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When You Come Together: Challenging the Church to an Interactive Relationship with God
WHEN YOU COME TOGETHER brings us back to primitive theological truths such as the church as family, the body with its interconnected parts and the presence of the Holy Spirit, Who delights to reveal God's heart and mind to His gathered people. Amy Anderson contends that belonging to God's people should involve us all in something less like a music concert and more like a jazz session--with every person participating as an essential instrument, following a common thread while also expecting the Holy Spirit to weave new themes into the established patterns. Anderson provides a nitty-gritty guide to both why and how we can ditch the concert paradigm and instead learn to gather alertly in God's presence, allowing Him to speak in our midst and turn our lives upside-down.
212 pages, Paperback
First published April 11, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 17, 2020
A very helpful look at the church in practical yet very thoughtful terms. Highly recommend for pastors, students, and faculty looking to sharpen their biblical view of the church.
December 14, 2017
This is required reading for anyone who considers themselves a pastor, and any believer really, because it is a paradigm shift from the ecclesial rut most churches are in.
The first part of the book is a brief survey of ideas; Dr. Anderson evaluates the New Testament vision for when believers “come together” by defining what it means to be Pentecostal (open to the leading of the Spirit) and charismatic (actively using god-given gifts to encourage others).
She uses powerful metaphors like Family and Jazz to describe a different vision for church gatherings that are dynamic, relational, and open to involve all the members of the Body in worship and mutual edification (as opposed to the concert paradigm that is dominant now, where most churchgoers passively sit while a handful use their gifts).
The second, and larger part of the book is a detailed exploration of practical ways to shift from a passive concert paradigm, to a dynamic, everyone-is-involved jazz, family paradigm. Where many books wax abstractly, Dr. Anderson provides a treasury of useful examples and ideas that any church could easily implement for their context.
One of my favorite of these ideas is another paradigm shift: having a worship leader that is NOT a musician. This may be shocking to some, but it’s a fantastic idea that can help people realize how worship can infuse and enliven so many areas of life beyond music.
People are looking for churches to BE more, and this book is one resource to help Christians return to the New Testament vision for “when we come together.”
The first part of the book is a brief survey of ideas; Dr. Anderson evaluates the New Testament vision for when believers “come together” by defining what it means to be Pentecostal (open to the leading of the Spirit) and charismatic (actively using god-given gifts to encourage others).
She uses powerful metaphors like Family and Jazz to describe a different vision for church gatherings that are dynamic, relational, and open to involve all the members of the Body in worship and mutual edification (as opposed to the concert paradigm that is dominant now, where most churchgoers passively sit while a handful use their gifts).
The second, and larger part of the book is a detailed exploration of practical ways to shift from a passive concert paradigm, to a dynamic, everyone-is-involved jazz, family paradigm. Where many books wax abstractly, Dr. Anderson provides a treasury of useful examples and ideas that any church could easily implement for their context.
One of my favorite of these ideas is another paradigm shift: having a worship leader that is NOT a musician. This may be shocking to some, but it’s a fantastic idea that can help people realize how worship can infuse and enliven so many areas of life beyond music.
People are looking for churches to BE more, and this book is one resource to help Christians return to the New Testament vision for “when we come together.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2019
Great challenge to the church stuck in routine.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews