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Belong: Loving Your Church by Reflecting Christ to One Another
Building deep community as a fellowship of believers.
Author Barnabas Piper states in the first chapter of his
“We are looking for something personal, something deeply meaningful, something with which we can identify. And this book is an invitation to find that in the church, because God wants us to …Part of God’s perfect strategy is offering hurting, tired, worn out, needy sinners like you and me a place to belong in … A place in which to encounter the profound, transformative, healing, restoring grace of Jesus Christ.”
This book explores how you can help to create a church where everybody feels at a place where fellow believers build genuine, honest, meaningful Christian relationships and enjoy deep fellowship as a community of believers.
You may be a new believer and wonder what it means to belong to a church; you may be reluctant to commit to your church because of past experiences; you may have recently relocated and want to find a church where you feel at home; or you may love your church and desire to commit to it more deeply and serve it more fully. Whatever the case, this book will help you to see that belonging to a church is a good gift from God, the outworking of our identity as brothers and sisters in Christ, and worth your time, love, and commitment.
Author Barnabas Piper states in the first chapter of his
“We are looking for something personal, something deeply meaningful, something with which we can identify. And this book is an invitation to find that in the church, because God wants us to …Part of God’s perfect strategy is offering hurting, tired, worn out, needy sinners like you and me a place to belong in … A place in which to encounter the profound, transformative, healing, restoring grace of Jesus Christ.”
This book explores how you can help to create a church where everybody feels at a place where fellow believers build genuine, honest, meaningful Christian relationships and enjoy deep fellowship as a community of believers.
You may be a new believer and wonder what it means to belong to a church; you may be reluctant to commit to your church because of past experiences; you may have recently relocated and want to find a church where you feel at home; or you may love your church and desire to commit to it more deeply and serve it more fully. Whatever the case, this book will help you to see that belonging to a church is a good gift from God, the outworking of our identity as brothers and sisters in Christ, and worth your time, love, and commitment.
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Published August 28, 2023
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About the author
Barnabas Piper
12 books1,152 followersBarnabas Piper is a pastor, author, podcaster, and speaker who lives near Nashville, Tennessee with his family. He writes regularly for He Reads Truth and blogs at BarnabasPiper.com. He has authored several books and Bible studies and also co-hosts The Happy Rant podcast, a popular show discussing issues of faith and culture in a light-hearted, humorous manner.
Barnabas's work can be found in many publications and websites. He can be heard regularly as a guest on various podcasts and speaks at churches, camps, and conferences nationwide.
Barnabas's work can be found in many publications and websites. He can be heard regularly as a guest on various podcasts and speaks at churches, camps, and conferences nationwide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 4, 2023
This was a great book to start off the year. As a camp director, I am constantly working with a largely transient community of high-school and college staff. There is an obvious desire for belonging which is the foundation for many of the important life-changing decisions they are making at this stage of their life. Understanding their existing belonging to Christ’s body is an essential backdrop for these decisions, and their need to belong to a local church is also vital.
This book, in blessedly few pages, details and describes both our need for the church, and the church’s need to demonstrate how Christ compels us to met this need.
One particular passage that resonated with me followed a discussion of how the church is a family:
“What might it feel like to walk into church next Sunday with these realities in mind? Instead of encountering greeters, coffee servers, acquaintances, and strangers, you encounter family members. Instead of old people, young people, and peers, you encounter fathers and mothers, uncles and aunts, nephews and nieces, brothers and sisters. Even if you are brand new to a church, if you are a Christian, this is your reality in Christ.
When you serve, or when you see people serving, that is no longer filling out a volunteer roster or doing a duty; you are a body part supporting and assisting the health of the body.”
This book also includes great action steps that are practical and achievable ways to go from concept to reality, and discussion questions to use this book to lead a group discussion.
The entire book reminded me of one of my favorite quotes from Henry Cloud (first encountered in Joseph W Smith’s book: “Transparency: A Cure for Hypocrisy in the Modern Church”):
"It is interesting to compare a legalistic church with a good AA group. In the church, it is culturally unacceptable to have problems; that is being called sinful. In the AA group, it is culturally unacceptable to be perfect; that is called denial. In one setting people look better but get worse, and in the other, they look worse but get better."
