Comments on: “The Deliberate Church” by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander

By: Doug McHone

Doug McHone — Wed, 14 Sep 2005 18:44:57 +0000

You mirrored a recent church growth series I had. This comment also is reminding me of a future series that I’m planning on Biblical definitions. Western people have Western definitions of words like “love” “believe” and “hear” The best way to love your neighbor is not to accept him as he is and to be content with that forever. It is better to love him as he is and to help him improve from that state.

Consider the good Samaritan. The teachers of the Law accepted the plight of the beaten man and did nothing to help him, but the Samaritan rolled up his sleeves and helped improve the man’s life. Church growth, like love, must first be vertical if we expect to be blessed on the horizontal. We need to love our neighbors by presenting a Biblical gospel message and not entertainment.

Entertainment does very little to shape a life. It may bring in a visitor, but are we loving that visitor if we are content to leave them in the ditch? Is it better to lovingly rely on the Holy Spirit to move the person’s heart through the preaching of the gospel, taking the risk that the offense of the cross will cause them to leave? If we trust that God will move in the hearts of man, yes.

The greatest commandment to love God empowers the second commandment to love your neighbor. This is vital to a Christian life.

By: Carl

Carl — Wed, 14 Sep 2005 18:28:18 +0000

If you do not love your neighbor, whom you HAVE seen, you cannot love God, whom you have not seen – James.

If you love GOD, you WILL love your neighbor. It is not “church growth vs Gospel church”. If you really are walking in love, it is BOTH.

To define love as merely “loving God” is to neglect God’s own definition and understanding of HOW to love Him – partially through loving others.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 16:18:56 +0000

Thanks for the info on this book. As a leader in my church, I am constantly asking myself, am I being a good leader? What can I do to be an effective leader? I like your comment that leaders are especially supposed to be good models.

By: PastorBookshelf

PastorBookshelf — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

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