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Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry In Your City (2012)

by Timothy Keller(Favorite Author)

4.47 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0310494184 (ISBN13: 9780310494188)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Zondervan

review 1: This is typical Keller applied to a comprehensive approach to church based ministry, especially as it applies to doing ministry in the city. However, he makes the argument early on that because of the pervasiveness of popular culture, more and more suburban and even rural areas and their people take on characteristics of a city mentality. Though listening to it was of tremendous benefit, this was not a great choice for an audible format. Nor do I think an electronic version will do it, so I'm still going to be out $30 or so to pick up a hard copy. There are numerous sections of the book I need to revisit.
review 2: One of the best books I've read on pastoral ministry. One of Keller's best. Okay, I know what you're saying: "So you too have drunk the Keller Kool-... moreaid?" Yes. Yes, I have. And quite frankly, haters are going to hate. Keller's been in ministry 30+ years, has a relentless understanding and passion for Jesus and the gospel, and is incredibly insightful in connecting the culture's plotlines with the ultimate Story of Jesus in showing how He ultimately fulfills what our hearts and communities long for. If you dislike that, then shoot me a message and I will pray for you. It's impossible to summarize all the wisdom offered in Center Church. It consists of basically three parts. In Part 1, Keller unpacks the gospel as neither religion, nor irreligion, but an entirely third way of relating to God through grace. In this section, Keller basically unpacks the bottomless riches of Christ's person and work with direct application to individual and corporate living. If the gospel is preached truthfully, winsomely, lovingly, and contextually, then we should be looking for gospel renewal in our churches and communities, precisely because the Spirit has promised to bless gospel preaching. Part 2 is Keller's argument for contextualization. The city is a mixed bag, with the potential for human flourishing and idolatry. As gospel ministers we must appreciate the truth we find in culture, but also challenge our culture with God's Word. Here is where Keller does his mini-biblical theology on the city, and demonstrates wisely the importance of cities in spreading the gospel. Part 3 gets into more ecclesiology proper. The church is both an institution and movement, an organization and organism. Keller unpacks what he sees as five ministry fronts (connecting people to God, to one another, to the city, to the culture, and church planting) which all coalesce in his final chapter on the city and the gospel ecosystem (it will blow your mind). This book is a Must for pastors, church officers, seminary students, and interested lay people. There's no question that Keller is a leading voice in gospel-centered, means of grace, contextualized urban ministry, but this book shouldn't be limited to only those involved in that discussion. It's a work that would be profoundly helpful to those in mission fields everywhere, whether urban, suburban (in my opinion the new urban), and rural. I will keep this book close at hand and be returning to it over and over. An amazing resource. less

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