Piper’s book provides us some of the mechanisms to move towards belonging, and should help us work to push back against this all-too-accurate picture of the church.
This book, in blessedly few pages, details and describes both our need for the church, and the church’s need to demonstrate how Christ compels us to met this need.
One particular passage that resonated with me followed a discussion of how the church is a family:
“What might it feel like to walk into church next Sunday with these realities in mind? Instead of encountering greeters, coffee servers, acquaintances, and strangers, you encounter family members. Instead of old people, young people, and peers, you encounter fathers and mothers, uncles and aunts, nephews and nieces, brothers and sisters. Even if you are brand new to a church, if you are a Christian, this is your reality in Christ.
When you serve, or when you see people serving, that is no longer filling out a volunteer roster or doing a duty; you are a body part supporting and assisting the health of the body.”
This book also includes great action steps that are practical and achievable ways to go from concept to reality, and discussion questions to use this book to lead a group discussion.
The entire book reminded me of one of my favorite quotes from Henry Cloud (first encountered in Joseph W Smith’s book: “Transparency: A Cure for Hypocrisy in the Modern Church”):
"It is interesting to compare a legalistic church with a good AA group. In the church, it is culturally unacceptable to have problems; that is being called sinful. In the AA group, it is culturally unacceptable to be perfect; that is called denial. In one setting people look better but get worse, and in the other, they look worse but get better."
Piper’s book provides us some of the mechanisms to move towards belonging, and should help us work to push back against this all-too-accurate picture of the church.
January 31, 2023
What does it really mean to be a part of a church? In Belong, Barnabas Piper writes on loving your church by reflecting Christ to one another.
Gospel Culture
After a foreword by Ray Ortlund, Piper shows what it looks like to really and truly belong to a church. He defines belonging as the place where God intends us to be — we belong to Christ as part of his church. Piper writes with strength and winsomeness.
I was most eager in Chapter 3 to learn what it means to actually be a church with “gospel culture.” I have heard similar terms like this, but Piper slows down to show it. I was encouraged to see that true fellowship, honesty, and commitment could take place in a church with gospel culture.
Champion the Church and Cherish Christ
I was most moved in Chapter 5, where Piper explains what to do when we feel like we don’t belong, when we are disappointed, and when we are hurt by our church. He asks clear questions and gives practical principles to apply. I appreciate Piper for taking on such a difficult topic, and he does it well.
The conviction of this book comes from the Bible, but it is also apparent in the personal testimony of Piper. He shares that he had once been in a place of cynicism, uncomfortable with the church. It is clear that he now champions the church, and he cherishes Christ. This book will cause you to do the same.
I received a media copy of Belong and this is my honest review.
Gospel Culture
After a foreword by Ray Ortlund, Piper shows what it looks like to really and truly belong to a church. He defines belonging as the place where God intends us to be — we belong to Christ as part of his church. Piper writes with strength and winsomeness.
I was most eager in Chapter 3 to learn what it means to actually be a church with “gospel culture.” I have heard similar terms like this, but Piper slows down to show it. I was encouraged to see that true fellowship, honesty, and commitment could take place in a church with gospel culture.
Champion the Church and Cherish Christ
I was most moved in Chapter 5, where Piper explains what to do when we feel like we don’t belong, when we are disappointed, and when we are hurt by our church. He asks clear questions and gives practical principles to apply. I appreciate Piper for taking on such a difficult topic, and he does it well.
The conviction of this book comes from the Bible, but it is also apparent in the personal testimony of Piper. He shares that he had once been in a place of cynicism, uncomfortable with the church. It is clear that he now champions the church, and he cherishes Christ. This book will cause you to do the same.
I received a media copy of Belong and this is my honest review.
May 20, 2024
This is an excellent little book about creating and enjoying a church where people know and feel that they belong. Barnabas Piper outlines the blessings of belonging, and how we can live out our responsibilities within that. He helpfully uses different metaphors for the church to help us understand belonging (although perhaps he could have explained the movement from universal to local belonging more explicitly). There is also a good chapter on what to do when we feel we don't belong, or where we feel disappointed. Throughout, Piper writes graciously, with an awareness that some readers will have been hurt, or even seriously abused, by churches in the past. But he also wants to challenge us to think about how we can better "exhibit and proclaim [Jesus's] friendship for sinners together" (110).
July 1, 2023
Great little book to give away at the end of a new members’ class or study through with a “starter” group at your church.
June 15, 2025
Great book. Surprisingly good.
Piper focuses on the substance of church membership rather than the legalities (a la Dever and co.). He brings wisdom, insight, and humility. He moves more like a surgeon with a scalpel than a builder with a hammer. He focuses on a positive vision of healthy belonging without ignoring the challenges or brushing aside the problems. Indeed, his wisdom and sensitivity in the chapter on church hurt was surprising and healing.
As a minister, I would love for everyone in our assembly to read this book. I think it would make us a better church.
Piper focuses on the substance of church membership rather than the legalities (a la Dever and co.). He brings wisdom, insight, and humility. He moves more like a surgeon with a scalpel than a builder with a hammer. He focuses on a positive vision of healthy belonging without ignoring the challenges or brushing aside the problems. Indeed, his wisdom and sensitivity in the chapter on church hurt was surprising and healing.
As a minister, I would love for everyone in our assembly to read this book. I think it would make us a better church.
May 15, 2024
“The purpose of the church is to proclaim and exhibit the reality of Jesus Christ to the world.”
September 21, 2024
Good and challenging. Recommend for those who struggle to make deep and meaningful connections in their church.
January 12, 2025
Timely. Just excellent. This will be a book I will recommend often.
“The church is the only place we can heal from the hurt we’ve encountered in church.”
“The church is the only place we can heal from the hurt we’ve encountered in church.”
January 25, 2023
I have enjoyed and benefited from everything Barnabas has written, but this is some of his best writing for sure. Excellent and so timely.
August 8, 2023
Another straightforward, compassionate, and accessible book from Barnabas Piper! I think it would be an excellent resource for those trying to find a church, those discerning their role in the church (and vice versa), and especially those who have experienced disappointment from the church and are grappling with questions of how to move forward. I want every Christian college student to read this!
July 20, 2023
Belong by Barnabas Piper is part of the Love Your Church series by the Good Book Company and the Acts 29 Network. This book focuses on the joy, love, and trials found in belonging within a gospel centered church community.
First, I absolutely adored Piper’s intentional incorporation of Scripture into his writing. Many chapters went through specific Scriptural passages verse by verse and delved into the application of the passage into our lives. Scripture forms the primary foundation of the concepts shared in this book, which is such a beautiful reminder that any wisdom we have is not achieved on our own, but entirely God’s will and doing.
Belong both dives into the historical significance of belonging to a local church body and incorporates self-reflection and application into the narrative. I appreciated the care with which Piper approached the concept of belonging in a church. He faithfully acknowledges the Scriptural truths. And he also carefully and empathetically acknowledges the pain, hurt, and disappointment that some have experienced within a church.
I appreciate the care with which Piper equips the reader to discern through the concept of belonging at a church, church disappointment, and church hurt in Chapter 5. It is not an easy topic by any means, but he approaches it with grace and conviction. Witnessing the historical and practical significance of belonging to a local church body revived such a joy in my heart for the church.
One of my favorite chapters is Chapter 4, which focused on the concept of Unity in Christ. Piper approaches the concept of Unity in Christ from a biblical perspective and challenges the readers to use Scripture as their definition of unity. However, he also acknowledges that the concept of unity can often be oversimplified unintentionally. Due to this, he takes great care in equipping the reader with Scriptural passages that define biblical unity, while also equipping the audience with practical applications of the passages. I found the practical application portions of the chapter to be wise and intentional, not vague or trivial.
The book is short. It is only 118 pages. It approaches the subject succinctly, but wisely. Overall, the content was great. Very rarely did it feel repetitive. At the end of each chapter, there is a section called “Action Steps” meant to call the reader to take intentional action. However, out of the 3 books I have read in this series thus far, Belong’s “Action Steps” felt more like reflective questions than the other 2 books. Personally, I did not mind this and it creates a small difference between the template used by the authors for the books. Additionally, this book has a section for Small Group Discussion as well as access to a free small group kit. While I read this book individually, I can see the benefit of reading this book in a small group setting or as a church community.
