Includes bibliographical references (p. [175]-178) and index.

The postmodern world -- Essentials : God's vision for his church -- A learning church -- A caring church -- A worshiping church -- An evangelizing church -- Worship : glorying in God's holy name -- Biblical worship -- Congregational worship -- Spiritual worship -- Moral worship -- Evangelism : mission through the local church -- Forms of evangelism -- The church must understand itself : its theology -- The church must organize itself : its structures -- The church must express itself : its message -- The church must be itself : its life -- Ministry : the twelve and the seven -- An every-member ministry -- The pastoral ministry -- The example of the apostle (the shepherd) -- The invasion of false teachers (the wolves) -- The value of the people (the sheep) -- Fellowship : the implications of Koinonia -- Our common inheritance -- Our common service -- Our mutual responsibility -- Some practical illustrations -- Preaching : five paradoxes -- Biblical and contemporary -- Authoritative and tentative -- Prophetic and pastoral -- Gifted and studied -- Thoughtful and passionate -- Giving : ten principles -- Springing from the Trinity -- Creating equality according to our means -- Careful supervision and friendly rivalry -- A harvest with symbolic significance -- The result : thanksgiving to God -- Impact : salt and light -- The truths of salt and light -- Weapons for social change -- Christian distinctives -- Conclusion: Looking for timothys in the twenty-first century -- A threefold appeal -- Where are the Timothys?