Built on the Rock: The Healthy Congregation

by Ted Kober

Built on the Rock offers church leaders a fundamental place to begin when addressing the health of their congregations. In addition, the book provides questions for reflection that can be utilized either in personal reflection or in conversation with other leaders to find practical ways to strengthen the congregational health.

Genres: Religion

224 pages, Paperback

Published September 20, 2017

Reviews

[Jeremiah Gumm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for parish ministry.

[Brian Virtue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This approach to healthy (and unhealthy) congregations stands out from a lot of literature in this area because it's doing something that many other books and articles or even conferences are not - linking congregational health with actual discipleship to Christ, especially biblical literacy in congregations. That sounds like common sense, but not all approaches do that. While I find a lot of approaches and tools really helpful from various disciplines, fundamentally they all break down without that discipleship piece. Kober unpacks that really clearly.

The title may not point clearly to it, but you can guess that conflict is really the main theme as far as what we're talking about in terms of health...but it expands beyond to areas that support the types of community health that weathers conflict and navigates it redemptively. While it may not be the most artistically oriented or written book, the case studies bring so much to the table it helped me stay engaged well throughout. There's tons of Scripture used. Sometimes it feels like it's a lot for a book like this in terms of narrative flow, but then part of the whole point of the book is to help drive people to biblical literacy and it's invaluable to have every piece of the book linked to Scripture passages that help people root their wisdom and perspectives in Scripture. So sometimes that can feel a little tedious, but by the end you have been walked through all the important foundations in this area and you have a valuable resource.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Seminary had us read, Antagonists in the Church, which addressed cases where situations got out of control. This book however is for everyday reconciliation and should be on the shelf of a pastor for it keeps the focus on Reconciliation and that our foundation to do so is based upon the Word of God.

[Evan Gaertner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great focus on caring for congregations

I liked the structure of each chapter that moves between case studies, Bible study, and demonstrations of next steps. I think there could have been more examples of how changes can happen besides bringing in consultants for hours of coaching.

[Jared Townley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about two different ministries of the church: study/devotion to the word & reconciliation. At it’s heart is a concern & desire for congregations to help people become spiritually healthy, especially in situations of conflict. Discussion questions & easy-to-read chapters make this a good book for a group to read together.

[Chris Mowers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great points in the beginning and end. The middle is a bit tedious. The book could use some editing.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely helpful volume to help in understanding how congregations so often seem to function very badly with practical steps that may be taken to correct that which ails them.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books of the past year. Challenging and yet an achievable path to health. Ever have one of those books that everyone should read? This is one of them.

[Edward Durand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Healthy Congregations, spend time in the Word of God, prayer, and the ministry of reconciliation. Examples are given. Suggestions on how to increase time spent in these endeavors. Questions at the end of each chapter to reflect and review what was learned. Spiritually mature and spiritually healthy congregations is the goal of this book.

[Paul]

This is an excellent book about the importance of being in God's Word, reconciliation and forgiveness in the church. It's a must read for any pastor or lay-person who wants to know how to have a healthy congregation that thrives on God's Word and abides in His grace and forgiveness.