Overall, it’s a great book. The message the author conveys is simple, because Jesus is clear in His Word about why a church should be a place of belonging. However, the message is not oversimplified or trivialized. The material is edifying and biblically based. Additionally, he takes time to equip the reader on how to discern through the topic in a biblical manner. I can definitely see myself referencing this book in the future.
First, I absolutely adored Piper’s intentional incorporation of Scripture into his writing. Many chapters went through specific Scriptural passages verse by verse and delved into the application of the passage into our lives. Scripture forms the primary foundation of the concepts shared in this book, which is such a beautiful reminder that any wisdom we have is not achieved on our own, but entirely God’s will and doing.
Belong both dives into the historical significance of belonging to a local church body and incorporates self-reflection and application into the narrative. I appreciated the care with which Piper approached the concept of belonging in a church. He faithfully acknowledges the Scriptural truths. And he also carefully and empathetically acknowledges the pain, hurt, and disappointment that some have experienced within a church.
I appreciate the care with which Piper equips the reader to discern through the concept of belonging at a church, church disappointment, and church hurt in Chapter 5. It is not an easy topic by any means, but he approaches it with grace and conviction. Witnessing the historical and practical significance of belonging to a local church body revived such a joy in my heart for the church.
One of my favorite chapters is Chapter 4, which focused on the concept of Unity in Christ. Piper approaches the concept of Unity in Christ from a biblical perspective and challenges the readers to use Scripture as their definition of unity. However, he also acknowledges that the concept of unity can often be oversimplified unintentionally. Due to this, he takes great care in equipping the reader with Scriptural passages that define biblical unity, while also equipping the audience with practical applications of the passages. I found the practical application portions of the chapter to be wise and intentional, not vague or trivial.
The book is short. It is only 118 pages. It approaches the subject succinctly, but wisely. Overall, the content was great. Very rarely did it feel repetitive. At the end of each chapter, there is a section called “Action Steps” meant to call the reader to take intentional action. However, out of the 3 books I have read in this series thus far, Belong’s “Action Steps” felt more like reflective questions than the other 2 books. Personally, I did not mind this and it creates a small difference between the template used by the authors for the books. Additionally, this book has a section for Small Group Discussion as well as access to a free small group kit. While I read this book individually, I can see the benefit of reading this book in a small group setting or as a church community.
Overall, it’s a great book. The message the author conveys is simple, because Jesus is clear in His Word about why a church should be a place of belonging. However, the message is not oversimplified or trivialized. The material is edifying and biblically based. Additionally, he takes time to equip the reader on how to discern through the topic in a biblical manner. I can definitely see myself referencing this book in the future.
February 9, 2023
In this book, Barnabas Piper explores how Christians can experience belonging and build meaningful relationships in their local churches. He begins by sharing a story about his experience visiting a new church while suffering from a recent divorce and looking for a new church home. He shares that even though he felt like giving up on spiritual community, that church welcomed him the way that he was and made space for his negative feelings. Piper acknowledges how difficult it can be to truly connect with fellow church members, and shares biblical teaching and practical ideas to encourage readers and help them create a culture of belonging at church.
Belong: Loving Your Church by Reflecting Christ to One Another is the best book from the Love Your Church series, in my opinion, because of the author's heartfelt personal story and honesty about his own cynicism about the church at times. Also, although it may bother some people that Piper refers to institutional, systematic harm by a church as "rare," he helpfully differentiates between being hurt in the church from being hurt by the church, and shares reflection questions and action steps for processing your relationship to the church as a whole and other individuals in church.
Piper also includes helpful advice for when and how to leave a church due to a toxic church culture, or because of logistical or preferential reasons. One of my usual critiques of church-related books is that even though they may acknowledge reasons for leaving a church, they rarely walk you through how to approach this in real life. I appreciate Piper's attention to this neglected issue, and his thoughtful, logical advice for how to process different situations. Overall, I would recommend this book to people who are looking to deepen their view of church community or are recovering from a difficult church situation.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Belong: Loving Your Church by Reflecting Christ to One Another is the best book from the Love Your Church series, in my opinion, because of the author's heartfelt personal story and honesty about his own cynicism about the church at times. Also, although it may bother some people that Piper refers to institutional, systematic harm by a church as "rare," he helpfully differentiates between being hurt in the church from being hurt by the church, and shares reflection questions and action steps for processing your relationship to the church as a whole and other individuals in church.
