Christ's Basic Bodies: Embracing God's Presence, Power, and Purposes in Holistic Small Group Life, Cell Groups, Home Groups, Life Groups, and Biblical Communities

by Ralph W. Neighbour Jr., Michael C. Mack (Editor), Randall G. Neighbour (Editor)

This book reveals the source of stagnant small groups... focusing on everything except the presence of Christ! Ralph Neighbour does an excellent job explaining the mindset of the current small group member, who worships a historical Jesus, not an everlasting, indwelling Christ. Pastors understand this distinction, but small groups are not filled with seminary graduates, are they? You and your small group ministry will be powerfully impacted by what Neighbour has to offer in this book! For a sample chapter of this book, visit the publisher's web site at touchusa.org.

Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2008

About the author

Ralph Webster Neighbour Jr.

Reviews

[Michael Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to be honest. When I was asked to edit Ralph Neighbour's latest book, Christ's Basic Bodies, I was intimidated. As I then started reading the book, I was burdened by the weight of the life-changing potential of this book. I absolutely HAD to do a good job editing it because of what it could do for the people who read it.

Ralph Neighbour has a "voice" in the cell/holistic-small-group movement. That voice has never been stronger, even since Where Do We Go from Here?: A Guidebook for the Cell Group Church. Dr. Neighbour hasn't written just another book about small group ministry here. This is a book envisioning us for being the basic bodies of Christ as we should be.

Something is missing in many so-called Christian small groups ... Christ! I've been teaching our small group leaders about 7 signs of a healthy small group, the first of which is "Christ-centered." Christ's presence, power, and purposes are the most basic element of group life; it's central. None of the other 6 signs of a healthy group even make sense without this one. In Christ's Basic Bodies, Ralph Neighbour shows us how we can move to being the Bodies that Christ deeply desires for us to be.

[Sean-david · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of meeting Uncle Ralphie, as many call him at Golden Gate Baptist Theological seminary in my doctoral seminars. His passion and lifelong dedication to the kingdom is beautiful. I am thankful for the opportunity to read this, which he made free through smashwords. There is much here to drink in and consider, and I believe this to be worthwhile addition to the stream of thought that includes organic church planting and missions.

I do have to say that the dispensational bent and some of his theological arguments regarding the work of the Spirit and the gifts of Christ became a little bit of a distraction for me and may have been better suited in detail in a different work.