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Book Reviews

Book Review: Church Reset: God’s Design for So Much More by Jack Wilkie

Published by Focus Press, Inc. (June 20, 2020)

141 pp.

From focuspress.org: https://www.focuspress.org/churchreset

Paperback $13.99 + shipping

eBook $9.99

Audiobook $8.00

From Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BKXHF3L

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Publisher Description: Shouldn’t church be… more?

If you’ve ever driven home on a Sunday with that question on your mind, you are not alone. When we read about the church in the Bible there’s a beauty and an appeal to it that so often seems missing. In our busy, distracted, consumeristic world it seems as though becoming a self-sacrificial, tight-knit, Christlike family like the early Christians is a pipe dream.

In Church Reset: God’s Design for So Much More, Jack Wilkie traces the problem back to its roots to show how we’ve deviated from God’s plan and how we can get back on track. How can we stop operating as an organization and start living like a family? How do we stop creating church customers and start making dedicated disciples? How do we abandon man-made strategies and rediscover the power of God’s design? Church Reset casts an exciting vision for what Christ’s church can be by pointing back to what it was meant to be from the very start.

About the Author

Jack Wilkie preaches for the Forney church of Christ in Forney, TX. He is also the editor of The Focus Press Blog, where he writes on Christian living, the church, and cultural issues relevant to Christians. He has written one other book, available excusively from Focus Press – “Failure: What Christian Parents Need to Know About American Education,” and “Church Reset: God’s Design for So Much More.”

Contents

Introduction

  1. Shouldn’t the Church Be … More
  2. Going Out of Business
  3. Church Reset
  4. Jesus Is the Mission
  5. Together
  6. One Another
  7. “Go” vs. “Bring Them In”
  8. Out of Gas
  9. Holy Spirit
  10. Teaching Christ
  11. Living Christ
  12. Questions

Conclusion

Value of the Book

This book makes a very challenging point when it comes to the work, focus, and growth of the Lord’s church. Everything comes down to one point: The main work, and therefore activity, of the church AND of Christians is to make disciples. Based on that, evangelism is not a program, but part of the fabric of Christian life. He points out that a healthy congregation is not spinning around an amazing preacher but is a network of working and growing Christians. Being the church is not focused on what we do in the building, but on what we do for the rest of the week.

Weaknesses of the Book

Several times in reading the book I felt like the author had a very negative view of the church as she is. Granted, he makes the disclaimer that this is not the case. Still, the very premise of the book implies that the whole thing needs to be turned off and back on again.

The author seems to express the idea that there are things that the Spirit does directly to and for the Christian, but that in order for that to happen we have to get out of His way.

Suggested Use

I would not use this book as the basis for a class. However, as a personal read I see value in it. I think it could help church leaders rethink the way that the work is approached. I also think that it might have some value with those who are “on the fringe,” encouraging them to step up to the plate and BE the church rather than COMING to church.

Notable Quotes

 

Introduction

I certainly believe that doing things in the way God prescribed will lead to growth (both internal and numerical), but that’s not the same thing as “Try this method and you’ll get lots of people.” The important thing is to focus on process and not result. God gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). It’s left to us to leave that part to Him and be faithful to His way of doing things. That’s the aim of this book. (Loc 98)

Going Out of Business

The businesslike approach to church creates customers who can only give a few hours per week and who can only consume, which places the onus on the providers to keep serving up these spiritual meals for the customers. Customers then choose the church where the preaching and teaching best meet their needs and the style they prefer. (Loc 366)

Just like the restaurant that rises or falls based on what they offer on the menu, so churches today have come to rise or fall based on what they offer on their menu of activities and programs. (Loc 380)

Church Reset

Perfect attendance is not a spiritual gift. God gives each and every one of us the Spirit for serving the people around us in some way. Until we have a system that disciples people and helps them find their role in the building up of the body, we are saying to the hand, “I have no need of you.” (Loc 643)

Jesus Is the Mission

Timothy’s job as the preacher at Ephesus was not just to preach good sermons. He was to equip others to join him in the mission of developing disciples. (Loc 933)

In short, a church full of Jesus followers won’t need to have their Christianity scheduled for them by some organizational leader. They will perform the church’s three-fold work of evangelism, edification, and benevolence organically, as part of who they are. (Loc 981)

Together

what we mean when we ask people to commit and serve the church says a lot about our understanding of the church. These things further the “individual contributing to an organization” mindset. “Serving the church” should mean serving the people of the church in some way. (Loc 1057)