Piper also includes helpful advice for when and how to leave a church due to a toxic church culture, or because of logistical or preferential reasons. One of my usual critiques of church-related books is that even though they may acknowledge reasons for leaving a church, they rarely walk you through how to approach this in real life. I appreciate Piper's attention to this neglected issue, and his thoughtful, logical advice for how to process different situations. Overall, I would recommend this book to people who are looking to deepen their view of church community or are recovering from a difficult church situation.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2023
Read in a single day (2 chapters, 3 times) so got an overview of the book but didn’t dig deep into any specific ideas proposed. There are some helpful reflections and questions Piper uses, like expanding upon different images of community and belonging offered in the Bible. But there are also some sections that don’t seem to really say that much at all.
Could be good as a conversation starter between church leaders and/ or members about group culture but I think there are probably better books for that and I’m not fully convinced it’s worth a whole term/ series in a group like it is pitched despite how much I like the complementary resources. Probably more 3.5 ⭐️
Could be good as a conversation starter between church leaders and/ or members about group culture but I think there are probably better books for that and I’m not fully convinced it’s worth a whole term/ series in a group like it is pitched despite how much I like the complementary resources. Probably more 3.5 ⭐️
April 29, 2023
I loved this book! My heart was so stirred as I read it. I think it has the potential to simultaneously encourage and challenge any reader in the church as Piper touched on so many different areas of what it looks like to be in community with others.
I know this will be a book that I will go back to for reference and quotes!
I know this will be a book that I will go back to for reference and quotes!
July 19, 2023
“Belong” is one of those books I will always have on my shelf, not only to go back to it for reference but also to recommend to others who may be affected by the church or a leader within the church. Barnabas does a fantastic job in underlying the root issues and assists the reader in their process with very great discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
December 21, 2023
This is a must read for any believer today. Barnabas does an excellent job of teaching just what it means to belong in the body of Christ. He addresses those who have or have not been hurt by a church body or leadership of a church in a kind, biblical and loving way. All the while, reminding the reader of what a joy it is to be among fellow believers in real fellowship.
May 7, 2024
Concise, achievable book about gospel culture. Barnabus’ writing is supremely practical and he provides good thinking/talking points throughout the book. I wish I would have had it during my church search many years ago. Thankful it exists and its short length makes it something that anyone can and should read!
January 3, 2025
An enjoyable shorter book on Christian community. Having known and loved my church I can agree with the absolute joy it is to dwell together with brothers and sisters in unity with a deeper and caring love for one another. Would encourage others to read this one as a short encouragement to be reminded of the power and plan of Christ in His church. Be the church, enjoy the church.
April 3, 2023
This is a solid 3.5 stars. A very good little book. It is so cool to see B. Pipe embracing Ortlund’s doctrine of belonging. Hearing his story is so cool. He connects our responsibility as church members with Jesus’ disposition towards the sinful very well. Jesus is our model.
October 4, 2023
This book has been on my TBR pile for quite a while. I finally picked it up last week, and it came at just the right time.
June 29, 2024
Good introduction for new members or young Christians, though obviously very brief.
November 15, 2024
A great resource for the church, especially for new believers who are seeking to understand what it means to belong to the body of Christ.
January 11, 2025
Pretty good, definitely some great moments and helpful if you are looking to belong in your or a church. If you already do feel like you belong, maybe not worth reading.
September 8, 2025
Good book on gospel culture. I like the way it stresses that the solution to church hurt is still the church. Barnabas uses a lot of Scripture and personal examples that help the concept touch down.
