Platt's book is challenging throughout and will create difficulties for churches as they are forced to either reexamine how we are fulfilling our true purpose or choose to ignore the calling of Christ for His Church. Platt continually backs up his statements with Scriptural truth and leaves no doubt as to the direction our communities of faith should be moving. The call to radical obedience from a personal perspective as well as for the church as a whole seems difficult and even somewhat disturbing, but Platt is able to lay out the rewards and fulfillment that will be found as a result. He also does a compelling job of bringing the principles to life through powerful stories of this faith in action.
He has several tough statements that will give all church leaders (and fellow Christians) a reason to carefully examine their motives and results:
- Real faith always creates fruit.
- The gospel saves us to work.
- Only people who are resting constantly in the righteousness of Christ will be able to risk it all wholeheartedly for the glory of Christ.
- Those who espouse sound doctrine in the church should embody selfless devotion in the world.
- When we unchain the power of God's Word in the church, it will unleash the potential of God's people in the world.
- ...the Spirit of God has empowered every follower of Christ to accomplish the purpose of God for the glory of God in the world.
- Be careful no to let programs in the church keep you from engaging people in the world with the gospel.
- Leaders do not exist to provide services; they exist to serve people.
- ...prayer was fundamental, not supplemental.
I would highly recommend this book to any leader who is serious about fulfilling God's true purpose through their church. It may require a re-culturing of an organization, but it will result in a radical church that is actually what God intended it to be in the first place.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review
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