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peterdray's review
4.0
There's much I appreciated about Neil Hudson's book, which is essentially a clarion call away from over-valuing the 'gathered' dimension of church life (i.e. meetings) and under-valuing the rest of the week, especially Christian disciples' presence in their workplaces (what Hudson calls their 'frontlines').
Lots of what Hudson says is extremely helpful - not least how aspects of church life can be shaped to give members a vision for whole life discipleship. I especially appreciated the chapters on preaching and small groups. I found the insights around discipleship only being able to be worked out in real times and spaces amongst real people very helpful.
But if many churches have skewed towards gathering, I think Hudson is slightly over-reactive. Yes, church gatherings are to equip God's people for works of service - but I think Hudson is wrong say that the gathered life of the church is for the scattered life of the church.
I was once involved in a church that on the face of it did an excellent job of equipping but lost the wonder of the gospel. It wasn't an easy place to suffer or to feel echoes of the love of Christ. I'd love to take Hudson's best insights (which are many) but to place them within the life of a community genuinely growing in faith and love together.
Lots of what Hudson says is extremely helpful - not least how aspects of church life can be shaped to give members a vision for whole life discipleship. I especially appreciated the chapters on preaching and small groups. I found the insights around discipleship only being able to be worked out in real times and spaces amongst real people very helpful.
But if many churches have skewed towards gathering, I think Hudson is slightly over-reactive. Yes, church gatherings are to equip God's people for works of service - but I think Hudson is wrong say that the gathered life of the church is for the scattered life of the church.
I was once involved in a church that on the face of it did an excellent job of equipping but lost the wonder of the gospel. It wasn't an easy place to suffer or to feel echoes of the love of Christ. I'd love to take Hudson's best insights (which are many) but to place them within the life of a community genuinely growing in faith and love together.
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