Convergence: Why Jesus needs to be more than our Lord and Savior for the church to thrive in a post-Christian world

by Jon Thompson

"Convergence is a powerful book. It beautifully weaves together the gifts and the power of the Spirit and the disciplines of the Spirit in a fresh, holistic, and transformative way. I highly recommend this to you." –– Jon Tyson, Senior Pastor of Church of the City, NY and author of Beautiful Resistance"Jon Thompson is one of the best living thinkers on church structure for this current secular moment. His book, Convergence, is a rally call to return to the vibrancy of a thriving, courageous, growing church!" –– John Mark Comer, Pastor of Bridgetown Church and author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry"When I first heard Pastor Jon Thompson, dots began to connect in a powerful way and when we sat together later, he spoke about Jesus not just being our Saviour and Lord, but our Model. Spiritual gifts, spiritual disciplines, spiritual experiences––he gave me handles that I had been looking for. This was the word we all need right now." –– Ann Voskamp, author of four New York Times best-selling books, including The Broken Way"I got to know Jon while church planting in Toronto. This book reflects who he intensely theological, intensely Spirit-led, and intensely practical. Jon confronts us with how the Father is actually at work right now through Jesus and the Spirit. This book helps you gain direction from the Source for how to engage your post-Christian context with the mindset of doing only what the Father is doing." –– Daniel Yang, Director of the Send InstituteMany Christians and ministry leaders think that much of what Jesus did on earth was because He was God. When we think this, we neglect Scripture where it tells us that Jesus, though always God, deliberately chose to limit His divine attributes and power.Jon Thompson, pastor and theologian, looks at Jesus’ life and ministry asking the question, “If Jesus chose to limit His divine attributes and power, how did He do all of this?”Jon discovers that Jesus is the ultimate example for us demonstrating the Convergence of three Jesus used spiritual disciplines to walk with the Father, and develop and learn as we “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).2. Jesus also used spiritual gifts (not His inherent power) to actually carry out His ministry while on earth.3. Jesus used the promptings He received from the Father and the Spirit to lead His disciples into moments of revival.;As you read this book, you will come to realize that Jesus, as God come in flesh, isn’t just our Savior and our Lord, He is also our model for Christian life and ministry.Through the convergence of spiritual disciplines, spiritual gifts, and spiritual experiences, Jesus demonstrates for us how we, and our local churches, can hear from the Father, carry out our ministry, and lead people into revival.Convergence shows how Jesus–though always God–deliberately chose to limit His divine attributes and power in order not only to show us who God is, but also to demonstrate for us what the normal Christian life should look like.

Genres: Christian, Faith, Unfinished, Spirituality, Discipleship, Religion, Nonfiction

305 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 4, 2018

About the author

Jon Thompson is the Senior Pastor of Sanctus Church – a multi-site church in the Greater Toronto Area and online – where he has served for 25 years.

He holds a Master of Theological Studies from Tyndale Seminary and a Doctorate of Missiology from Fuller Theological Seminary. After spending his childhood in Ecuador with his missionary parents, Jon began his ministry as the Youth Pastor before assuming his current role as Senior Pastor at Sanctus Church. Jon is married to Joanna and has three kids.

Reviews

[Madeline F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Torn about this one.

Some good insights on spiritual gifts.

But I think I disagree with his interpretation of Philippians 2:5-8, which basically what the whole book hinges on. I think his takes tend to emphasize the humanity of Jesus at the cost of minimizing the divinity of Jesus.

And it’s just wordy.

I would just read what your Bible has to say about spiritual gifts and might skip this one, I hate to say!

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jon Thompson’s Convergence is what I’ve been looking for, for honestly quite a long time. I’ve loved reading Willard and Foster who focus primarily on the disciplines but there hasn’t been anything on the gifts!

His dot model and testimonies are encouraging, and his look at the gifts is thorough but also leaves room for the Spirit of God to move.

I do disagree with his view on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and a minor bit on the Gift of Tongues; however that is not enough in my opinion to warrant avoiding this book. Well done.

[Fit For Faith 〣 Your Christian Ministry. · Rating 1 out of 5]

A book full with references / quotes to Eugene Peterson (Universalism, heretical Message Bible, promotion of Richard Rohr and The Shack), Dallas Willard (Universalism, Contemplative Prayer / Mysticism, heretical Spiritual Formation Study Bible), Richard Foster (Contemplative Prayer / Mysticism, Catholic, Spiritual Formation Study Bible), C. Peter Wagner (NAR), Wayne Grudem (Theistic Evolution) ...

[Brandon Lawryshyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Convergence was a great book! Covering the history of a church which has gone through big changes within it’s history. Specifically how it’s flourished by encountering the Spiritual Gifts, and how they interact with each other within a church body.

The book breaks down the spiritual gifts into 3 categories; Love, Word and Power, with detailed descriptions and references to scripture, as well as areas where tension may be found.

The book concludes with great examples and comparisons between the modern church, and the early church in Acts, working with Spiritual Giftings, as well as guaranteed places of encounter with Jesus.

I highly recommend reading this book!

