Slow church as faithful church...
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A few years back, a documentary named Super-Size Me, created by Morgan Spurlock, took the nation by storm. In the show, he ate at McDonald's for a month straight. Most people did not think it would have that drastic of an effect, but in the end McDonald's food had adverse effects on his physical and psychological health, and led to difficulties with sexual functioning as well. Fast-food values of immediate gratification, ease of use, low-cost caused all sorts of problems--many of which were unanticipated.

C. Christopher Smith and John Pattison argue that in many ways, the contemporary church has embraced fast-food values to their detriment. As a result, many churches offer a spiritual fare that satiates and sells to many, but in the end does little to fortify participants' souls or to build a healthy body of Christ. They argue for slow church instead of fast-food faith, offering a non-anxious, patient way of being the people of God.

Slow church is grounded in its local community. It does not chase after every trend in church development. It sees church community as a mission station not a fortress. Slow church calls us to savor the gospel instead of simply consuming it. It calls for a unique, organic connection of the church family to the community around them, as well as the same kind of connection between participants in local church communities. It calls people to a healthy rhythm of work and rest, instead of using people up to meet objectives, goals, and institutional needs. It recognize the unique assets around the community of faith, instead of grasping for a one-size-all quick fix from an organization outside of the local community. The idea of "slow church" has, I believe, always been around. The metaphor of "slow church" calls us into a counter-cultural, non-anxious way of being the people of God.

As I read this, I am reminded that God's call is not always easily measured by human standards. And I am challenged to renew my faith that the narrow, faithful road is the right one.
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Well, actually, yes. I felt a bit let down that not every week seems to follow the Revised Common Lectionary, so sometimes the commentary wasn't really relevant to what was being presented at church that week.
But as an overall guide to a down-to-earth interpretation of the theme of the lectionary - that gets 10/10 from me.
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Jesus picked twelve disciples.  They hung on for the most part, wondering where he was taking them, who would emerge as a successor, failing to even stay up with him when he needed company, criticizing an admirer's gift as misplaced and eventually Judas sold him for money.
After his death though people were speaking in his name and attracting crowds.  Thanks to Paul churches are all over the place, including Rick Warren's church.  Even before Christ, God had a problem with adultery.  The snake in Eden offered knowledge enabling one to rival God.  That knowledge has grown as much as the Church has.  How can one authentically walk with the Biblical God today?
Rick tells you right here.
His approach might appear to work for many, but I don't trust certainty where it isn't warranted.  Being sold out to someone's idea of what God demands runs against my God given sense.
All too often these prominent men of God fall publicly.
There is a beauty to being convincing; still, I'll go along with Iris Dement's song, 'Let the Mystery Be'
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For the City by Darrin Patrick and Matt Carter is a book for pastors, church planters and Christ-followers who want to make a difference in their respective cities.  The heartbeat of the authors is to instill a passion for proclaiming the gospel faithfully and living the gospel in authentic, transparent, gospel-centered communities.

There is much to commend here but I especially appreciate the fiercely anti-pragmatic approach which is grounded in gospel-centered ministry.  The authors present four approaches to the city.  The first three are popular but do not reflect the burden of the New Testament.

Church IN the City

This first approach reflect churches that are merely in the city, geographically.  While they strive to get people to church to hear the gospel, there is very little interaction with the city itself.  This approach may be well-intentioned but doesn't go far enough.

Church AGAINST the City

This approach opposes the city and carries an "us vs. them" mentality.  Examples abound here.  Frankly, these churches are an embarrassment to the evangelical world.

Church OF the City

Here is the opposite extreme.  Instead of blatantly opposing the city, the approach caters to the whims of the city and leans heavily on a postmodern ethos and as a result, loses its saltiness and gospel influence.  Some emergent churches live here.  Horrible!