One Another

That kind of closeness—to be known at our worst and still loved—is what we’re all longing for. We can only get that by confession. (Loc 1394)

“Go” vs “Bring Them In”

We gather together to worship Him, not ourselves, and not our visitors. Marketing our lively worship experience is not the same as evangelism. (Loc 1500)

People were still interested in the Gospel. They just weren’t interested in giving up their night to walk into a building full of strangers to hear what they saw as our interpretation of the Bible. Honestly…who could blame them? (Loc 1542)

Out of Gas

there’s a large difference between asking God to help us with what we’ve already planned to do rather than putting our plans at His feet and asking for guidance. To draw on Abraham’s example, when we do the former, we’re asking God to bless Ishmael rather than accepting that He might have another child in mind. (Loc 1761)

When we have the proper understanding of prayer’s effect on our spiritual lives and the life of the church, we stop asking God to make a clear path for us and start asking Him to strengthen us for whatever path He has for us. That’s exactly what our brethren did in Acts 4:29-30. Where we might pray for safety and an end to persecution, they prayed for boldness to speak regardless of the consequence. (Loc 1824)

Teaching Christ

Jesus was the greatest preacher and teacher of all time, yet nowhere do we see Him saying, “Alright, that’s your kingdom class for this week! Go act on what you heard, and I’ll see you next Sabbath!” (Loc 2036)

Frankly, the small group method is exactly what it would look like if someone tried to shoehorn the Biblical need for community and disciple making into the business model. (Loc 2098)

Living Christ

As a church leader, this may very well mean scaling back on the church schedule. If people are constantly expected to be at the building they aren’t going to have time to practice these things. (Loc 2204)

When it comes to helping people grow in Christ, the kitchen table can be just as effective as the pulpit—possibly even more. It’s in the informal setting of the home that we can share questions, help people learn at their own level and pace, and pray specific prayers together. It’s where Jesus did much of His teaching. (Loc 2260)

Questions

Because disciples are hand-made, a church culture of loving, family-like Jesus-followers can not be built any faster than the disciples are made. (Loc 2495)

When “church” is 90% or so focused on what happens in the building on Sunday, and women aren’t allowed to participate there, then it’s not unfair to say that women are second class citizens of sorts. If, on the other hand, the Sunday gathering is just one part (an important part, but still one of many) of what the church does, we can meaningfully say, “Women are allowed to do nearly everything but that.” (Loc 2553)

Categories
Evangelism

Upcoming Dates?

As restrictions are beginning to ease somewhat, it appears that the current distress isn’t going away any time soon. This year’s calendar has not turned out to look anything like we had planned. All of the things that had been on my calendar are now erased.

I have kept busy with evangelism and ministry here in Itasca as well as managing the academic programs at Modelle and Talawanda. The faculty at Rwenzori is ready to go whenever the government gives them the okay.
While our work has not looked the same there have been some unique and incredible opportunities for the Gospel that have arisen. I would love the opportunity to come and encourage your congregation and share an update about how God has opened doors through all of this. We could arrange to do this in person or virtually. Just let me know what works best for you. Thanks for your continued prayers and fellowship in the great work of equipping evangelists and sending them into the fields to harvest.

Categories
Church Crisis

Rwenzori School of Preaching Update

The school in Uganda remains closed due to COVID-19 pending authorization from the government to reopen. There is still no word as to when that might happen. Even in the midst of the ongoing lockdown, God is not locked down.

Mbusa, our director has planted a new congregation in the village of Kidodo with 15 members. The faculty and students in their dispersion continue to evangelize aggressively. One of the students has converted five souls in the mountain village of Nyambuko. Work on the farm continues, and the crop continues to feed the workers and those in need around the school.

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Uncategorized

If You Know These Things

In washing the feet of the disciples, Jesus gave us a powerful example. This isn’t the idea that we should literally go around washing each other’s feet, but rather that even the most humble of tasks are not beneath our station in life because they were not beneath our Lord.

When we learn to set aside our pride and our concern for what we want, and our own worries, and look outward a change takes place. When we begin looking at others, searching for opportunities to serve and bless them the world looks different.

Jesus says that when we understand this truth, and when we put it into practice that it will bring blessings into our own lives. Another way to translate “blessed” in John 13:17 is “happy.”

When we stop focusing on our own troubles and focus on how we can serve and help others, Jesus says that we will find happiness. This life of service is what we are called to as Christians. It is what we were made to do.

Categories
Uncategorized

If You Know These Things

In washing the feet of the disciples, Jesus gave us a powerful example. This isn’t the idea that we should literally go around washing each other’s feet, but rather that even the most humble of tasks are not beneath our station in life because they were not beneath our Lord.

