★★★★
Larry W. Osborne. Accidental Pharisees: Avoiding Pride, Exclusivity, and the Dangers of Overzealous Faith. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2012. 196 pages. $14.99.

★★★★
Andy Stanley. Deep and Wide: Creating Churches Unchurched People Love to Attend. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2012. 350 pages. $24.99.


Few would argue that Christianity is at a transition point in history.

Churches across the religious spectrum are aging, shrinking and closing. Growing churches exist, but with a few exceptions, those growing churches do not have the name Church of Christ on the door.

It is easy to write off those churches: Not part of our history. Theologically suspect. Fluffy.

Authors Larry Osborne and Andy Stanley lead megachurches on opposite sides of the country. In their newest books, each offers insights from which Church of Christ leaders can learn. Osborne shows how Christians unwittingly sabotage their own efforts to be faithful. Stanley offers a church structure that can be both engaging and faithful.