The Trellis and the Vine (3rd Edition): The ministry mind-shift that changes everything

Third edition with discussion guide

Publisher's Description

All Christian ministry is a mixture of trellis and vine.

There is vine work: the prayerful preaching and teaching of the word of God to see people converted and grow to maturity as disciples of Christ. Vine work is the Great Commission.

And there is trellis work: creating and maintaining the physical and organisational structures and programs that support vine work and its growth.

What’s the state of the trellis and the vine in your part of the world? Has trellis work taken over, as it has a habit of doing? Is the vine work being done by very few (perhaps only the pastor and only on Sundays)? And is the vine starting to wilt as a result?

The image of the trellis and the vine raises all the fundamental questions of Christian ministry:

• What is the vine for?
• How does the vine grow?
• How does the vine relate to my church?
• What is vine work and what is trellis work, and how can we tell the difference?
• What part do different people play in growing the vine?
• How can we get more people involved in vine work?

In The Trellis and the Vine, Colin Marshall and Tony Payne answer these urgent questions afresh. They dig back into the Bible’s view of Christian ministry, and argue that a major mind-shift is required if we are to fulfil the Great Commission of Christ, and see the vine flourish again.

This latest edition of The Trellis and the Vine contains a discussion guide for groups and ministry teams working through it together, a list of recommended resources, and an index of Bible verses referenced throughout the text.

Endorsements

What Col and Tony have described here is exactly what I’ve been trying to do in my own life and in our congregation for years. According to this book, Christians are to be disciple-making disciples and pastors are to be trainers. Superb! This is the best book I’ve read on the nature of church ministry.
— Mark Dever, Senior Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington DC, USA

This book contains the kind of counterintuitive ideas that, once encountered and embraced, make you wonder why you did not always think this way.
— Phillip D. Jensen, Bible Teacher and Evangelist, Two Ways Ministries, Sydney, Australia

I have some new conversation partners as I ask myself, under the authority of God and Scripture, questions about the structure and ministry of my congregation: “Why are we doing what we are doing? Is the gospel central? Has ‘administry’ trumped ministry?” And more. As I ask these things, I am so deeply helped and heartened and humbled and corrected by the fidelity and wisdom of Colin Marshall and Tony Payne’s profound little book that I can’t but commend it to you.
— Ligon Duncan, Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi, USA

Gospel ministry is about God’s glory and God’s people! This excellent book takes us right to the heart of authentic Christian ministry. Any church will benefit hugely from studying and acting on it.
— William Taylor, Rector, St Helen’s Bishopsgate, London, UK

The Trellis and the Vine comes from a ministry so deeply committed to the recovery of biblical truth and the cause of the gospel. Its wisdom is invaluable. My advice: Keep a good stack on hand at all times, and put this book to good use.
— R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, USA

About the Authors

Colin Marshall is the CEO of Vinegrowers, an organisation committed to the ministry principles of The Trellis and the Vine. He has worked in student ministry, trained church leaders in ministry mind-shifts, and co-authored several ministry books with Tony Payne.

Tony Payne is an author and ministry trainer who served for many years as Publishing Director at Matthias Media. He is the author or co-author of numerous books and resources on Christian living, discipleship, and ministry, including The Course of Your Life, Fatherhood, and The Tony Payne Collection.