December 21, 2023
The Love Your Church series is a new series from The Good Book Company and Acts 29 focusing on creating flourishing local church congregations. The Acts 29 network is currently headed by Matt Chandler, but has its roots with Mark Driscoll and the Mars Hill complex of churches. Acts 29 is Reformed Calvinistic, conservative evangelical, and been (rightfully, in my opinion) accused of toxic and authoritarian leadership. Thus, any material coming from or endorsed by Acts 29 has to be seen through that lens. The theological background and perspective I can respect, even if I do not agree. The leadership abuses I cannot respect, no matter their theological background.
Within the three Love Your Church books (Welcome by Jen Oshman, Gather by Tony Merida, and Belong by Barnabas Piper), there is much objectionable material. But then again, there simply isn’t that much material. The books are bland and superficial. They are generic and perfunctory. They are well-designed, well-packaged, and read like something you’d encounter during a membership class at an Acts 29 church.
In Welcome, Jen Oshman writes about “loving your church by making space for everyone.” The book’s highlight is how it talks about the Gospels message being a radical welcome to individuals of all ethnicities and class backgrounds, men or women. However, the book lacks specifics of what this means and gives the overall impression that the welcoming is an invitation to assimilation rather than the development of multicultural worship.
Belong, written by Barnabas Piper, is about “loving your church by reflecting Christ to one another.” Of the three books, I found this one most compelling because of Piper’s personal story of being the child of a prominent pastor (his dad is John Piper), yet feeling disconnected from church until finding a home as an adult at Immanuel Church in Nashville. The book is about finding and developing community, but the advice is both generic and leading. Action questions throughout the texts read “Do you have a checklist for what you’re looking for in a church? Does it reflect ‘healthy church culture.’” He dismisses being hurt by a church as “rare” and says that healing can only be found in a different church. The book gives stock, generic advice that is good superficially but could be toxic contextually.
Gather, the final Love Your Church book is written by Tony Merida. Tony is a VP with Acts 29 and the author of a book called Love Your Church. His focus in on “loving your church as you celebrate Christ together,” which appears to be all about the importance of corporate worship—but not just corporate worship, in-person on-Sunday church service. Merida obliquely criticizes churches that did not meet in-person during the COVID pandemic, stating that the early church didn’t allow persecution to keep them from meeting. Merida also pinpoints the sermon as the critical point of the Sunday gathering, elevating himself and his role in the service. Look, I’m a pastor and I love to preach, but I think the centrality of everyone focusing on one person as the overwhelming part of the time commitment to gathering is what has led to pastor-centered, rather than Christ-centered churches. Again, like the other books, there’s nothing superficially objectionable in the text—it’s the context that matters. It’s limp and lifeless advice that will appeal to people already following that advice and nobody else.
In the end, the Love Your Church series of books has all the passion of having been written by ChatGPT with a superficial banality that seems more about restoring the system of consumeristic evangelicalism than it does actually creating spiritually-flourishing individuals. Their advice isn’t always bad, but generically good advice stuck into rigid systems can become bad or limiting. The brevity of the books means that the authors do no arguing of their position, they simply assert it. They give no evidence that their position leads to flourishing, they just assume it. They engage with no other models of church, they just dismiss them. All of that gets wrapped within unengaging, uninteresting, and uncompelling writing. It’s unfortunately disappointing.
Within the three Love Your Church books (Welcome by Jen Oshman, Gather by Tony Merida, and Belong by Barnabas Piper), there is much objectionable material. But then again, there simply isn’t that much material. The books are bland and superficial. They are generic and perfunctory. They are well-designed, well-packaged, and read like something you’d encounter during a membership class at an Acts 29 church.
In Welcome, Jen Oshman writes about “loving your church by making space for everyone.” The book’s highlight is how it talks about the Gospels message being a radical welcome to individuals of all ethnicities and class backgrounds, men or women. However, the book lacks specifics of what this means and gives the overall impression that the welcoming is an invitation to assimilation rather than the development of multicultural worship.
Belong, written by Barnabas Piper, is about “loving your church by reflecting Christ to one another.” Of the three books, I found this one most compelling because of Piper’s personal story of being the child of a prominent pastor (his dad is John Piper), yet feeling disconnected from church until finding a home as an adult at Immanuel Church in Nashville. The book is about finding and developing community, but the advice is both generic and leading. Action questions throughout the texts read “Do you have a checklist for what you’re looking for in a church? Does it reflect ‘healthy church culture.’” He dismisses being hurt by a church as “rare” and says that healing can only be found in a different church. The book gives stock, generic advice that is good superficially but could be toxic contextually.
