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Revival: When God Comes to Church
Why don’t our churches today look like the church in the book of Acts? Could they? When God manifests his presence to a fellowship of believers in Christ, God’s people experience revival. That’s one way to define what revival is—when God comes to church. In When God Comes to Church, Pastor Steve Gaines analyzes how churches can look like the church of the first century. Infused with the Holy Spirit, they evangelized most of the civilized world within only three centuries. We don’t need another program, personalities, or marketing; we need his presence. The Holy Spirit is our primary draw, and when he touches people, they’re never the same.
190 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2024
3 people are currently reading
1385 people want to read
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January 16, 2026
Revival: When God Comes to Church by Steve Gaines – Review
Revival: When God Comes to Church by Steve Gaines is a thoughtful Christian nonfiction book that explores the heart of spiritual renewal and what it means for a local congregation to experience authentic revival. Gaines, a seasoned pastor and former Southern Baptist Convention president, asks why modern churches often do not resemble the vibrant, Spirit-filled communities described in the New Testament book of Acts, where believers were infused with the Holy Spirit and rapidly spread the gospel. Throughout its 192 pages, he argues that what the contemporary church most needs is not new programs, marketing, or personalities, but a genuine encounter with God’s presence, which is the true essence of revival: when God comes to church and transforms hearts. Gaines draws on biblical examples, historical awakenings, and practical reflections about corporate worship, prayer, humility, and dependence on the Holy Spirit to encourage believers to pursue spiritual renewal within their own gatherings.
From my perspective, this book felt like an earnest invitation to look beyond routines and church performance toward something deeper and more transformative. I connected with Gaines’s emphasis on the actual presence of God in worship and his challenge to prioritize prayer, humility, and heartfelt surrender over polished programs or entertainment-style services, a theme he revisits with clarity and pastoral warmth. His reflections on revivals both in Scripture and church history helped me see that renewed spiritual life often begins with individuals and small communities passionately seeking God’s presence rather than human achievements. While the focus stays firmly on church renewal rather than personal narrative, the book offers compelling food for thought for anyone who longs for a more vibrant, Spirit-led faith community.
Rating: 4 out of 5 because its passionate plea for authentic revival made me reflect deeply on the way churches worship, pray, and pursue God’s presence.
Revival: When God Comes to Church by Steve Gaines is a thoughtful Christian nonfiction book that explores the heart of spiritual renewal and what it means for a local congregation to experience authentic revival. Gaines, a seasoned pastor and former Southern Baptist Convention president, asks why modern churches often do not resemble the vibrant, Spirit-filled communities described in the New Testament book of Acts, where believers were infused with the Holy Spirit and rapidly spread the gospel. Throughout its 192 pages, he argues that what the contemporary church most needs is not new programs, marketing, or personalities, but a genuine encounter with God’s presence, which is the true essence of revival: when God comes to church and transforms hearts. Gaines draws on biblical examples, historical awakenings, and practical reflections about corporate worship, prayer, humility, and dependence on the Holy Spirit to encourage believers to pursue spiritual renewal within their own gatherings.
From my perspective, this book felt like an earnest invitation to look beyond routines and church performance toward something deeper and more transformative. I connected with Gaines’s emphasis on the actual presence of God in worship and his challenge to prioritize prayer, humility, and heartfelt surrender over polished programs or entertainment-style services, a theme he revisits with clarity and pastoral warmth. His reflections on revivals both in Scripture and church history helped me see that renewed spiritual life often begins with individuals and small communities passionately seeking God’s presence rather than human achievements. While the focus stays firmly on church renewal rather than personal narrative, the book offers compelling food for thought for anyone who longs for a more vibrant, Spirit-led faith community.
Rating: 4 out of 5 because its passionate plea for authentic revival made me reflect deeply on the way churches worship, pray, and pursue God’s presence.
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