I started the first chapter of
Creature of the Word by Matt Chandler, Josh Patterson, and Eric Geiger this week. The subtitle is "The Jesus-Centered Church." Here are a few quotes from the first chapter:
"It's one thing to see the gospel as an important facet of one's ministry. It's quite another to hold firmly to it as the centerpiece for all a church is and does, to completely orbit around it."
"For just as an individual must continually return to the grace of Jesus for satisfaction and sanctification, a local church must continually return to the gospel as well."
"Without a proper understanding of the gospel, people will miss the big biblical picture and all the joyful freedom that comes from living in it. They will run from God in shame at their failures instead of running toward Him because of His mercy and grace."
"The gospel. What is it, really? In its simplest form, the gospel is God's reconciling work in Christ--that through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, God is making all things new both personally for those who repent and believe, and cosmically as He redeems culture and creation from its subjection to futility."
"The gospel is, of course, for individuals--yes--and it should and ultimately does cause transformation in the life of every person who believes on The Lord Jesus. However, that's only part of what God is accomplishing in His plans to make all things new. And we cannot afford to forget it."
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