POSTS TAGGED : Ecclesiology

“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
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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
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“Baptism: Personal Faith Goes Public”

On the first Sunday of May, I took the opportunity to preach on the meaning of water baptism when we at First EFC had a baptism service. It wasn’t unrelated to the current sermon series on Colossians, since we were right in the middle of talking about baptism and being buried with Christ and raised with Him by faith in Colossians 2:12-3:4. Most Christians I know seem to have only thought superficially about baptism, its meaning, and the implications of it. Continue reading →

“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
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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 →

“Everyday Church” by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis

“Everyday Church” by Tim Chester and Steve TimmisEveryday Church: Gospel Communities on Mission by Steve Timmis, Tim Chester
Published by Crossway on September 30, 2012
Pages: 173
Format: Paperback
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From the Back Cover: How does the church reach the unchurched?

We live in an increasingly post-Christian culture. More and more we find ourselves on the margins as less and less people have any intention of ever attending church. What used to work doesn’t work anymore and we need to adapt. Helping us to see the way forward, this book offers practical ideas and personal stories for engaging with Western society. Find out how to effectively reach people in the context of everyday life and take hold of the opportunity to develop missional communities focused on Jesus.

 

This is what I think of this book…

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