I took a break today from reading 9Marks to place my attention on a book Sam Gibson from GLO recommended, Multiplying Churches edited by Stephen Timmis, which I have to say has been most enjoyable, and has been confirming alot of things to me about church plants and of the importance of the local church!Here's a couple of quotes to wet the old appetite;
"Unless we are prepared to work from definitions that are biblically and theologically informed, church plants run the risk of being clones - copies of sending churches" [page25]
"There needs be no second generation churches if the church is constantly re-configuring itself through church planting. Second generation 'Christians' are those without their own living experience of the gospel. Second generation churches are those who have lost their gospel cutting edge..."
"...Far from weakening a sending church, church planting is a vital opportunity to re-focus the life of the church on the gospel."[page26]
"Church planting and growth of this kind starts with the conviction that people without Christ go to hell - if you really believe that you've got to take risks, take a chance and be prepared to fail..." [page97]
So who would I recommend to read this book? Everyone! This book re-affirms the place of church in both the Christian's life and in the life of missions. It is hard to read it and not feel excited over reaching your own community and those in your realm of influence.
