About book Community: Taking Your Small Group Off Life Support (Re:Lit) (2011)
This was a great read for me. I connected with the author more than anything theology book I've read, mostly because he isn't a theologian. He is an engineer turned pastor at Mars Hill Church, and systematically breaks down the problems with community in today's American church. He is honest and transparent about the issues his own church has had over the years and offers tested models and options for community to be used in your own church. Brad House is not interested in impressing you with great ideas, only contributing to the discussion of how the church as a whole can be known as a welcoming and loving people who make Jesus, not themselves, famous. While I found the book helpful in many ways I also found it complex and rather heavy handed.I guess, in my ignorance, I thought small group ministry was more organic and Spirit-led than this book seems to prescribe. I just have a hard time seeing the apostles and early church pastors breaking out charts and graphs and laying out five principles, six rhythms, four descriptors, and six whatchamacallits in order to be intentional about building community.Then again, one cannot argue with the success of Mars Hill. They have to be doing something right. I also realize that I am not an expert on these matters like the author. I have to admit though, as I read this book, it just sort of started sucking all the joy out of meeting with my small group. It turned it into a business proposition, a science, a Six-Sigma process or something.I should have remembered, where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.Then again, I could be wrong.
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Very helpful in showing me how to be more intentional with our Missional Communities.
—CareBearAKACC
Inspiring and motivating....something every member of my church needs to read!
—jpatel93
