Remaking a Broken World

by Christopher Ash

Our world is fractured on every level‚"‚€‚"from the family to international relations. The news constantly reports broken relationships, strife-ridden communities and warring nations. So what hope is there for a world of fractured relationships? Discover the Bible's surprising answer: the local church.

This revised and updated edition of Christopher Ash's Bible overview takes readers through the big sweep of Scripture, following the theme of scattering and gathering God's people. It shows how the local church is at the heart of the Bible story and at the centre of God's plan for remaking a broken world.

This book will refresh your love for the local church, and give you new hope for the hurting world around you.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Christian Living, Church, Christianity

240 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2010

About the author

Christopher Ash works for the Proclamation Trust in London as director of the Cornhill Training Course. He is also writer in residence at Tyndale House in Cambridge, and is the author of several books, including Out of the Storm: Grappling with God in the Book of Job and Teaching Romans. He is married to Carolyn and they have three sons and one daughter.

Reviews

[Phillip Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a number of different ways we can think about the story of God. We can view it from various perspectives. Christopher Ash does a wonderful job of doing so from the pictures of scattering and gathering. The scattering that occurred due to sin entering the world will finally be dealt with at the end of this age when Christ returns to usher in the re-created Eden where all is put right and all God's people live in harmony.
His great challenge is that the local Church is to be a foretaste and a picture of that. We may have some work to do to make that a common reality amongst our churches.
A great book for those wanting a way to make sense of the Biblical story.

[Rohan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cool overview of the bible focused on scattering and gathering.
I especially loved the lots of evidence to back it up from the bible. I feel like I will always notice it now.
And how Jesus makes us "one" which is also about gathering.

[Helen T · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good and thorough explanation of the whole Bible story, using the idea of ‘scattering’ and ‘gathering’ and stressing the importance of the local church.

[Gareth Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really accessible Bible overview that focuses on God scattering and gathering his people. It stated well and got better as Ash finished with the final gathering of Gods people to be with Him forever. Very good!

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful [and timely post-covid] thematic bible overview exploring the themes of scattering and gathering [which corresponds to God's judgment and rescue], with the intention of bringing the local church into sharp focus. Ash's thesis is that the ordinary local Christian church contains within itself the seeds/DNA of a remade world, and therefore the local church is at the heart of the Bible's story and the purpose of God for the world.

Interesting chapters in 4&5 exploring the significance of Jerusalem and Babylon, and C8 [the central chp] shows how the two cities collide in the local church, yet God can still use these 'scattered gatherings' to reach the world. If written in the past year, there would be more application on how we appreciate and centralize the local church in our lives!

'The glory of God for all eternity is bound up with what happens in local churches now. They are the concrete realization in this age of the peace-producing dynamics of the age to come. Let us commit ourselves to honouring God in the local church and praise God for every evidence we see in local churches that God is remaking a broken world.' [p220]

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last two chapters on the local church and the new creation were excellent. However, although I would agree that the themes of scattering and gathering are important and recurrent throughout the Bible, I think it was a bit too much of a stretch to connect up the whole Bible along these lines. I think there are so many variations on a theme that a summary doesn't really work for me. I think the most helpful summary was actually the conclusion - the Bible in 3 acts: Eden, everything else, and the new creation.

[Michael DuBard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic overview of the story of God through the lens of the biblical theme of God scattering all people because of sin and gathering his people through Christ. Loved the emphasis on the church and the seeds that it contains of this future consummation.

I would like to see the physical format of this book done differently as the paperweight and binding was not ideal for those who highlight/write in the margins but also don’t want to break the spine.

[Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. A bit simplistic. Readers not familiar with the Bible or the church might find it a great introduction. But I found it lacking in depth in some places for myself. I enjoyed his points about being child-like, his emphasis on the local church, and especially his discussion on the relation of the new creation to the old creation.

[Isaac Hulse · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent, and much needed Bible overview that shows how the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is a narrative about God's gathered people. At a time when the secular view of the Church is low and Christians commitment to the local Church is often weak, this book expertly refutes both positions; not with attacking arguements, or even by addressing such views directly, but by providing an uplifting, positive, and yet realistic theology of the local church. You will see why it is so important, why it isn't perfect and why it is God's intended way for people to relate to him. Read this book!

[Dut Hersh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was not the most pleasant or engaging read. Ash really works to drive home the simplistic thesis of the book as one of the key themes of the Bible. He does a lot of mental gymnastics to get there and, it being a very simple point, much winds up being left by the wayside.

[Lisa McNally · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intricate, yet attainable overview of a particular aspect of the big picture - the scattering and gathering of the local church.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an easy to read but important theological understanding of a theme of scripture not often pondered on yet vital to our navigation of the beauty and challenge of life in the local church. Ash writes clearly and helpfully as he follows the story of scattering and gathering from Eden to eternity, and offers questions for reflection and application along the way. A worthy read for broadening our understanding and deepening our commitment to life together whilst we wait with hope.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can you tell the complete story of the Bible? One way is to give an overview which is what Remaking a Broken World excels at. I have read many Bible overviews but what sets this one apart is the premise of scattering and gathering. The thesis is that the local ordinary church contains the seeds or DNA of a remade world. And it all stems from Beginning with the God who is One.

The Assembly of Israel

Author Christopher Ash takes us on a tour of nine places as a guide through the Biblical narrative. And in these nine places, we can see the Bible story unfold in three acts: Harmony, Fracture, and The New Creation.

Ash has been a church pastor and was Director of the Cornhill Training Course for over ten years. He is now an author and writer-in-residence at Tyndale House, Cambridge, UK. Reading his writing is like being in the hands of an experienced traveler. He knows what there is to see, he wants to show it to you in every way possible, and he wants you to experience the same joy having seen it. He uses many Bible passages to prove his points, but also excellent illustrations.

Section A is A Broken World: Scattered Without God. We look at Eden where we are Expelled to Wander. We move to Babel where we are Scattered by Pride. Section B starts with The Assembly of Israel: Gathering Foreshadowed. Sinai presents us as Gathered Under the Word. Jerusalem is where we are Gathered Under the King. We return to Babylon where we find ourselves Back to Babel.

The Assembly of Jesus

I was most impressed by Ash’s study of Jerusalem. He uses Psalm 122 to show four characteristics of Jerusalem: a house (v1), a city (v3), united tribes (v4), and thrones (v5). He then proceeds to unlock subsequent truths about the meaning of Old Testament Jerusalem, speaking of Access: where God lives on Earth, Security: the only truly safe place on earth, Harmony: the only place where warring tribes unite, and Government: the place from which God’s king rules over the world. This is just one example of the author’s command over the text and the ability to show more than what there appears to be.

Section C is all about The Assembly of Jesus: Gathering Realized. Golgotha is where we are Gathered to Jesus. Pentecost is where we are Gathered by the Holy Spirit. And the Church means we are Gathered Worldwide. The book ends with Section D as The New Creation: Gathering Consummated. And in this New Creation, we are Gathered Forever. A conclusion is given as now we can see more fully The Glory of the God who is One.

Interestingly, Ash sees Pentecost as the reversal of Babel. Within the context of scattering and gathering, it makes much sense and is quite the paradox as the speaking of different languages is now able to unite a group of people. I am intrigued to study more and search Scripture for more instances of how Christ changes the concepts of scattering and gathering.

The Heart of the Bible Story

Regarding the final section of The New Creation: Gathering Consummated, Ash asks us to reexamine our notions of Heaven and The New Jerusalem. He reminds us that The New Creation is real and physical, Heaven and earth are reunited only at the Cross, The New Creation is ruled by Christ’s people, and The New Creation is purged of all rebellion, and creation must be deeply transformed.

He leaves the reader on a note of perseverance as we wait for the hope of the Lord’s coming. So the heart of the Bible story and the hope of the Christian is Jesus. I now believe I see the Bible more fully, I see myself more accurately, and I see my Savior with longing eyes as we wait patiently with faithful endurance.

I was provided a complimentary copy of Remaking a Broken World in exchange for an honest review.

[David Westerveld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. There are a lot of different lenses to look through scripture with and I really enjoyed looking at it through the themes of scattering and gathering. As the author says this is only one approach and should not be seen as the only theme there is in scripture, but it was fascinating to see that theme drawn out and to think about how that plays out in the church and what God is using the church to do.

[Abigail Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

"to belong in a committed and relational way to an ordinary local church may be the most significant thing you do with your life"

reframing the value and position of the local church, and its importance, using the very overview of the bible story and its fractured nature to tell that story. although not my favourite read, this did encourage my heart for the local church and challenge my position on mission within my local community.

[Rhodri Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, accessible book in which Ash looks at the theme of scattering and gathering in the bible. It's very good on the church as the plan for God's new creation, being the place where people of all ages, cultures, race, interests etc. are gathered as one community of hope. Well worth reading.

[Peter Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little book with a coherent presentation of the Bible story. The themes of gathering and scattering and regathering help sustain the presentation and do so legitimately. A refreshing book with some useful contemporary illustrations. Recommended.

[Douglas Fyfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book on church I've read this fortnight (Total Church was the other). A very different take, but as expected, a thoroughly biblical look at the significance of the gathered people of God.
Good short chapters and discussion questions would make this good for groups to read together.
Perhaps nothing new (not a bad thing!) but very clear and thoughts filled out and backed up from the Scriptures.