Gather, the final Love Your Church book is written by Tony Merida. Tony is a VP with Acts 29 and the author of a book called Love Your Church. His focus in on “loving your church as you celebrate Christ together,” which appears to be all about the importance of corporate worship—but not just corporate worship, in-person on-Sunday church service. Merida obliquely criticizes churches that did not meet in-person during the COVID pandemic, stating that the early church didn’t allow persecution to keep them from meeting. Merida also pinpoints the sermon as the critical point of the Sunday gathering, elevating himself and his role in the service. Look, I’m a pastor and I love to preach, but I think the centrality of everyone focusing on one person as the overwhelming part of the time commitment to gathering is what has led to pastor-centered, rather than Christ-centered churches. Again, like the other books, there’s nothing superficially objectionable in the text—it’s the context that matters. It’s limp and lifeless advice that will appeal to people already following that advice and nobody else.
In the end, the Love Your Church series of books has all the passion of having been written by ChatGPT with a superficial banality that seems more about restoring the system of consumeristic evangelicalism than it does actually creating spiritually-flourishing individuals. Their advice isn’t always bad, but generically good advice stuck into rigid systems can become bad or limiting. The brevity of the books means that the authors do no arguing of their position, they simply assert it. They give no evidence that their position leads to flourishing, they just assume it. They engage with no other models of church, they just dismiss them. All of that gets wrapped within unengaging, uninteresting, and uncompelling writing. It’s unfortunately disappointing.
April 3, 2024
Writing style: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Engagement: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Content: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Purpose: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Value: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overall: 4.4/5
Engagement: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Content: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Purpose: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Value: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overall: 4.4/5
April 4, 2023
It was a biblically faithful book about what it means to belong to the body of Christ and how that plays out in the local church. The length was good and the final chapters really picked up pace and said some helpful things about what to do when we feel we don’t belong.
I couldn’t quite work out who the key audience was for this book. It feels like a book a bible study leader would encourage their group to read rather than one someone would gravitate to on their own. It is slow to start, and while it helpfully lays a foundation of biblical principles in the beginning it could connect more with its readers. I imagine the people reading this book would be either those passionate about a belonging ministry or those struggling to belong to a church and fit in, and the book just takes a bit too long to engage and connect emotionally with either audience.
But I don’t want to be discouraging. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a book on church belonging. And I am thinking of ways I can use it to encourage the belonging team at my own church. So for that I am thankful
I couldn’t quite work out who the key audience was for this book. It feels like a book a bible study leader would encourage their group to read rather than one someone would gravitate to on their own. It is slow to start, and while it helpfully lays a foundation of biblical principles in the beginning it could connect more with its readers. I imagine the people reading this book would be either those passionate about a belonging ministry or those struggling to belong to a church and fit in, and the book just takes a bit too long to engage and connect emotionally with either audience.
But I don’t want to be discouraging. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a book on church belonging. And I am thinking of ways I can use it to encourage the belonging team at my own church. So for that I am thankful
October 1, 2023
I put off this book for months, but I finally got the courage to read it and I’m so glad I did! This is a wonderful introduction to what it looks like to belong to the family of God through the local church and how to create church that can help people feel at home. Piper walks you through what belonging to a church looks like biblically, and he weaves in his experience with church. I appreciated his vulnerability in sharing his cynicism towards the church at times. It was timely and relatable for me! But he didn’t just share his hurt and stopped there, he pointed readers to Christ–who redeems all things.
April 27, 2023
A short and good introduction to the the family of the church and how we find belonging in the family of God. Through 6 short chapters, Barnabas Piper lays out our need to belong, finding belonging in Christ, and finding belonging in the body of Christ. A good resource for churches.
November 19, 2023
Typically not my thing to read but I had joined a church about a year ago. Recently, the clergy had asked this book one of a series of books realted to the church. The focus of this book was on what it means to belong to a church and what sort of expectations come with belonging to it.
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