Building up One Another by G.A. Getz

by Gene A. Getz

The body of Christ can’t be all that it should be unless we mature in our interpersonal relationships as the Bible commands. Building Up One Another has been helping believers do just that since 1976, when Gene Getz first published what has since become a best-selling classic. This book, the cornerstone of the well-known “One Another Series,” has now been thoroughly updated and rewritten, drawing upon Dr. Getz’s church planting and “building up” experience. It also includes a personal and group study.Explore with Dr. Getz twelve significant “one another” commands of the New Testament, and follow the practical steps for developing them in your own life and in the life of your church. It’s a long-term building process, but one that pleases God and reaps rewards not just in this lifetime but in the next.

Genres: Christian Living, Christian, Christianity, Leadership, Spirituality, Church, Discipleship

Paperback

First published September 1, 1976

About the author

Gene A. Getz, (B.A., Rocky Mountain College; M.A., Wheaton College; Ph.D., New York University), a host and teacher of Renewal Radio, served as a professor at Moody Bible Institute and Dallas Theological Seminary. He has authored more than 60 books, including The Measure of a Healthy Church, Elders and Leaders, and the Men of Character series. He has been a church planting pastor in the Dallas metroplex since 1972 and now serves as President of the Center for Church Renewal and Pastor Emeritus of Fellowship Bible Church North in Plano, Texas.

- http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_au...

Reviews

[Lyndon]

Read this a number of years ago. It's a good Bible study of the "one another" commands in the NT.

[Nasser Sidrak · Rating 5 out of 5]

One another

It is the best book about our relationships in the body of Christ.
It is a must to read and apply in every church. It is a big key for revival . I love this book.

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gene provides a great perspective on the church community that Jesus Christ and His apostles so eagerly desired for the body of believers. Relationships are so important in this life. They can be transforming - for both good and bad. But they're difficult and messy. They're difficult because they bring to light a hard truth that many of us spend our lives trying to avoid acknowledging: we are not in control. We can never control someone else. We may lead, influence, manipulate, encourage, equip, develop, manage, or *choose your verb* others, but we'll never fully control them - or the things of this world. Likewise, God created us with a will. We can choose to be led, influenced, etc by God, others, or our desires. As Dink explained to Ender in Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game, "Commanders only have as much control as you give them." Too often we as believers, distill our faith to a set of rules, checkboxes, and tasks. Our faith wastes away into something we do rather than an identity and deep abiding relationship with our creator as God intended in the garden before our rebellion and as Jesus restored to us through His death and resurrection. Our relationships with fellow believers is a crucial part of this identity and relationship. As illustrated in the book of Acts, our growth and development as disciples of Christ and a deeper relationship with our Father is a product of our fellowship. Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Gene provides some great discussions and tools to help believers navigate the messiness of relationships that stems from our broken and fallen nature. It often begins with a critical eye upon ourselves before trying to fix (or control) others. As Socrates would even agree, "An unexamined life is not worth living."

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good solid book to study the 'one another' passages.
Getz condenses the 41 'one another' passages (23 unique statements) to 12 lessons (Likely to fit into the 'quarterly' lesson plans used in most Sunday Schools).

I used this book as a central resource for a series titled 'The Twelfth Commandment' based on Jesus 'new commandment' to 'love one another', that then moved into the 'one another' statements used in the new testament that records how the early church worked to put Jesus's command into practice.

Getz does a good job of providing practical application exercises related to each command. In addition, many of the chapters gave good background on the meaning of the phrases in the time of the early church.
Some of the chapters seemed focused more on Getz's personal experience than on developing the scripture, but I believe that comes from Getz's focus on being practical in his approach to scripture.

I would recommend this as a good solid lesson guide for classes or small groups.

[Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This small book was first published in 1976, and by 1988 it had reached its twenty-second printing ... which pretty much tells you all that you need to know about its value!

Whilst only 120 pages, arranged into 12 chapters, it is full of simple yet challenging applications from twelve of the 'one another' sayings in the New Testament with a view to encouraging renewal in local churches from a Biblical perspective. The author, Gene A Getz, achieves his primary objective, and hopefully as people, like me, read, imbibe and practice what he teaches that revival will surely come!

The book is now well out of print, which is a pity, but if you can obtain a second-hand copy buy it and enjoy reading it time and time again!

A solid 5-star read! Very highly recommended!

[Michael Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid book on church life, containing much Scripture to back up his points. I wish there was a bit more detail on the "how"of using small groups to encourage body life (I think that is his work, Sharpening the focus of the Church), but this is good challenge to function well in the body of Christ.

[Batseba · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book! Gene A. Getz deals with fellowship in a detailed manner. From this book, I've learned the various factors of building each other up. Thank God for the local churches God has given us, despite its imperfections. May God give us grace and wisdom to build each other up.

[Frank Murdock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for a small group of Christian’s to work through together. It will enhance their understanding of what we, as Christians, are asked to do for each other as well as the others in this world. Very practical in its application.

[Lee Murray Brazos Booksellers · Rating 5 out of 5]

a wonderful exposition

Gene Getz is one of my favorites. This book is solid teaching on the ‘one another’ passages in the New Testament. Practical, written from a practicing pastor’s perspective, it is thorough exposition of these texts.

Very highly recommended

[Prabud+Usrevbook · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Keith White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember being very impressed with the content of this book when I first encountered it in Bible School.

[Kari McDowell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat helpful.

[Jeremy Wise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getz does a good job of explaining what the Church ought to be doing. In America, we have turned church into a weekly get-together with designer coffee, expensive entertainment productions, and watered-down versions of the Gospel designed to make consumers feel good and come back for more.

After reading this book, you realize that Jesus designed his Church as an instrument in healing a sinful people. We are to live our lives together, encouraging, bearing with, admonishing, and forgiving one another. Real life is messy and the Church is supposed to be a tightly-knit band of brothers and sisters that works through that ugliness and comes out the other side looking every bit the Bride of Christ.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short book which looks at biblical passages which looks at how members of the church are called to love and serve each other,

[Todd Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read on the Biblical prinicples "one another." I was greatly challenged.

[Vicki Capps · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book it helped me with my next paper I wrote

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

Love this book. Uses scripture to back up what he's saying. I definitely would recommend this book....you will be blessed.

[Jan Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical for the real world

This book is very practical for your life. Dr. Getz gives examples and practical suggestions to help your to function in the body of Christ.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into how the believer should live his or her life.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getz always seems to pull off good solid practical biblical teaching - this book is an excellent resource on the "one another's" of the New Testament and their implications for us today.