Church FOR the City

The authors hold the final option as the only option for the New Testament church:  In this approach, "the church speaks the truth of the gospel and is not afraid to uphold a biblical worldview and moral standard.  Such a church proclaims the truths of Scripture with passion, clarity, and boldness.  At the same time, though, this is a church that commits itself to seeking the shalom, the flourishing, of the city.  This means seeking the shalom of the people they live in community with, living sacrificially and using their gifts, time, and money to seek the peace and prosperity of their neighbors."

While the authors never hint at it, this author wonders out loud whether a stringent premillennialism (and I'm premillennial) has negatively influenced churches that would otherwise exist as a church FOR the city.

For the City is filled with practical help, strong admonitions, and bold challenges.  A timely work from two seasoned church planters.
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I purchased this book for the express purpose of benefiting from the perspective of someone with experience of turning churches around and re-focusing on the Gospel, and the steps/processes involved, but also someone that I actually respected their theological background, being a Reformed Christian. I found it in this book and wasn't disapointed. Harry Reeder was educated at Westminster Theological Seminary, and Reformed Theological Seminary, and has pastored several Presbyterian churches in a diversity of areas, some of which had some serious problems.

I will tell what this book is NOT. It isn't a seeker-centered approach to church growth. Its not even a list of "sure-fire" tactics or strategies. Its not "innovative" in any regard. But this book IS clear refresher on the very principles of what made the first century church successful in its mission, why those methods and principles are still needed today, and points out many ways that we deviate from and forsake those God-given principles in many churches today.
The model the author offers here is "Remember, Repent, Recover"; that is, to "Remember" what the church was like at its most glorious days and what the church was doing when it seemed to be accomplishing its mission in the world as to connect future vision to the historical roots of the church, to "repent" of past wrongs unto the Lord and others, due to everything from faulty leadership, ungodly living among the congregation and lack of church disipline, to losing the zeal and passion that marked the most successful days of a church in the past, and most importantly, to "recover" the Gospel in its integrity and honestly pursue it in the church.

He also focuses and expounds upon the foundational aspects of a Godly church such as understanding Grace, Intercessory Prayer, The Primacy of Preaching, and Staying on Mission with a Vision.

There is some excellent pastoral advice from Reeder as he recounts coming to his first church as a young seminary grad and was overwhelmed by the clear problems present there. I particularly enjoyed the first hand experience Reeder offers here. Above all I value the sage-like advice Reeder dispenses like the fact that church health should be focused on, rather than growth, because "if a church IS healthy then it WILL grow", and that churches should "gather to worship, and scatter to evangelize".

This not a definitive manual by any means, but it is an excellent start in seeking ways to revitalize a church and its from a solid perspective very grounded in the Bible (the book abounds with scripture quotes). Its very easy to read, I am a layman and blew through it in a weekend so to me theres no excuse for pastors and elders NOT to read it, and its a must for new pastors who are inheriting their first church.
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From discussing the basis of a church, to the background of the church history from Matthews to Galataians, "The Titus Mandate" is an insightful look into what a church is and isn't, that everything from the new Christian to the veteran follower of Christ would be interested in reading.

In the era of mega-churches, the small hometown church to home churching, "The Titus Mandate" will help the everyman understand the importance of fellowship with fellow believers while at the same time, providing knowledge of what is a fruitful church and what is sometimes a church that is both not fruitful, but in some cases can also be harmful and what to look for.

As the author, Ted Bigelow, shared,
"The church is supposed to be the safest place on earth for Christians, so why is it often a place of deep dissatisfaction? Many Christians suffer from difficult church situations and are unsure how to live and worship with such stress, let alone grow in the midst of it. Much of this pain comes from being under poor church leadership. "

Going to church shouldn't be stressful...it should be about growth and fellowship, but sadly many find themselves either as new followers who are unable to find or know how to find a church home, or who have been going to a church that has been less about following our Father, either way, "The Titus Mandate" is a must read for an understanding of how a true church should be.

There is no such thing as a perfect church, but there is such a thing of a church that instead of strengthening and encouraging its followers, can hurt their followers as shared in this one story from, "The Titus Mandate":

"Having lived apart from Christ all her years Sheryl first assumed this was a normal part of church. To some extent it felt familiar, but at the same time she felt scared, and even powerless. Some in the church tried to calm her fears by explaining that occasional spats and disagreements are marks of a spiritually healthy church. But she knows better now because the church ended up breaking her heart. Without anybody really meaning to, the people grew loveless.

They passed each other in the hallways with only a nod and sat apart from each other on Sunday mornings. The frequent church meetings exposed frustrations as people vented disappointments and differences. Then all too quickly, it seemed, people just began to "disappear."

In, "The Titus Mandate", it continues:

"Maybe the simple truth has been there all along but we have ignored it because we only wanted a comfortable church, not a holy one. Or, it could be that we have a hard time seeing spiritual danger when we get used to it week after week. Some of us aren't the brightest sheep in the fold. Too often, it seems, it is only after we are deeply hurt that we stop long enough to ask the right questions, and really pay attention to what God says in Scripture.

Like Sheryl in her earlier days, we may be ignoring the warning signs in our church: unresolved conflict, practicing politics, and appointing unqualified leaders. Even with our eyes wide open we find ourselves unable to resolve church tensions.

Or worse, we feel powerless to do anything constructive about it. Sometime we are told that conflicts are an important and even necessary part of church life. But in fact they are disturbing warning signs that expose the enemy's foothold. Worse, they directly violate God's Word.

To counteract these problems, Christians all over the world are going back to Scripture and implementing The Titus Mandate in their churches. "

Is your church practicing, Titus 1:5.

Read "The Titus Mandate" to find out what to look out for and the understanding of what the fellowship of believers is like.
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Joel R. Beeke and Paul Smalley have done the church a favor. Much like Beeke's new work A Puritan Theology, he has made the focus of this work the thoughts and teachings of the Puritans themselves. The Puritan teaching of preparation is basically that it is God's normal means to use the preaching of the law and it's requirements to convict men of sin so that they see their need for a Savior. At the beginning Beeke and Smalley show us why this is necessary and significant for the church today.

  "Neglecting to preach law and judgement to lost sinners is one reason (though not the only one) why many churches are unhealthy today. Too many of their members are self-righteous, self-satisfied Christians in name only, whose spiritual pride has never been broken by the Spirit of Christ working through the Word of God. They have never come to see their true plight as sinners abiding under God's wrath, who merit nothing but condemnation and punishment, with no one to turn to for help other than Jesus Christ. A shallow view of sin must inevitably produce a shallow kind of faith. Feeling little need for grace, they want very little from God or from Christ apart from what they think they are entitled to." pg. 7

  The book then leads us through examples of puritans such as Richard Sibbes, William Ames, Thomas Hooker, and John Bunyan, showing how they taught and practiced the doctrine of preparation. Beeke and Smalley show that this is not just a Puritan teaching, but that it can be traced to Calvin, Augustine, and most importantly, the Bible.

  My favorite aspect of this book was its emphasis on the practical use of the teaching of preparation. Understood properly, this teaching greatly impacts the way we preach the gospel. It is a great reminder that we should seek to expose unbelievers to God's law and His holiness so that the Spirit can convict that person of sin. Without a conviction of sin, people will see no need for a Savior.

  This work ends much how it began. "The Puritan doctrine of preparation was a response to a situation in which nominal Christianity abounded. Virtually everyone in the seventeenth century had a connection to a church, at least through baptism, but many showed no signs of walking with God."pg 244. Though our culture is becoming less religious, we are still very convinced of our own righteousness. Pastors and teachers must take the message of God's love to the world, but we must make sure to show men and women their sin. This exposure to our depravity can then lead us to the exposure of God's glorious grace, which is greater than all our sin, but then and only then will people see their need for Christ.