When we learn to set aside our pride and our concern for what we want, and our own worries, and look outward a change takes place. When we begin looking at others, searching for opportunities to serve and bless them the world looks different.

Jesus says that when we understand this truth, and when we put it into practice that it will bring blessings into our own lives. Another way to translate “blessed” in John 13:17 is “happy.”

When we stop focusing on our own troubles and focus on how we can serve and help others, Jesus says that we will find happiness. This life of service is what we are called to as Christians. It is what we were made to do.

Categories
Uncategorized

You Have No Part With Me

In the opening verses of John 13, Jesus washes the feet of His disciples. When he comes to Peter, Peter declares, “You shall never wash my feet!” (v. 8). Jesus responds swiftly by telling Peter that if he does not allow the Savior to wash his feet, then he has no part with Jesus.

Peter, being the impetuous guy that he was, flipped his previous statement, saying, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” (v. 9). He wanted to be sure that he was all in with Jesus. In doing this, our Lord was teaching a valuable lesson. “the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

If Jesus, who had been equal with God in Heaven, came to earth to be a servant, and He is our Master; then what should we be doing? We must also have the mind and heart of a servant, and rather than trying to gain power or prestige, we should be looking for opportunities to serve.

At the same time, we must also recognize our own need for the service that the Savior came to give. We cannot get to Heaven on our own. Until we swallow our pride and accept what Jesus has to offer, then we have no part with Him.

Categories
Uncategorized

The Word I Have Spoken

John 12 brings an end to Jesus’ public ministry before His crucifixion. The last words of His teaching that John records are about the coming judgment. Jesus tells us that we will be judged based on His word.

Knowing the standard of judgment helps us prepare for that day. It also tells us what won’t be important on that day. The teachings of religious teachers, preachers, or the church, synods, catechisms, creed books councils, the practices and beliefs of our family or friends, and even what we ourselves felt, thought, or believed will not be the standard.

We will be judged based on what Jesus taught. He goes on to say that He got His teaching from the Father and that this teaching is eternal life. We must carefully listen and obey.

Categories
Adversity Attitude Comfort Heart Perspectives of a Bondservant

lest they should be put out

Perhaps even sadder than those who refused to consider the evidence for Christ, are those who Joh speaks of in the next verses. In John 12:42-43 we read of many who did believe in Jesus but refused to follow Him.

They did this because they were motivated by fear of what they would lose. They had grown up as a part of the Jewish synagogue. It had been a part of the very fabric of their lives. They knew that Jesus was the Christ, but they also knew that following Him meant that they would be thrown out of the synagogue.

So, rather than following the Savior, and following what they knew to be right, they stayed where they were. They stayed where they were comfortable. They stayed where they didn’t have Jesus Christ.

Sometimes following Jesus calls us to leave behind that which is familiar, and that which is comfortable. Sometimes it means losing relationships and a community. But it will always be worth it. Who is more important in your life; people, or God?

Categories
Attitude Faith Heart Perspectives of a Bondservant

Although He Had Done Many Signs

It is not uncommon to hear somebody say that if they received a sign from God they would believe, or maybe to wish for a sign from God telling them what they should do. Perhaps you have felt that way yourself, or maybe even feel that way right now.

It is interesting to note that here in John 12:36-40 we learn that Jesus had performed many signs in the presence of these people who were now at Jerusalem for the feast. These were religious people, people who on some level wanted to please God. Yet, when faced with an abundance of miraculous proof that Jesus is the Christ, they refused to believe.

John comments that this is a fulfillment of a prophecy in Isaiah. It is interesting to note that this is not the only occasion in which this particular prophecy is said to be fulfilled. That tells us that the prophecy wasn’t about a singular event, but rather a frame of mind. There are many today who fulfill this prophecy because they have no desire to even consider the evidence that is before them.

The question that each of us must answer is whether we are willing to open our eyes and see what God has said.

Categories
Perspectives of a Bondservant

If I Am Lifted Up

In John chapter twelve Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, beginning the week that would end in His crucifixion. On that occasion, He declared, “if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself” (verse 32).

Here He spoke of His crucifixion, in which He would literally be lifted up from the earth within the week. His death would become THE pivotal event in all of earth’s history. In His death, He calls all people of all places to follow Him. He offers salvation, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life.

The cross of Christ draws attention to Him like no other person ever to walk this earth. As we learn about Jesus, we must make a decision whether to follow Him or reject Him, but we can not ignore Him.

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