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Unless God Builds It: A Proposal to Radically Rethink the Church
Stop Laboring in Vain. Start Catching the Wind.
Most modern churches function like cruise ships—powered by man-made engines of programs, marketing, and anxious toil. We burn fuel and pay the crew, yet we often fail to arrive at the biblical vision of maturity and power we were promised.
What if the Church was never meant to be a cruise ship, but a sailboat?
In Unless God Builds It, Jacob Hotchkiss invites you to learn a new way of being the Body of Christ. Drawing from years of pastoral experience and a radical return to New Testament patterns, Hotchkiss provides a practical manual for theological and relational reformation.
Within these pages, you will The Secret to Fruitful How to stop the "anxious toil" of religious activity and move into a state of divine empowerment.A New Pattern for How "open participation" allows Christ to be the functional Head of the meeting.Relational Why discipleship isn't a program, but a "one another" appointment that requires deep devotion.Spirit-Led A biblical framework for submission and church discipline that keeps the community pure without resorting to institutional control.
The Church was designed to be the product of Christ in us—not our own ingenuity. It's time to kill the engines, hoist the sails, and dare to believe that God will build His Church—if we finally let Him.
Most modern churches function like cruise ships—powered by man-made engines of programs, marketing, and anxious toil. We burn fuel and pay the crew, yet we often fail to arrive at the biblical vision of maturity and power we were promised.
What if the Church was never meant to be a cruise ship, but a sailboat?
In Unless God Builds It, Jacob Hotchkiss invites you to learn a new way of being the Body of Christ. Drawing from years of pastoral experience and a radical return to New Testament patterns, Hotchkiss provides a practical manual for theological and relational reformation.
Within these pages, you will The Secret to Fruitful How to stop the "anxious toil" of religious activity and move into a state of divine empowerment.A New Pattern for How "open participation" allows Christ to be the functional Head of the meeting.Relational Why discipleship isn't a program, but a "one another" appointment that requires deep devotion.Spirit-Led A biblical framework for submission and church discipline that keeps the community pure without resorting to institutional control.
The Church was designed to be the product of Christ in us—not our own ingenuity. It's time to kill the engines, hoist the sails, and dare to believe that God will build His Church—if we finally let Him.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
September 1, 2026
Wow!
This gave much to think about and pray about, as well as helping me grow in my walk with the Lord. I agree with a good portion, and need to think and pray about the rest. I highly recommend it!
This gave much to think about and pray about, as well as helping me grow in my walk with the Lord. I agree with a good portion, and need to think and pray about the rest. I highly recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review