Ministry in the Digital Age Strategies and Best Practices for a Post-Website World By David T. Bourgeois (IVP, 2013)
The Facts: This is a practical guide for ministry leaders who want to hone their thinking on digital strategy. Bourgeois draws on his considerable experience in the business, tech, and ministry world to offer a broad introduction to digital engagement for ministry leaders. Topics include social media, web analytics, privacy, and security.
The Slant: This is a very strong “all in one” resource, especially if you have not had a formal digital strategy in the past. Bourgeois’s clear explanations of various tools and digital philosophies are excellent. With that said, digital natives, or those leading organizations with up-to-date digital abilities, won’t find any of this to be breaking news. Yet it’s a worth-while resource, especially for novices. Even web veterans will find one or two practical takeaways or new best practices for online ministry.—Paul Pastor
Working Wonders
Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work (Dutton, 2012)
There are no second-class Christians. We know that. We understand that God honors all vocations, not just ministry ones. It can still be a challenge, however, to help people who work outside the church see their callings as God’s work.
In Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work (Dutton, 2012) Tim Keller uses his customary insight and depth to tackle the topic, explaining God’s rich intentions for work. Keller demonstrates that work was started by God when he created the universe. Keller writes that work is for the keeping of the created order, a human necessity foundational for all societal advancements.
To see work this way is to empower people in their work whether they wear white or blue collars. Keller explains that work is designed to bring order out of chaos, and it repairs the fabric of the world. In short, it is the fulfillment of the command to subdue the earth.
It’s not all inspiration and good news though. Both the work and the workers are broken by sin. Keller addresses four main problems people encounter in their work: it becomes fruitless, pointless, selfish, or idolatrous. These are the experiences people so often think of when it comes to work, the fruitless toil and self-centered rat race. But there is hope.
Anyone who has read Keller’s previous books or heard his sermons knows he always bases his insights on the gospel. This book is no exception. Keller lays out how the gospel changes the broken reality of work by offering a new, alternative storyline. It provides a “new and rich conception of work as partnering with God in his love and care for the world.” The gospel provides a more sensitive moral compass and discernment into the human heart. And finally, the gospel changes our motives for work.
Every Good Endeavor belongs on the shelves of pastors. It also belongs in the hands of congregants where it will no doubt expand their minds and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the work God has called them to do.—Barnabas Piper
God Redeeming His Bride A Handbook for Church Discipline By Robert K. Cheong (Christian Focus, 2012)
The Facts: Books about church discipline don’t become bestsellers. It’s a messy topic, but absolutely necessary. Cheong encourages readers to enact discipline in a way that reflects God’s passionate love for his bride. In addition to providing a biblical and practical step-by-step guide for loving and restorative discipline, Cheong challenges readers to evaluate their own lives and to lead by example. Cheong offers hypothetical situations, case studies, and questions for reflection at the end of each chapter. He also includes appendices to guide readers through tough situations requiring discipline.
The Slant: Cheong covers an astounding range of scenarios and offers practical steps to follow. His working definition of church discipline: “God’s ongoing, redeeming working through his living Word and people as they fight the fight of faith together to exalt Christ and protect the purity of his bride.” Cheong attempts to inspire readers with a robust view of God’s passionate love for the church while challenging them to not flinch from recognizing the messiness of “gospel relationships.” Cheong believes that while we all need correcting from time to time, certain cases require intervention from church leaders. This book is filled with gracious wisdom forged in the fires of pastoral ministry. Most important it emphasizes God’s tenacious love for his bride.—Kevin Emmert
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