POSTS TAGGED : Church

“Why Church Buildings Matter” by Tim Cool

“Why Church Buildings Matter” by Tim CoolWhy Church Buildings Matter: The Story of Your Space by Tim Cool
Published by Rainer Publishing on January 18, 2014
Pages: 158
Format: Paperback
three-half-starsthree-half-starsthree-half-starsthree-half-stars
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From the Back Cover: The church campus tells a story. Stories are all around us, in virtually every aspect of our daily experiences, which means that our church and ministry facilities also tell a story. Tim Cool offers a unique perspective on the importance of church buildings. These buildings are vastly more important than most understand. The church campus and the story of the people in the church go hand-in-hand and are interwoven into each other. We cannot neglect the power of story and how our church facilities communicate a story. In this book, several key questions about church facilities are answered: How does church space support the story of the people? How does the church space prime the heart, minds, and emotions of your guests? How does your facility bring people into the story of the church?

 
Stay tuned for some thoughts on this book…

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
three-half-starsthree-half-starsthree-half-stars3.5 Stars

“Total Church” by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis

“Total Church” by Tim Chester and Steve TimmisTotal Church by Steve Timmis, Tim Chester
Published by Crossway on August 21, 2008
Pages: 224
Format: Paperback
four-half-starsfour-half-starsfour-half-starsfour-half-starsfour-half-stars
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From the Publisher’s Description: “Church is not a meeting you attend or a place you enter,” write pastors Tim Chester and Steve Timmis. “It’s an identity that is ours in Christ. An identity that shapes the whole of life so that life and mission become ‘total church.'” With that as their premise, they emphasize two overarching principles to govern the practice of church and mission: being gospel-centered and being community-centered. When these principles take precedence, say the authors, the truth of the Word is upheld, the mission of the gospel is carried out, and the priority of relationships is practiced in radical ways. The church becomes not just another commitment to juggle but a 24/7 lifestyle where programs, big events, and teaching from one person take a backseat to sharing lives, reaching out, and learning about God together.

 

This book was outstanding, and it really made me consider and reconsider my own views of the structures and goals of the local church. Continue reading →