Robert Morris - The Blessed Church: The Simple Secret to Growing the Church You Love

Praise for
The Blessed Church

God has blessed Gateway Church with explosive growth. Pastor Robert Morris humbly unpacks many of the invaluable lessons he and his team have learned along the journey. His spiritual insight and practical instruction will help you build a stronger, deeper, and broader ministry.

C RAIG G ROESCHEL , senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv and author of Soul Detox:Clean Living in a Contaminated World

Ive had the privilege of seeing behind the curtain at Gateway Church and can honestly say that this church is way more impressive from the inside than it is from simply looking at it on the outside. Pastor Robert Morris has done a tremendous service to Gods kingdom by sharing the Gateway story in The Blessed Church and helping us understand that the real issue we should focus on is church health. What you will gain from reading this book is not only inspiration but also principles that will work in any church (or business) that wants to fully maximize its potential.

P ERRY N OBLE , founding and senior pastor of NewSpring Church

Our world desperately needs healthy, vibrant churches, so Im thankful Robert Morris has written The Blessed Churcha book that draws on the Gateway backstory to describe the qualities of a healthy local church. More than anything, a heart for God and a love of people define the ministry of Pastor Morris and Gateway Church. If you want a growing vitality in your church, you will profit from every page of The Blessed Church.

C HRIS H ODGES , senior pastor of Church of the Highlands

A healthy church growsand so do its people! Gateway Church is such a place. In The Blessed Church, Pastor Robert Morris tells how any church, regardless of size, can become a thriving spiritual haven for both shepherd and sheep.

J OHN C. M AXWELL , author and speaker

The Blessed Church is a solidly practical, humbly presented, spiritually grounded handbook of insight into a mind-set that is a proven alternative to mere growth methods so commonly pursued today by sincere church leaders. To any fellow believer in Christ or pastor to His flock, I happily confirm: The Blessed Church is an unpretentious, health-breathing invitation to the joy and blessing that distills when (and if) we who lead begin and seek to grow big people rather than to grow a big church. The outcome will inevitably be that you get both, regardless of size!

J ACK H AYFORD , founder/chancellor of The Kings University, Los Angeles, and founding pastor of The Church On The Way

In The Blessed Church, Robert Morris reveals why Gateway Church in DallasFort Worth has become not just one of the largest churches in America but also one of the most influential. Roberts devoted, attentive shepherding of this great flock is one reason why Gateway is so blessed. In The Blessed Church, the biblical principles that lead to true success in the body of Christ are carefully explained. If you love the local church, as both Robert and I do, you wont want to miss the insights found in this helpful and practical book.

D R . T ONY E VANS , senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship and president of The Urban Alternative

When I refer to the blessed church, I am speaking from firsthand experience. My wife, Betty, and I are active members of Gateway Church, which Robert Morris pastors. We have witnessed and experienced the dynamic power and profound impact made on personal lives, families, the community, the church at large, and the nation. The blessed church members live a blessed life and continually seek to be a blessing to others. Through Pastor Morriss leadership, Gateway Church has become a model and inspiration to the whole church around the world. Your church can experience the bountiful blessings of our God and Father right here on earth right now!

J AMES R OBISON , founder and president of LIFE Outreach International and co-host of LIFE Today

Robert has put together a master playbook for victory in the church. Every pastor can learn from the insight and wisdom God has given Robert and the Gateway team. In fact, I truly believe that practicing the biblical principles of health and growth outlined in The Blessed Church will help us all further the Great Commission and experience radical transformation and blessing in our communities.

T OM M ULLINS , founding pastor of Christ Fellowship Church

Every pastor, layman, leader, and churchgoer should read The Blessed Church. Morris has done it again. Readable and inspiring, The Blessed Church is a must-read for all who want their own church to walk in the blessings of God.

M ARK R UTLAND , P HD , president of Oral Roberts University and Global Servants

The story of Gateway Church is one of radical trust, bold vision, and the faithfulness of God. Now my friend, Robert Morris, has written a book telling that extraordinary story. Read it! You will realize that God wants to bless your church more than you ever could have imagined.

G REG S URRATT , senior pastor of Seacoast Church

Ive been close friends with Robert Morris for more than twenty years, and when Gateway started, I mentored Robert closely and taught him what I knew about church government, leadership, and other relevant issues. Robert was and is humble, teachable, and uncompromising in doing things Gods way. In my opinion, this is the main reason for Gods blessing upon Gateway Church. The Blessed Church is a must-read for anyone wanting to know how to build a church that God will bless.

J IMMY E VANS , senior elder of Trinity Fellowship Church and CEO and founder of MarriageToday

O THER B OOKS BY R OBERT M ORRIS

The God I Never Knew
The Blessed Life
From Dream to Destiny
The Power of Your Words

T HE B LESSED C HURCH
P UBLISHED BY W ATERBROOK P RESS
12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ( KJV ) are taken from the King James Version. Scripture quotations marked ( NASB ) are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org). Scripture quotations marked ( NIV ) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica Inc.TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. Scripture quotations marked ( NLT ) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Italics in Scripture quotations reflect the authors added emphasis.

Details in some anecdotes and stories have been changed to protect the identities of the persons involved.

Copyright 2012, 2014 by Robert Morris

Cover design by Mark D. Ford; cover photography by Dan Barba, Stock Connection

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.