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Grace to the City: Studies in the Gospel from China
It is easy to find many people writing about the church in China, analyzing its theological positions and social impact. It is much more difficult to find the actual gospel voice of the Chinese church—the sermons, prayers, and beliefs of the people themselves. Grace to the City aims to step away from delivering thoughts about the Chinese house church and instead offer the English-speaking world a chance to sit directly at the feet of its Chinese brothers and sisters.China Partnership’s unique access to the sermons and writings of a gospel movement taking place in many of China’s house churches today allows us to hear the voices of the Chinese church. Its pastors have something to say directly to Western churches and a role to play in teaching and reviving our spirituality. May we have the eyes to see and the ears to hear.
120 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 2, 2020
Christians in the West tend to be curious about believers in China, after decades of knowing theirs as a “closed country.” We pray for China, interceding with our concerns over government persecution and, as I write this, alarming reports of the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We read biographies or newsletters of missionaries to the Far East, and wonder what house churches in China are built upon? What are their core beliefs and practices? Their ethos? What does a Sunday sermon sound like? How is God’s universal body uniquely expressed in China?
The newly released book, Grace to the City: Studies in the Gospel from China, is a window into the ministries of a handful of church leaders through their teaching on God’s Word. It reveals deep burdens these brothers carry for their sheep, and their collective hope for the sanctification of their congregants. Their personal devotion to the Lord and his glory shines throughout the book, which is a compilation of one sermon from each of five leaders. As a foreigner working in China for years, it was rare to sit under a Chinese pastor’s teaching or attend a house church due to security concerns. This book affords its readers the opportunity to not only better understand the faith of the Chinese, but also be shaped by God’s family in the East. As editor Hannah Nation states in the preface: “It’s time for us to start allowing Chinese Christians to lead us to Christ, to start learning from and listening to the fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit taking place in their country” (6).
Readers who approach Grace to the City: Studies in the Gospel from China with a posture of humility, and respect for Chinese culture and history, will be both encouraged and challenged. Taking time to work through the application questions following each essay will especially assist personal growth. The five voices expressed in the book are a beautiful mix of both Biblical truth and grace, and the boldness of the Chinese pastors in exhorting their congregations is refreshing. The consistent call for corporate repentance and confession of sins (many generational in nature) is a helpful counterbalance to the emphasis on individual faith and practices often found in Western churches. As Simon Liu puts it, “we are family members and must name these things and point them out clearly.” Their tones reflect the heart of true shepherds, who have been transformed by their own encounters with God, and are lovingly calling their flocks to better know and follow their Lord.
The organizational format of the messages may be less linear and more illustrative or narrative than some readers are accustomed to, but it reminds us of the variety of forms sermons can take. The five messages employ culturally-relevant illustrations and references to literary works that honor their ancient civilization and connect their audience to it, while at the same time drawing minds and hearts to the greater Gospel “third way” of living in the world.
The only lack I felt upon finishing Grace to the City was the voice of a female. Out of respect to theological convictions tied to the movement’s reformed tradition, such representation might not take the form of a formal leader or pastor, but were a second volume of this book to be (hopefully) published, it would be significant to hear from a sister in the Chinese church as well.
Chinese believers perpetually have been an example to me of Biblical meekness, faith, and gratitude, especially in the context of trials. This book has achieved its goal by amplifying their voices and providing readers a front row seat to Christ’s universal church living out their identity –and thus encouraging others to do the same. Though the forms of evil they resist may be culturally specific, the universal truth of Scripture holds and reminds the readers that as believers, we share far more in common - both in our need of Christ and opportunity to live out our identity as his children – than not.
Beyond addressing its readers as front-row witnesses, however, the book invites our participation. It provides a needed word to the American church and the heavy analysis/dissection we can tend towards, especially in more intellectually leaning church networks. Many Chinese have sat under our preachers, taking scrupulous notes at trainings, and eagerly receiving from the Western church. They have been grateful recipients. Are we also willing to be not just pioneers and leaders, but learners and followers of our Christian brothers and sisters across the world? May it be so for the glory of God our Father.
Full review and chapter summaries here: http://www.reachingchineseworldwide.o...
The newly released book, Grace to the City: Studies in the Gospel from China, is a window into the ministries of a handful of church leaders through their teaching on God’s Word. It reveals deep burdens these brothers carry for their sheep, and their collective hope for the sanctification of their congregants. Their personal devotion to the Lord and his glory shines throughout the book, which is a compilation of one sermon from each of five leaders. As a foreigner working in China for years, it was rare to sit under a Chinese pastor’s teaching or attend a house church due to security concerns. This book affords its readers the opportunity to not only better understand the faith of the Chinese, but also be shaped by God’s family in the East. As editor Hannah Nation states in the preface: “It’s time for us to start allowing Chinese Christians to lead us to Christ, to start learning from and listening to the fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit taking place in their country” (6).
Readers who approach Grace to the City: Studies in the Gospel from China with a posture of humility, and respect for Chinese culture and history, will be both encouraged and challenged. Taking time to work through the application questions following each essay will especially assist personal growth. The five voices expressed in the book are a beautiful mix of both Biblical truth and grace, and the boldness of the Chinese pastors in exhorting their congregations is refreshing. The consistent call for corporate repentance and confession of sins (many generational in nature) is a helpful counterbalance to the emphasis on individual faith and practices often found in Western churches. As Simon Liu puts it, “we are family members and must name these things and point them out clearly.” Their tones reflect the heart of true shepherds, who have been transformed by their own encounters with God, and are lovingly calling their flocks to better know and follow their Lord.
