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Called to Be Church: The Book of Acts for a New Day
Biblical scholar Robert Wall and pastoral leader Anthony Robinson here join forces to bring the Acts of the Apostles forward to our time as a resource for congregational renewal and transformation.
Featuring both careful exegetical study and exciting contemporary exposition, the fifteen chapters of Called to Be Church each first interpret the text of Acts as Scripture and then engage Acts for today's church. The book dives into many of the most vexing issues faced by the church then and now -- such issues as conflict resolution, pluralism and multiculturalism, sexuality, money, church and state, the role of the Holy Spirit, and more.
Enhanced by study questions at the end of each chapter, Called to Be Church will lend itself especially well to small-group study within congregations. Pastors, lay readers, students, and ordinary believers alike will find the book helpful and inspiring.
Featuring both careful exegetical study and exciting contemporary exposition, the fifteen chapters of Called to Be Church each first interpret the text of Acts as Scripture and then engage Acts for today's church. The book dives into many of the most vexing issues faced by the church then and now -- such issues as conflict resolution, pluralism and multiculturalism, sexuality, money, church and state, the role of the Holy Spirit, and more.
Enhanced by study questions at the end of each chapter, Called to Be Church will lend itself especially well to small-group study within congregations. Pastors, lay readers, students, and ordinary believers alike will find the book helpful and inspiring.
- GenresChurchNew Testament
298 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2006
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April 24, 2023
Overall, Robinson and Wall succeed in supporting their claim that Acts is a relevant book for the church in today’s postmodern world. Be it missiology, preaching, ecclesiology, or other, the authors do well in relating the account seen in Acts to today’s world. This is achieved through careful interpretation and pointed reflection and application of the text.
A real strength of this book is the authors diagnosis and dissection of modern Christian and secular culture. I think the book starts on a powerful note, laying the groundwork and establishing the frame from which the rest of the book will work forward and speak into. I do agree with Robinson and Wall that Western Christianity, specifically that in America, is seeing a decline. While certainly not the worst thing (Christianity has always been at its strongest when it is small, in-home), it is certainly worrisome and not desired.
Another strength of the book is the authors ability to relate Acts to today. Each chapter (excluding the first and last), contain a detailed analysis of a specific chapter or section of Acts. The detailed analysis works from the passage and relate it to the modern church and world. In doing so, the authors masterfully demonstrate the applicability of Acts in a missional, ecclesiological and theological manner.
A weakness I noticed in the book relates to the interpretation including in the first half of each chapter (excluding the first and last). While necessary for the task at hand, the interpretation sections feel like mini-commentaries, providing details here and there to some avail. However, in light of the application section in the latter half of each chapter (again, excluding the first and last), it feels less important, less impactful. Again, I recognize the necessity of its inclusion, but I felt myself again and again wanting to get through the interpretation to the application.
A real strength of this book is the authors diagnosis and dissection of modern Christian and secular culture. I think the book starts on a powerful note, laying the groundwork and establishing the frame from which the rest of the book will work forward and speak into. I do agree with Robinson and Wall that Western Christianity, specifically that in America, is seeing a decline. While certainly not the worst thing (Christianity has always been at its strongest when it is small, in-home), it is certainly worrisome and not desired.
Another strength of the book is the authors ability to relate Acts to today. Each chapter (excluding the first and last), contain a detailed analysis of a specific chapter or section of Acts. The detailed analysis works from the passage and relate it to the modern church and world. In doing so, the authors masterfully demonstrate the applicability of Acts in a missional, ecclesiological and theological manner.
A weakness I noticed in the book relates to the interpretation including in the first half of each chapter (excluding the first and last). While necessary for the task at hand, the interpretation sections feel like mini-commentaries, providing details here and there to some avail. However, in light of the application section in the latter half of each chapter (again, excluding the first and last), it feels less important, less impactful. Again, I recognize the necessity of its inclusion, but I felt myself again and again wanting to get through the interpretation to the application.
Displaying 1 of 1 review