  I highly recommend this book. While at times a bit heady, it is full of heartfelt, encouraging truths. It will also introduce you to some men from the past who will deeply affect your walk with Christ. This is a great book about great men teaching an important truth.
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Serious observers of the contemporary American church have been pointing out that the church has suffered such substantive missional drift and theological confusion over the last century that unless something changes in the life of the American church, Christianity in America is heading the way of our European predecessors. The church in America is in cultural captivity! This captivity has rendered the gospel truncated, politicized, domesticated and therefore having little or no visible effect.  "Your Church Is Too Small" offers one of those rare prophetic prescriptions that, if heeded, could serve to liberate the church.

In "Your Church Is Too Small," John Armstrong presents a vision of the unity possible for Christians across social, cultural, racial, and denominational lines. Far from the liberal ecumenism of the 1960s, Armstrong shows how diverse Christians can (and must) maintain unity in obedience to Christ without necessarily surrendering their doctrinal convictions. As Armstrong so thoroughly shows from Scripture, when Jesus' followers seek unity through participation in the kingdom of God and the mission of Christ, they provide an essential gospel-witness to a watching world (a witness that today is largely absent).

"Your Church Is Too Small" will challenge you to think in a profoundly biblical way about the visible church on earth. The church, beyond its representative institutions, is an organic body--the body of Christ--that gathers in many places, often holding different ideas, across many languages, socioeconomic strata, and cultures. There is, and always will be, diversity in the Lord's church by God's design (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-31). Sadly, this diversity has often been the source of strife, contention, and division rooted mostly in fear. Armstrong shows how this fear and division has been destructive to both persons and the mission of the church.

For those who long to see the witness of the church powerfully manifested in our generation I urge you to buy this book, read it, be transformed by it, share it, and teach it to others!

S. Michael Craven, president, Center for Christ & Culture and author of&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Uncompromised-Faith-Overcoming-Our-Culturalized-Christianity/dp/B00394DI6W/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Uncompromised Faith: Overcoming Our Culturalized Christianity</a>
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2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. Jesus never built one Church and he was a carpenter he could have easily done that and he never told his twelve apostles to build a Church and its for a reason. He knew the amount of paganism and right out Devil worshipping would lead many people calling themselves Christian straight to the Devil. People are the Church not a building.
John Ramirez says he was able to break Christians down because they did not have a strong relationship with the Father and Son and that is how he is still breaking down Christians today. Matt 13:25 But while everyone was sleeping his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.
John Ramirez is STILL practicing witchcraft and is still working for Satan. His testimony about Devil worshipping I believe is what kept many of you and me intrigued. However, his preaching in the Church as a Christian is absolutely more terrifying than anything else, he should not have been allowed inside the Church to preach and it says a lot about these Churches and who is running them.  Theres a saying The Devil goes to Church too and its because hes running it.
Listen to what is coming out of his mouth, does it sound like something ordained by the Holy Spirit? Matt 24:11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. How often did Jesus brag about violence, or refer to women as hoochies? When a person shows you who they are, believe them the first time Maya Angelou, you might not get a second chance...I really believe that a lot of people saying amen and laughing, when hes fooling people in the Church are part of his COVEN, listen how they agree to anything he says even before he says itI also believe a lot of these too good to be true reviews are from HIS COVEN. Matthew 7:15  Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
In his series of videos listen to the third one, he speaks about worshipping the devil in the present not past. HES telling YOU he is STILL a WORSHIPPER of SATAN. Matt 24:4 Watch out that no one deceives you.
Ephesians 6:10-18New International Version (NIV) The Armor of God-10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devils schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lords people.
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We hear and read repeatedly about the "decline of the Christian Church." But that is a true statement for only a portion of the Church. It accurately reflects the Church's condition in, what has traditionally been, the "Church belt" of Christianity. In Western Europe and North America it is sadly the case and has been for decades. One fact from the book: Total all the annual income of all churches in America and divide it by the number of total annual baptisms in America. The cost per baptism in America is 1.5 million dollars. If nothing changes, can we expect anything to improve?