The organizational format of the messages may be less linear and more illustrative or narrative than some readers are accustomed to, but it reminds us of the variety of forms sermons can take. The five messages employ culturally-relevant illustrations and references to literary works that honor their ancient civilization and connect their audience to it, while at the same time drawing minds and hearts to the greater Gospel “third way” of living in the world.
The only lack I felt upon finishing Grace to the City was the voice of a female. Out of respect to theological convictions tied to the movement’s reformed tradition, such representation might not take the form of a formal leader or pastor, but were a second volume of this book to be (hopefully) published, it would be significant to hear from a sister in the Chinese church as well.
Chinese believers perpetually have been an example to me of Biblical meekness, faith, and gratitude, especially in the context of trials. This book has achieved its goal by amplifying their voices and providing readers a front row seat to Christ’s universal church living out their identity –and thus encouraging others to do the same. Though the forms of evil they resist may be culturally specific, the universal truth of Scripture holds and reminds the readers that as believers, we share far more in common - both in our need of Christ and opportunity to live out our identity as his children – than not.
Beyond addressing its readers as front-row witnesses, however, the book invites our participation. It provides a needed word to the American church and the heavy analysis/dissection we can tend towards, especially in more intellectually leaning church networks. Many Chinese have sat under our preachers, taking scrupulous notes at trainings, and eagerly receiving from the Western church. They have been grateful recipients. Are we also willing to be not just pioneers and leaders, but learners and followers of our Christian brothers and sisters across the world? May it be so for the glory of God our Father.
Full review and chapter summaries here: http://www.reachingchineseworldwide.o...
January 9, 2024
A friend lent me this or I would not have known of it. This is a recent collection of 5 sermons from Chinese pastors, and summary of an emphasis called Grace to the City. If you're curious about the vibrancy of current church leaders in the mainland's unregistered church movement this is a good resource.
1. Wang Yi (currently in prison in China) was a constitutional law scholar turned activist preacher. His is an excellent exegesis of Romans 5
2. Simon Liu articulates the tendency of human nature (dog eat dog) even in churches, yet to feed on Christ turns the tables so that we can be devoured for His purposes, for His glory
3. Peng Qiang speaks of how the world lives without windows, without hope. Yet the Bible's definition of real hope stems through the connection of faith as defined in the book to the Hebrews.
4. Gao Zhen contrasts the offerings of Abel and Cain as prototypical for relationships that will be acceptable to God
5.Yang Xibo defines Love not as a moral code for feeling righteous, but as a person: Jesus.
1. Wang Yi (currently in prison in China) was a constitutional law scholar turned activist preacher. His is an excellent exegesis of Romans 5
2. Simon Liu articulates the tendency of human nature (dog eat dog) even in churches, yet to feed on Christ turns the tables so that we can be devoured for His purposes, for His glory
3. Peng Qiang speaks of how the world lives without windows, without hope. Yet the Bible's definition of real hope stems through the connection of faith as defined in the book to the Hebrews.
4. Gao Zhen contrasts the offerings of Abel and Cain as prototypical for relationships that will be acceptable to God
5.Yang Xibo defines Love not as a moral code for feeling righteous, but as a person: Jesus.
February 13, 2022
A blessing and discovering for me
Was a bless to know a time ago about how God is moving in this big and complex country, where Christianity have so much more tribulations compared to my country (Chile). This book gives us the voices of their pastors, who are so Christ centered in their theologies and with such clarity in their expositions that taught me as it gives me hope on the future of God’s work in China. In this book i could read of childrens of God who exalted Him with humble hearts and discernment about the complex context that they lives. An example for Chile and occidental churches in general.
Was a bless to know a time ago about how God is moving in this big and complex country, where Christianity have so much more tribulations compared to my country (Chile). This book gives us the voices of their pastors, who are so Christ centered in their theologies and with such clarity in their expositions that taught me as it gives me hope on the future of God’s work in China. In this book i could read of childrens of God who exalted Him with humble hearts and discernment about the complex context that they lives. An example for Chile and occidental churches in general.
February 5, 2020
I just got back from the KL 2020 Conference in Malaysia where I was learning alongside and from nearly 4000 Chinese Christians. I brought this book along with me, a slim volume of 5 sermons from Chinese pastors brought into English by S.E. Wang and Hannah Nation (with some help from other China Partnership staff). This little book would be well worth your time, not only to learn about the global church but to learn from the global church. If we in the West are trying to figure out how to live as a marginalized group, the church in China has much to teach us in this regard. Highly recommended.
February 9, 2020
Raw and exploratory. I'm sure it would read differently in Mandarin, but the theology has a visceral quality I enjoyed. You can feel the capacity for systematic exploration however as well, it is a wonder what biblically faithful seminaries in the country with the world's largest Christian population could bring to us. Until the Chinese church has such resources and liberties they will depend on other parts of the world, but books like this well prove it is only the limits of their government that make it so.
A whole world a Way, we can still hear you.
A whole world a Way, we can still hear you.
October 30, 2020
Reflective writings from the Chinese church to the global church of Christ from five pastors inside the Chinese church. Easy reading but deep spiritual insight. Worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews