Loving God leads to loving the Church. That statement while true is incomplete. Loving God leads to loving the Church and the people in the Church. This statement accurately reflects what God’s love produces in His people—namely a love for Himself, a love for people and a love for His Church. In my experience in Church, I know well the tendency of some churches to emphasize loving God to the neglect of loving the people in the church. A new book The People of God Empowering The Church To Make Disciples by Trevor Joy and Spence Shelton has come out that seeks to make the point that the most powerful asset a Church has is its people.
The People of God has the gospel running through all of its page. In chapter one the author explores hat a shepherd leader looks like. In chapter two the authors look at how community is corrupted. Chapter three explores the distinctives of gospel community. Chapter four looks at how to ask the right questions, and chapter five explores how to have a clear and intentional discipleship plan at your local church. Chapter six and seven conclude the book by looking at applying the gospel to our lives and those around us in our local churches.
As I noted at the outset of this review—loving God leads to loving the Church and the people in the church. Christians have been called to community because of the gospel. This book not only lays out a good theology of community but also helps Christians understand the practices of healthy Christian community. Whether you’ve been hurt by the Church or you’re an aspiring pastor, seminary student or serve in a vocational or volunteer ministry role in the church, The People of God has something for you. This book will help you to understand why community is central to the Christian life. I highly recommend this book and believe that every Christian should thoughtful read and consider what Trevor Joy and Spence Shelton have written in The People of God.
Title: The People of God Empowering The Church To Make Disciples
Authors: Trevor Joy and Spence Shelton
Publisher: B&H
I received this book for free from B&H for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Dave Jenkins is happily married to Sarah Jenkins. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021) and The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
