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dmg1's review against another edition
5.0
This has quickly become my favorite book by-far! Its got me back into dedicated prayer, which I hope to only grow in more. As a person who likes to try and complete things quickly and get all the information I can along the way, this book calls me out on how destructive that can be. It calls me to meditate on the information and pray before moving on, sometimes you'll be lost in prayer (which is a great thing) and will spend more time then you could've imagined doing just that. In the book he addresses things which we have put into place in our churches that actually may be hindering us. Great read and a great place to reflect.
bekahau's review against another edition
5.0
Convicting and true
This book was a hard read. Very convicting. It would be hard for some to read and look at the changes that need to happen in the American church. Maybe it is not a house church that the Lord is calling you to, but it is clear that many American churches are not healthy. Many are not functioning biblically.
This book was a hard read. Very convicting. It would be hard for some to read and look at the changes that need to happen in the American church. Maybe it is not a house church that the Lord is calling you to, but it is clear that many American churches are not healthy. Many are not functioning biblically.
margaretb6's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
I read this book because it came highly recommended by two of my friends. I have read pieces of Chan's other works before and, though I respect his passion and commitment to accessibility, I feel like his tone shifts often. He tries to be upbeat, serious, urging, teaching, etc. and it usually leaves me wondering who the audience is that he is writing to. At times his tone can be very patronizing — as though he is speaking to passionless, occasional church members who know nothing. Then, he acts as though he is talking to leadership and people who are deeply invested. All of that to say, I do not think that I am his audience, even though this is called Letters to the Church, in a Pauline fashion.
Having said that, I did find his argument compelling that the church — the people, the body of Christ — should rethink the ways in which we have "traditionally" structured our meetings and look at the biblical model and precedence. And I do think that is important! I think I have two main struggles with it:
1) This book could have been a long (but not book length) blog post. Specifically, I felt like the two last chapters (8 "Unleashed" and 9 "Church Again") were where I finally felt like I was getting to the practical and useful part of his idea.
2) Though I am really glad that his home church has worked, I am not certain how he sees this playing out globally for already established churches. It is nice that he was able to start his own church but I do not believe that would be feasible for every church leader or even church member to do — even the faithful and involved ones. I guess I just wish that he had discussed how this principles could be applied even within the church communities and systems that we are already engaged in. I know that goes against his general point which is to abandon church buildings and go small everywhere but . . . I guess I am thinking about my relatively small church (note: I went from one in the high hundreds to one around 130) which uses its church building to host not only us but also smaller Christian groups who do not have their own space, has its own Slack for community needs and prayers, feeds its members every Sunday with volunteers, encourages its members to get involved and gives them different roles within the service itself (reading the Scripture for the day, praying for the congregational prayers which are collected into our pamphlet, etc.). I just do not see what the benefit would be of breaking this congregation into smaller groups. I feel like both models can build up the body of Christ in their own good, God-honoring ways.
Having said that, I did find his argument compelling that the church — the people, the body of Christ — should rethink the ways in which we have "traditionally" structured our meetings and look at the biblical model and precedence. And I do think that is important! I think I have two main struggles with it:
1) This book could have been a long (but not book length) blog post. Specifically, I felt like the two last chapters (8 "Unleashed" and 9 "Church Again") were where I finally felt like I was getting to the practical and useful part of his idea.
2) Though I am really glad that his home church has worked, I am not certain how he sees this playing out globally for already established churches. It is nice that he was able to start his own church but I do not believe that would be feasible for every church leader or even church member to do — even the faithful and involved ones. I guess I just wish that he had discussed how this principles could be applied even within the church communities and systems that we are already engaged in. I know that goes against his general point which is to abandon church buildings and go small everywhere but . . . I guess I am thinking about my relatively small church (note: I went from one in the high hundreds to one around 130) which uses its church building to host not only us but also smaller Christian groups who do not have their own space, has its own Slack for community needs and prayers, feeds its members every Sunday with volunteers, encourages its members to get involved and gives them different roles within the service itself (reading the Scripture for the day, praying for the congregational prayers which are collected into our pamphlet, etc.). I just do not see what the benefit would be of breaking this congregation into smaller groups. I feel like both models can build up the body of Christ in their own good, God-honoring ways.
justicepirate's review against another edition
4.0
Francis Chan's books always make me smile. He does his best to come across in a kind way even though the subject matters are not always easy for people to accept, and I really appreciate that about him. I agree with his mentality and spirit. I really enjoyed what he had to say to "the church" as a whole. He encourages them to do church differently from what it has been like since the 3rd century, and to do it more like how it was intended and how it spreads the best way. . .where you are willing to suffer and willing to make disciples and go out to the world instead of expecting to be catered to.
ngreader's review against another edition
5.0
This book challenged me and seriously made me reconsider how I view church and how I approach my relationship with God. A hard wake-up call, but definitely one that was needed and appreciated. Highly recommend.
hayli_brewer's review against another edition
5.0
“Something that God has designed to function as family has been reduced to an optional weekly meeting. And this has become normal. Expected. How in the world did we get here?”
This is one of those books where I audibly said, “ooohhhh” or “oh shoot” while I was listening to it. If you follow Jesus and haven’t read this, I highly suggest it. Church is SO MUCH MORE than going to a building on a Sunday. Following Jesus is SO MUCH MORE than what we in America have formed it to be. Following Jesus is difficult. It involves suffering. It involves laughing with those who laugh, but it also involves mourning with those who mourn. It involves sharing our deepest burdens with one another. It involves living in such a way that we cannot hide. Following Jesus is messy. It involves the beauty of love and peace, but also the weight of sin and brokenness. We are not called to be bystanders or watching things happen from afar. We are called to get down on our knees in humility to serve and love the ones who are marginalized, outcast, and even our enemies - just as Jesus did. We are His Church; and we have to do better.
This is one of those books where I audibly said, “ooohhhh” or “oh shoot” while I was listening to it. If you follow Jesus and haven’t read this, I highly suggest it. Church is SO MUCH MORE than going to a building on a Sunday. Following Jesus is SO MUCH MORE than what we in America have formed it to be. Following Jesus is difficult. It involves suffering. It involves laughing with those who laugh, but it also involves mourning with those who mourn. It involves sharing our deepest burdens with one another. It involves living in such a way that we cannot hide. Following Jesus is messy. It involves the beauty of love and peace, but also the weight of sin and brokenness. We are not called to be bystanders or watching things happen from afar. We are called to get down on our knees in humility to serve and love the ones who are marginalized, outcast, and even our enemies - just as Jesus did. We are His Church; and we have to do better.
smoodygallery's review against another edition
5.0
The way Francis Chan talks through concepts is just so very inspiring. He drew me in.
michaelesch's review against another edition
3.0
I think Chan tapped into a big issue in the American church and that is the centrality of entertainment. We throw big fun events to attract people, then we get the latest and greatest music and sermons, we put on plays and funny skits. We act like the gospel is not powerful so we fill it with cheap substitutes that the world loves.
His solution to this is to go to God's word and do what it says. God commands singing so we sing, God commands reading the word, so we read, God commands that we take care of those in need, so that is what we do with our offers. God commands the pastors to equip the people for ministry, so we equip them, not look at ourselves as the only ones in ministry. God also commands that we make disciples, so we go and make disciples (all of us).
He hit it on the head when he said what are you most concerned about "people's expectation" or "God's expectation"? If we got rid of one of those lists which one would your people be upset about? He encouraged leaders to preach to the sheep and if the goats complain and walk away that is okay. Jesus did that when people came to follow Him. He didn't make it easier, He always explained that it would cost them their lives (not a simple prayer).
Where this book falls short was not fleshing these ideas out furthers. I thought in his chapter, sacred, he would dig further into the Regulatory Principle of Worship. He built up that chapter so well then did not continue with it. Also, in this time where he talked about worshiping on the Lord's Day, he really down played the the role of preaching and teaching, to just reading the Bible. The Bible cannot be more clear on the issue of both reading along side of teaching. He also went to say that pastors should not be paid, without fully saying it, even though that goes against many OT and NT commands to pay those who teach their wage and not to muzzle the oz as he treads. Not that it is necessary, churches should strive to pay double honor to their elders.
I was also not a fan of comparing churches in countries that are persecuting churches to churches in America. At one point he said that they laugh at us because of the way we do worship and fellowship. Both environments have their struggles reaching people who think that Christianity is for dumb people in a first world country is a lot different than reaching people who know that they will be imprisoned if they join a church. It also largely ignored the good that American churches do for these countries. Just as in the NT, some churches were more well off and safer than other churches and they supported each other when the time came, not laughed and mocked one another for their struggles.
I love Chan and think that he very passionate about sharing the gospel. I also believe that he is a brother in Christ. He did quote people who I think are not safe people and should not be listened to, which might indicate that he is moving more towards the heretical charismatic groups, but in this book I did not see anything heretical, though there were two or three continuist comments. He talked about helping people with their gifts, but did not really unpack what that meant. The book also has a bunch of good one liners. Having 5 years under his belt, he has shown a lot of growth in the home church movement and I will be interested to see where it goes.
His solution to this is to go to God's word and do what it says. God commands singing so we sing, God commands reading the word, so we read, God commands that we take care of those in need, so that is what we do with our offers. God commands the pastors to equip the people for ministry, so we equip them, not look at ourselves as the only ones in ministry. God also commands that we make disciples, so we go and make disciples (all of us).
He hit it on the head when he said what are you most concerned about "people's expectation" or "God's expectation"? If we got rid of one of those lists which one would your people be upset about? He encouraged leaders to preach to the sheep and if the goats complain and walk away that is okay. Jesus did that when people came to follow Him. He didn't make it easier, He always explained that it would cost them their lives (not a simple prayer).
Where this book falls short was not fleshing these ideas out furthers. I thought in his chapter, sacred, he would dig further into the Regulatory Principle of Worship. He built up that chapter so well then did not continue with it. Also, in this time where he talked about worshiping on the Lord's Day, he really down played the the role of preaching and teaching, to just reading the Bible. The Bible cannot be more clear on the issue of both reading along side of teaching. He also went to say that pastors should not be paid, without fully saying it, even though that goes against many OT and NT commands to pay those who teach their wage and not to muzzle the oz as he treads. Not that it is necessary, churches should strive to pay double honor to their elders.
I was also not a fan of comparing churches in countries that are persecuting churches to churches in America. At one point he said that they laugh at us because of the way we do worship and fellowship. Both environments have their struggles reaching people who think that Christianity is for dumb people in a first world country is a lot different than reaching people who know that they will be imprisoned if they join a church. It also largely ignored the good that American churches do for these countries. Just as in the NT, some churches were more well off and safer than other churches and they supported each other when the time came, not laughed and mocked one another for their struggles.
I love Chan and think that he very passionate about sharing the gospel. I also believe that he is a brother in Christ. He did quote people who I think are not safe people and should not be listened to, which might indicate that he is moving more towards the heretical charismatic groups, but in this book I did not see anything heretical, though there were two or three continuist comments. He talked about helping people with their gifts, but did not really unpack what that meant. The book also has a bunch of good one liners. Having 5 years under his belt, he has shown a lot of growth in the home church movement and I will be interested to see where it goes.