the inside. Take initiative and learn how you can save your church from itself

" God] will always come through. Our part is to be willing to change. Be willing to be honest about where your church is and willing to take it where it needs to go." In the When Your Church Feels Stuck Study Guide, Author and Pastor Chris Sonksen will take readers through seven key questions every leader must answer to advance their organization. Through this book and study guide, readers will be equipped to practically answer questions such as: What phase are you in? What is your mission? How do you get there? What are the principles you operate by? How do you measure a win? Is your team aligned? And many more Does your church feel stuck? Take the first step to help free and advance your church with the When Your Church Feels Stuck Study Guide

"It all starts when you decide with everything inside of you to simply quit." Pastoring a church can be difficult work. . . . So, why not make it easy on yourself and just quit? In the Quit Church Study Guide, Pastor and Author Chris Sonksen guides readers through his book and provides encouragement for them along their pastoral journey. Throughout the book and study guide, readers will be equipped with a new understanding of: Financial stewardshipCommunity outreach The power of serving othersThe impact of your workAnd so much more Guard yourself against the dangerous problems and pressures of leading the modern-day church. Do not let them make you quit

"We have the opportunity to touch people throughout our community. . . . love is key." Indispensable churches are those that are irreplaceable to the community. Churches that are so involved in touching others, giving back, and serving like Jesus first served us are viewed as a pillar of the community. Is this your church? In the Indispensable Church Study Guide, Pastor and Author Chris Sonksen guides readers through his book and supplies them with everything they need to transform their church into one that is indispensable for the community Through this book, you will be equipped to: Build and develop your teamConnect and plan with community leadersStart small and grow your influenceCreating a culture of love and serviceAnd so much more Stop putting off your church's transformation. Take a step in becoming an indispensable church today

As a coach and mentor to hundreds of pastors, Chris Sonksen has had a front-row seat to the unfortunate outcomes when a team member begins to drift from the vision of the church and the leader they serve. But the good news is, these situations never come out of left field. There are always warning signs that, if heeded, allow church leaders to rise to the challenge of keeping their team healthy, unified, and moving forward together. In this powerfully practical book, Sonksen unpacks six subtle behaviors that undermine team unity and lead to problems that can derail your ministry and even split your church, including- pride- artificial harmony- isolation- a critical spirit- divisiveness- disrespectBeyond merely identifying the problems, this book offers you a blueprint for what to do when you see or feel evidence of these behaviors creeping into team dynamics. Alignment of vision and purpose doesn't happen by accident, and it isn't maintained without careful attention and proactive strategies. But with Chris Sonksen's help, you can save your church from itself.

You have a passionate desire to take the church outside its four walls and make the love of Jesus practical, visible, and lived out in daily life. But how? How do you put into action what is stirring in your heart? Indispensable Church provides you and your church real-world, hands-on steps to create a revolution of service to your local community in the name of Christ. By exploring the life of Jesus and the strategic ways he modeled serving the people around him, pastor Chris Sonksen shows you how to put love into action in your neighborhood and your city. The step-by-step instructions, biblical challenges, and teaching resources will help you take love to the streets and make an impact right where you live.

Let's face it. Church isn't working. We hear sermons about the abundant life Jesus promised, but how many of us are actually living it? How many of our churches are thriving? How many people in our congregations are experiencing God's blessings? Maybe it's time to call it quits. Quit church? Well, not exactly. Drawing from his experience coaching hundreds of churches toward true growth, Chris Sonksen calls on us to quit our casual, cultural commitment to church as we know it. No more half-hearted attempts to win the favor of God and other people by doing the right thing. No more doing things out of a sense of duty. Instead, Sonksen reveals the spiritual habits that release the blessings of God, both on each individual and on the church. He explains why we struggle to put these practices into action and gives practical solutions to move us forward into health, growth, and maturity.