[Lisa Hall-Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be a holistic and logical approach to understanding the spiritual gifts. He gives credibility to the charismatic teachings without going full-on "woo woo" as he calls it. He manages to challenge the conservative views of cessation with clear logic and empathy.
My theology doesn't fall along strict denominational lines, and I found Jon's approach to this much-debated topic measured, fair, and logical. I appreciated that he had words to articulate my experience, and still challenged me to grow not just my giftings, but my spiritual practices (disciplines), and character.
I knew Jon many many years ago - worked at a Christian conference centre with him. Haven't spoken to him in 30 years. I was halfway through the book before I figured out how I knew him. Then, I knew him then to be powerfully gifted, but a bit punch-you-in-the-face with his black and white theology. I still see that young man in him, but I see that he's tempered that passion with compassion, and grown his gift of leadership.
Character before gift - that's a big message in his book and I see him living it out (as much as one can from sermon videos and reading a book lol).

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only the Yahweh Himself could have inspired a book like this. Convergence by Pastor Jonathan Thompson will transform the body of Christ for generations to come. Through Convergence, Pastor Jon radically changed my understanding of what my relationship with the Holy Spirit and the church should look like. Convergence gave me language to articulate and understand things I was experiencing in the Spirit, and shaped my understanding of how I can use my spiritual gifts to serve the body of Christ. Convergence helped me to form a much more intimate relationship with Christ - one that I didn’t even think was possible. I would recommend this book to everyone: the beginner and seasoned Christian alike, but especially to pastors who are looking to lead their congregation into deeper fellowship with and obedience to Jesus Christ. “Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Matthew 11:15

[Ellis Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one took me a while, but it was very impactful. Convergence examines how the combination of spiritual disciplines, spiritual gifts, and revival can bring about convergence of the church. The modern church is made up of a variety people, all with a range of spiritual gifts. It is our role to learn about what those gifts are and use them in accordance with scripture to strengthen/grow the church. I loved reading about each individual gift, and seeing how my gifts can play a role in the church. I also was surprised how much the Lord could romance me through spiritual disciplines. These disciplines informed me on new ways to encounter the Lord!

[Daunavan Buyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

As someone who would call myself a charismatic theologian, I loved this book. If you have a desire to see the gifts of the Spirit functioning in your church but it’s more conservative, this book is for you. It makes me want to visit his church which seems to have a high value on truth and a high value on encounter. Often those seem to be at odds with one another, which does a dis-service to both.

[Brett Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thompson offers a great perspective of the impact spiritual gifts have not only on the growth of the Church, but also on an individual relationship with Jesus. This book is noticeably contextually appropriate for Canadian churches. The production and editing quality was poor, as there were many typos. However, this book contains helpful reminders and clarifying language for any pastor, leader, or church looking to embrace a biblical practice of gifts, disciplines, and power of the Spirit.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learned a lot about spiritual gifts! Reads like a textbook but appreciated the deep dive into what the Scripture says about spiritual gifts. Also appreciated how the actual discussion of the gifts doesn’t happen until the ~second half (bc understanding why we should care about spiritual gifts, how they are different from spiritual disciplines, how to discern spiritual gifts, etc. is just as important).

[Amy Beversluis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It was hard for me to read sometimes and parts are directed to church leadership but I’m feeling very encouraged after reading this and am eager to see the Holy Spirit lead me deeper into my gifting. I have a new appreciation for the diversity in the body of Christ and am excited to see the believers in my life through that lens!

[El Rhino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still don't fully understand the title and how it fits with the material. He almost lost me in the introduction. But the actual meat of the book was really good, based on scripture, and brought helpful clarity to the concepts of the spiritual gifts I've been wrestling with.

[Jake Childers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Convergence is a must read for anyone who wants to live a life marked by the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s a masterclass on how a Spirit-filled church operates, changes the lives of members, and the community at large by the power of God.

[James D.]

Excellent resource for understanding and implementing your God given Spiritual Gifts. Please note this has just been re-released in a new updated 2024 edition… the same author gives us his other books ‘Deliverance’ and ‘Perseverance’ J

[Londyn Edmondson]

not rating because this is basically a textbook of spiritual gifts, really enjoyed but more of a resource not really reading material because it was really dense

definitely helped me understand my spiritual gifts more!

[Paulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

New thoughts on old ideas.

[Kirushanthan Krishnapillai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of the best books I read

[Moses Yu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Convicting, eye opening, and encouraging!

[Aden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book on the spiritual practices, spiritual gifts, and revival. Thompson is thoughtful while also convicting. A book every Christian should read!

[Vijay Noel Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm be reading this book again and again. Powerful

[David Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

We recently went through the gifts at our church, this book really helped explain them in great detail.

[Ricky Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’ve any interest in understanding the biblical idea of spiritual gifts, this is “go” on the board.

Neatly organized into three categories, the book covers in detail all of the gifts named in scripture, and bonus! One that isn’t.

As with any book on this topic, we’ve got to be honest that spiritual gifts are necessary for the life of the church, and, we have blessedly little information on them in scripture. We definitely have nothing like this manual. Convergence makes some bold claims about exactly what each gift is and how it works, but also seems to leave little room for the idea that there might be more or other gifts (aside from intercession).

It also writes in big bold definitive letters about the gifts based off, what looks at first glance, to be experience. All this, and there’s a bit of a confusing church growth emphasis weaved in between the lines.

So as a book, confusing at times. But you should read it as one of the clearest and most straightforward starts to a a discussion of the gifts.

Thank you Jon Thompson, for starting this discussion!