Reverberation: How God's Word Brings Light Freedom and Action to His People
What is the most effective way to grow a church? It's not a new methodology or cultural outreach strategy, it's...the Word of God. In this book, Jonathan Leeman wants you to realize that the Word, working through God's Spirit, is responsible for the growth of God's church and we need to trust it! Leeman not only informs and equips the leadership of local churches for greatest effectiveness in their preaching ministry but explains how to translate that into the life of the church throughout the week. The book also deals with two errors - not trusting the Word (resulting in a pragmatic ministry philosophy) and not living in light of the Word, (resulting in a ministry philosophy of "preaching is enough"). Reverberation explains the pulpit ministry and traces the theme of how the Word continues through the life of the church. Both theological and practical, Reverberation focuses on how the church hears, responds, discusses, implements and is transformed by the Word. No high-octane production, superstar personalities, or postmodern entreaties, just stuff that is really old, really good, and really powerful!
Publisher: Moody
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9780802422996
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JONATHAN LEEMAN is the editorial director of 9Marks, which involves him in editing the 9Marks series of books as well as the 9Marks Journal. He has written a number of books on the church, including Reverberation, and he teaches theology at several seminaries. Jonathan lives with his wife and four daughters in a suburb of Washington, DC and serves as an elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington.
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This is simply an excellent and profoundly helpful book. And I am not using the word "excellent" flippantly. I am not widely read, but I do not recall coming across a book similar to this which sets out to demonstrate just how the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture plays out in the life of a church. Leeman sets out to do just that, and he does it very well. I would respectfully disagree with the reviewer who gives it 3 stars, saying that Leeman's polemical tone is too harsh. If I recall correctly, Leeman does not name a specific church or group of churches when he critiques how they sometimes use or misuse the Scriptures. This does not mean he sets up a straw man just to knock it down again, rather it allows him to carefully counteract patterns that I personally have observed in a number of different settings. Thus his critique is accurate, not just a careless iron fist. Nor would I agree with the same reviewer that Leeman's tone is harsh. I'll grant that it is strong, but I also sense a humility in it as well. In short: read this book! Read it with a newer Christian. Buy 10 copies and hand it out to friends at church. John Power