So, I review books now for Thomas Nelson. It’s a good deal. Pick a book that looks interesting, they mail it to you and then you write a review on your blog and Amazon. And I’m always up for a free book! Now, periodically, there will be book reviews on my blog.
I’ve just read Change Your Church For Good by Brad Powell. Powell is pastor of NorthRidge Church in Michigan. This man loves the church but sees great room for improvement. This we agree on. Throughout the 300 pages (which drag on at times), he lays out the problems and then gives his opinions on how to remedy them. He presents it all quite clearly and it’s very easy to read and understand. His conclusions about the church are harsh, but true. Powell charges the church with being irrelevant. While this may be true, I felt that his focus was in making the church seeker friendly. He makes the point that “most churches are organized to serve the interests and well-being of the insiders rather than the outsiders,” I agree. I believe he goes too far to the other extreme.
His strengths lie in the way it all is laid out. If you like things given in steps, you’ll like this book. With each problem, Powell spells out a certain way it can be approached. The fact that he is using his own experience and his previous churches as case studies helps make application to his points. I didn’t like how seeker friendly he was, but that is a personal opinion.
Would I recommend this book? If you want quick, easy answers, then yes. The church today has problems that need addressing. I don’t think becoming ultra-relevant and creating services that entice those outsiders to come visit is what will fix the problem. He doesn’t really address the heart of the church, but focuses on things that can be done to get more people inside. Reasons that I think are surface level. For what he is trying to accomplish, the book does exactly that. While the solutions are not what I would recommend, some of the problems he gave are quite valid and the church should take time to hear them. Powell desires for the church to do a better job of reaching those outside the church…. we just disagree on what needs to change in order for that to happen.
Next review: Jesus Manifesto by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola
