Why Church Matters: Worship, Ministry, and Mission in Practice

by Jonathan R. Wilson

What is it that we are called to do as the church? In Why Church Matters, a Christianity Today 2007 Book Award Winner, Jonathan Wilson offers compelling insight into this question by examining how Christian practices are centered on gathered worship. He discusses how worship is work, witness, and warfare; how it grounds us in the good and the true and the beautiful; and how it teaches and shapes us in the language of faith. He then fleshes out his vision for the church by looking in depth at three practices--baptism, communion, and foot-washing. Wilson's insights will be valuable to everyone involved in churches today--pastors and laypeople, seminary professors and students, and church leaders.

Genres: Church, Theology

160 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2006

About the author

Jonathan R. Wilson (PhD, Duke University) is Pioneer McDonald Professor of Theology at Carey Theological College in Vancouver, British Columbia. He previously taught at Acadia Divinity College and Westmont College and has served as a pastor. He currently serves as Senior Consultant for Theological Integration with Canadian Baptist Ministries and is a Teaching Fellow at Regent College. He is the author of numerous books, including Living Faithfully in a Fragmented World, A Primer for Christian Doctrine, and God So Loved the World.

Reviews

[Matt Garm · Rating 5 out of 5]

A God-centered, concise, truthful, and beautiful ecclesiology that is needed for the modern American church.

[Sarah Mullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, this was for sure a textbook for school. Butttt I thought this book was sooooooo interesting because it takes the complete “rituals” or “traditions” of the Church and explains them each out as to the reasoning behind WHY they matter. I want my friends to read this one cause I wanna know what you all think about it too. Is the church TOO much of this traditionalized institution? Or is the church made holy & “good” because of its rituals & traditions? Do traditions & ritual in Church-world lead to or take away from a more deepening understanding of God’s kingdom? IM SO CURIOUS WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK!!!

[Tim Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book details summarize the content well. I think Wilson could’ve been more concise at times. Nonetheless, it’s worth the read. He comes at a well known topic from a slightly different angle. Very helpful if you’re a teacher within the church.

[Nathan Good · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well formulated work on ecclesiology, firmly rooted in the practices of the church. The book is very academic in nature while also being very practical, readable, and accessible. I would recommend the book to anyone who has a deeper interest into what church is, what church is supposed to be, and what God's intentions are in having "the church". If I were to offer a critique of the book it would be it's sparing use of Scripture. There are many concepts that are firmly rooted in Scripture, but I wish that he would have illuminated this more clearly, and there are other concepts that I highly questioned their validity and wished that he had more faithfully tied them to Scripture for further consideration.