The Prodigal Church: A Gentle Manifesto against the Status Quo
Pastors want to reach the lost with the good news of Jesus. However, we've too often assumed this requires loud music, flashy lights, and skinny jeans. In this gentle manifesto, Jared Wilson—a pastor who knows what it's like to serve in a large attractional church—challenges pastors to reconsider their priorities when it comes to how they "do church" and reach people in their communities. Writing with the grace and kindness of a trusted friend, Wilson encourages pastors to reexamine the Bible's teaching, not simply return to a traditional model for tradition's sake. He then sets forth an alternative to both the attractional and the traditional models: an explicitly biblical approach that is gospel focused, grace based, and fruit oriented.
Top Highlights
“Do you see what has happened? The family has not been won to a church. They’ve been won to a menu of attractive goods and services.” (source)
“‘What if what we’re doing isn’t really what we’re supposed to be doing?’” (source)
“We call our worship ‘dynamic’ or ‘exciting’ or ‘engaging.’ The unintended message is that worship is not for God but really for the worshiper. Which raises the question, Who are we worshiping?” (source)
“So if we say we’re going to worship God, we must ascribe to him his full worth, his full glory, not simply the stuff we like most about him.” (source)
“We might even call this ‘sensuality,’ which is something the Bible actually forbids (Rom. 13:13).” (source)
“Jared Wilson provides a stern warning against the
excesses of pragmatic approaches to church growth while
reminding us that if the power of the gospel is not driving our
ministries, we may build a crowd, but we are not building a
church.”
—Thom S. Rainer, President and CEO, LifeWay
Christian Resources
“Jared Wilson paints a vivid picture of the grievous outcome of
church centered on programmatic pragmatism instead of the
life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. His critical analysis and
probing confrontation, coupled with his personal encounter with
grace, has the potential to bring the church to her senses and
usher her back to our Father’s restorative embrace. The
Prodigal Church is a desperately needed wake-up call.”
—Jeff Vanderstelt, Visionary Leader, Soma; Pastor,
Doxa Church, Bellevue, Washington; author, Saturate
“The Prodigal Church is indeed a gentle manifesto
against the status quo. Wilson writes with humility, urgency, and
true pastoral concern for God’s people. He pushes back against the
consumerism and pragmatism so prevalent in twenty-first-century
congregations, and points the church to something far superior—the
gospel of Jesus Christ. All who love the local church will benefit
from reading this book.”
—Jason K. Allen, President, Midwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary
“Jared Wilson writes that we’ve forgotten “who the church is
for.” He rightly, and with a kind spirit, questions the status quo
in this book. The church is not a consumer experience. It’s not
supposed to be a volunteer-draining, CEO-driven business. No, it’s
much bigger, better, and more beautiful than that.”
—Brant Hansen, CURE International; storyteller;
radio host; author, Unoffendable
“Although I don’t agree with all of the conclusions Jared comes
to, he asks penetrating questions and lovingly argues as a man who
deeply loves Jesus, the gospel, the church, and pastors. I am fully
confident that what he has written here will save some weary
pastors from burning out and will make The Village Church a
healthier place.”
—Matt Chandler, Lead Pastor, The Village
Church, Dallas, Texas; President, Acts 29 Church Planting Network;
author, The Mingling of Souls and The Explicit
Gospel
Product Details
- Title : The Prodigal Church: A Gentle Manifesto against the Status Quo
- Author: Wilson, Jared C.
- Publisher: Crossway
- Publication Date: 2015
- ISBN: 9781433544644
Jared C. Wilson is assistant professor of pastoral ministry at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and director of the Pastoral Training Center at Liberty Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri. He is a popular author and conference speaker, and also blogs regularly at Gospel Driven Church, hosted by the Gospel Coalition. His books include Gospel Wakefulness; The Storytelling God; and The Wonder-Working God.