Something has changed in the Global South, the traditional ares of Christian missions for well over a century. Ask if God and His Church are growing there? The answer is a resounding "Yes"! Trousdale and Sunshine reveal the truth that Christianity is growing at a faster rate right now than it ever has in history around the globe! The Kingdom of God is spreading fast and furiously across Africa, Asia, and portions of Latin America. The faith of Christ is penetrating every people group it encounters: Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Animist. The call to Christian discipleship is being welcomed and obeyed even in the face of horrific persecution.

The Kingdom Unleashed dramatically, statistically, and personally reveals the movement of God among people groups often thought unreachable across the Global South. The Disciple Making Movement (DMM) and its methodology and strategy is teachable and transferable. Will the Church in the Global North listen and learn, hear and follow? Or will we continue to do "church as usual" and expect different results? Don't disappoint the Global South Church. It's humbling to know they are praying for us!

Perhaps the most stimulating and challenging book I've read in memory. It will shape my future.
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This book is really in two parts -- it is one part testimony of God's work in the author's life and one part wake-up call to Christians and the church.

I read this book on my Kindle and highlighted several passages, especially where worldly wealth is concerned. For example, he describes how churches give choice parking and choice seating to those who are the most wealthy and powerful, and that people get more respect the more money they give, which of course is discouraging to people who don't have as much to offer the church. He also says that with wealth comes great responsibility -- something I have believed for ages. Those that have great wealth are obligated to help those who do not. This does not mean to give until you're broke, but once you've got yourself and your family taken care of, it is time to pass the blessings on to others. As someone who has grown weary of "prosperity preaching" and societal worship of the almighty dollar, this was incredibly refreshing to read.

I also appreciated his take on women's place in the church. He says that we are living in the end times, and that the Bible states that during the end times "sons AND DAUGHTERS will prophesy." Therefore, even though women were expected to sit quietly and have a limited role in the church during the early days of Christianity, they are allowed and called by God to have a greater role in the church.

There were two things about this book I wasn't thrilled about. One was his conservative (read: NOT homophobic) view of homosexuals. He does not say anything hateful, but still expressed the view that people who identify as homosexuals should go to church to try to change their sexual identity, which I honestly don't think is possible. The other is his vision for a church, which came across as a little strange to me. A church with state-of-the-art everything, including a hospital, fitness center and shopping mall... that just seems a little over the top to me. I feel like churches should have other priorities first.

Overall, I think this is a great book for Christians to read, and I sincerely wish the author success with all of his endeavors in serving God.
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Attempts to moderate somewhat between the church growth advocates and the traditional side, but falls short on many counts.  The title itself is a foretaste of what is to come, i.e. good advice on how to be more "effective," such as people techniques, organization, etc., but why not concentrate on the more biblical concept: "faithful."
Consider the Pastor Paul writing advice to Pastors Tim and Titus.  Never does he talk about this quality and effectiveness and efficiency that most books deal with on pastors who want success.  Teach the word purely.  Be a bondslave to the gospel of Christ.  Expect attack.  Lean on the Lord.  Sheep will safely graze and pasture, under a watchful shepherd's eye.
Means means well in what he offers.  Much good to combat the modern tendencies to lead the flock with more consideration of what the sheep want.  I found him talking on both sides much of the time.
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Kent Carlson is the pastor of a very successful church. It was based on the Willow Creek model of creating Seeker Sensitive services. They had an attendance of 1,700 and ministry was taking place.

Then Carlson hired Mike Lueken, took his leadership team on a retreat and everything changed.

In Renovation of the Church, these pastors explain how they felt convicted to change the way they did church from focusing on seekers to growing in Christian Formation.

This change has come at a cost. Their attendance has dropped to 700. That's 1,000 people who have left. They have also lost staff members who weren't comfortable with the change.

All this and they still feel that God is moving them in the right direction.

Inside this book you will learn their mistakes, feel their heart's desire to pursue Christlikeness and God's kingdom.

