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quitejessi's review
4.0
Short, sweet, simple, and to the point. A helpful primer for new Christians or people evaluating their church.
panda_incognito's review
4.0
This simple, well-organized book shares Scriptural insight and practical ideas for how Christians can love and invest in the local church. Tony Merida writes based on his long-term experience as a pastor, but he keeps the book general to any Protestant denomination, without making the book too narrow to his specific background or experiences. People can find this book beneficial as they begin to reinvest in church after periods of absence due to the pandemic, and Merida makes a strong case for why the local church is essential to personal spiritual growth, engaging with and serving other believers, and reaching the wider community with the gospel.
Merida writes about different elements of church life, such as welcoming others, finding a place to belong, and serving. He bases the primary content of each chapter on Bible passages directed to the early church, with occasional personal anecdotes or other illustrations, and he concludes each chapter with practical action steps that people can take within their local contexts. Because the book focuses on broad spiritual concepts and core values, the action steps apply to any church member, without being specific to a particular church situation or personal life stage.
My one critique of this book is that Merida did not include a chapter about how to wisely depart from an unhealthy church. In the chapter about honoring leaders, he makes it clear that Christians are only subject to pastors who lead humbly by example, and that toxic, domineering leadership has no place in the body of Christ. However, he does not provide guidelines for how people can get out of an abusive church situation in a civil way, find a new church home, and honor God and emotionally heal during their transition process. As it stands, this book outlines the hallmarks of a healthy church and warns against narcissistic leaders, but it could have been stronger and helpful to more people if Merida had included guidelines for when and how to break community with a spiritually abusive or generally unhealthy church.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Merida writes about different elements of church life, such as welcoming others, finding a place to belong, and serving. He bases the primary content of each chapter on Bible passages directed to the early church, with occasional personal anecdotes or other illustrations, and he concludes each chapter with practical action steps that people can take within their local contexts. Because the book focuses on broad spiritual concepts and core values, the action steps apply to any church member, without being specific to a particular church situation or personal life stage.
My one critique of this book is that Merida did not include a chapter about how to wisely depart from an unhealthy church. In the chapter about honoring leaders, he makes it clear that Christians are only subject to pastors who lead humbly by example, and that toxic, domineering leadership has no place in the body of Christ. However, he does not provide guidelines for how people can get out of an abusive church situation in a civil way, find a new church home, and honor God and emotionally heal during their transition process. As it stands, this book outlines the hallmarks of a healthy church and warns against narcissistic leaders, but it could have been stronger and helpful to more people if Merida had included guidelines for when and how to break community with a spiritually abusive or generally unhealthy church.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
hanrutous's review
4.0
I was surprised at how down to earth and applicable this was to life as a church goer. It lost a star because of its editing and some phrasing but the content was useful and interesting, the action sections were especially helpful for ideas for moving forward and it was well written and easy to read. It makes the start of post Covid literature I think.
robbielaidlaw9's review
4.0
One of the easiest to read and most practical books on church life. If every Christian read this the church would be transformed.
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