Christ + City: Why the Greatest Need of the City Is the Greatest News of All

by Jon M. Dennis

Why does God seem to be calling so many people to cities? How should we think about and engage with the cities of the world? This book not only reveals to us a revolutionary opportunity, but also explains why God loves cities, how and why we should live in them, and what we can do to reach them for his glory. Speaking to practical issues such as sex, ethnicity, and raising children in an urban setting, this stirring treatise helps us to take seriously the majesty and authority of the risen Christ. Anyone who wants to follow God more deeply and radically in this new generation will benefit from Christ + City . It’s written to show us all―urbanite or non-urbanite, Christian or skeptic, single or married, city-lover or city-hater―a vision for growing spiritually and for joining in God’s global movement to bring true, lasting, gospel-centered change.

ebook

First published April 1, 2013

Reviews

[Idalisse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give it 3.75 stars only because I wish it would have been more practical for the average Christian.

[Trevor Binkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple but wonderful. This book is not a theology of Christ and city, but a call for us to cry out to God that He would raise up a generation of Christians that will love, and serve our city and neighbors by being the lights Christ made us to be, and by sharing the gospel. May this ve our prayer.

Zechariah 8:20-21 ESV

"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, "Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going."

[Asher Burns · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing really to argue with here. Only critique is that it could very nearly just as well have been named "Christ + Isolated Rural Homestead" if a few key words throughout the book were changed.

[Scott Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good job on casting vision for the possibility of the city being a tool to be used to reach others. The connection of Jonah to city strategy was unique but a great point. Though it is counter somewhat to the traditional view of Jeremiah with city strategy. The final chapter on movement connects well with Jonah but Dennis doesn't connect it back to that chapter. Overall a good book a City work that goes into some areas others do not.

[Mark McElreath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dennis takes a methodic look at cities today- working from theology to philosophy of urban ministry. I highly recommend Chapter 5: Faithfulness in the City which gives a stirring account of the nation of Israel in Babylonian captivity. Their faithfulness to God while living in the city end all cities (Babylon) is helpful as we consider our place in urban settings today.

[Josh Albers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite possibly one of (emphasis on the "one of") the best books I have read on the subject, and that list seems to be ever growing!

As a person with a real heart for how the Gospel reaches and transforms the city, this was an amazing book and one that I really enjoyed. Each chapter continued to get better and better, I must have gone through two pens, scribbling in the margins and underlining things!

In numerous chapters, it does a wonderful job of laying out God's heart for cities and the people that dwell within. It also does an fantastic job of laying out how we, as Christ followers, can be best at work inside of our cities, and how the Gospel motivates within us a desire to bless these places, and thus glorify God. This is especially a good book to read if you have trouble loving your city, as it wonderfully reaffirms our calling as missionaries, even within our own cities.

In short, loved this book!

[Lamont Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring book for those who want to live out the Christian life in the city. The strength of the book is in its Biblical foundations. I especially liked the connection to the story of Jonah and the city of Nineveh in chapter 4. Although some chapters have only a loose connection to specific urban characteristics, I found each chapter to be a solid reminder of the gospel. The church is called to be a city on a hill. May God use this book to help raise up more Christians in cities around the world!

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I felt like Jon Dennis was speaking from experience here. This is a great book to hand to someone if they want to know why we need more Christians to move into and stay in their cities for the sake of the gospel. Good read.