With 12 chapters, you'll discover the hard years of the transition, the mistakes they made during the transition, you'll learn about their hatred for consumerism and how it has practically destroyed the Church. These pastor's talk about what it means to be the true church and then they dive into the areas of outreach and worship.

I particularly enjoyed reading their views on worship and how it needs to focus on the story of God and not on the specific style (think songs) that makes us "feel" good.

This is a book critiquing a model of doing mega-church that many in America are comfortable with. It may even challenge you.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by IVP Publishing.
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When I started this book, I had hoped for some practical ideas of what it looks like to meet and live as a 'slow' church. I am currently a part of a group that is trying a different way (for us at least) of approaching living as the church. I expected some theological ideas as background, but it turns out that most of the book is that background with only a little about the 'how' (with the exception of the excellent final chapter).
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It is good to know that there are young Pastors who adhere to the historic orthodox Church.  As an older Lutheran, when I hear a speaker who doesn't accept Scripture as God's Word, there seems to be no spiritual power to help me.  I don't know if I am correct, but I have always believed that the Holy Spirit may not honor a speaker who doesn't honor Scripture.  This book encourages us all, laymen and Pastors to get back to our roots and that is simply using the Word of God to order our lives individually and as a church.  It seems fairly evident that Churches who don't will die.  In fact, much of the Western world is dying, I believe, because we have abandoned God's Word.  So thank all of you faithful pastors.  Maybe if we heed Pastor Hale's advice, we can all agree "how firm a foundation you saints of the Lord is laid for your faith in his excellent Word."
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In March 2012, I listen to Harry L. Reeder III speak at the Philadelphia Conference of Confessing Evangelicals in Grand Rapids Michigan.  He spoke at the pre-conference of conference where the topic was the Gospel. Other speakers were Robert Godfrey, Sinclair Ferguson, and Ligon Duncan . Much what he spoke about in the conference did not mirror what is in this book, but it came pretty close to it. I found both his speaking there and this book very interesting.

The Gospel is a paradigm for church growth. Member recruitment or being seeker friendly is not the paradigm for church revitalization or church growth. He is critical the business approach of church operations, entertainment paradigm, or the self-help psychology model. Jesus should be front and center of the church in worship and what is taught. The sermon and the preached word is a priority in worship and teaching. Sound doctrine is the cornerstone to sound worship.

2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left
thy first love. 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and
do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will
remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Revelations of Jesus Christ

The first of First things is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The importance of God's Grace is taught and illustrated. Whom have I believed? Jesus.  Who is able? Jesus.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of
God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first,
and also to the Greek.  Romans 1:16

Part of the character of change in the church should be are:

God's mercy is available for them.
Repent for sin.
Confess specific sin.
Emphasize specific sin.
Discourage excuse making.

First Repentance in the Leaders: Get rid of sin in the camp. Second have repentance among all members of the church. Repent, confess, and make right where possible. Pastor, Elders, and Deacons have responsibility to confess sin against the church body, individual members, and sin did outside the church proper. This follows to other members of the church body who have undertaken specific responsibility in the church body. Then to the balance of the body should repent, confess and make right where possible.

"The church in Jerusalem was conceived in prayer ministry (Acts 1) and birthed in a sermon (Acts 2) Reeder gives priority to intercessory prayer and the primacy of Preaching. Acts 6:1-4 Disciples devote themselves to prayer and ministry of the Word. Deacons were appointed to serve tables. Those who are designated by God to preach the word are to be devoted to prayer. Prayer priority is part to what decisions a church makes, to seek God's help God's help in good and trouble times. Prayer is also apriority of praise. Pleading petitions for God's Kingdom.

The Gospel is a life transforming message. Application to the transforming message includes reproof and correction, therefore is an equipping message.
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The book describes the Episcopal church very well. I personally enjoy not only Sunday service, but bible class, and weekly daily prayer meetings. The book
 is fairly repetitious ,but that is because many things in the church are that way.

  Sincerely,

  David  Diamond