±1±: Now is the time Reclaiming God's Original Intent for the Church Order Today!
Out of the 350,000 some churches in North America, only about 3,500 are classified as mega-churches. In fact, the average church size falls between 110-135 members. So why are so many pastors and denominations fixated on church growth? Believe it or not, size isn't God¹s primary concern for His church. The early church shows us that character, servanthood, discipleship, and following the Holy Spirit are much more important than attendance numbers.
By getting back to these core values and away from energy-sapping obsessions, authors Wes Roberts and Glenn Marshall remind pastors and church leaders why they entered the ministry in the first place.
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27 January 2005
Book Review of Reclaiming God's Original Intent for the Church by Wes Roberts and Glenn Marshall, to be posted on Amazon.com
If you are a Christian pastor, lay leader, or "pew potato" who is tired of hearing that "bigger is better," this book is for you! In a straightforward and engaging style, the authors write about defining the "success" of Christian ministries not in secular terms, but instead measured against Biblical standards-what a novel idea! In order to reflect of the Biblical meaning of "success," we are challenged to examine the Bible carefully to see what the early (i.e. before it became institutionalized) Christian church looked like.
We find God's original intent for His church, the authors tell us, by going back to the "much older ways" of the apostolic period. In an environment which was hostile to Christianity, the early Christians were considered "weirdos"-but these weirdos were "authentically sold out to Jesus." In thirteen short chapters, Roberts and Marshall describe the early Christians who were focused on authenticity, calling, community, trusting God, and being a servant to God's people. The chief concern of the early church, the authors write, was being the people of God-far different from the norms in many Christian churches today where success is measured by how many people attend services and how many dollars are in the annual budget.
Indeed, the authors make it clear that the true meaning of being successful is found in discerning the Lord's will both individually and corporately and then in being obedient to that will. The reader is also challenged by being told that the task God calls His church to is a spiritual battle. This book would make an excellent resource and guide for an adult Christian education class. As a seminarian seeking ordination, I will keep it on my bookshelf for much future use.
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