A New Kind of Church: Understanding Models of Ministry for the 21st Century

by Aubrey Malphurs

There is no shortage of books these days on new ways of "doing church." New church models have been both warmly embraced and roundly criticized. What are church leaders and others concerned about the state of the church to make of all this? Does the Bible prescribe a standard model for doing church? Or is there freedom within certain guidelines?
In A New Kind of Church, respected church consultant Aubrey Malphurs addresses these important questions and suggests that there is room for new ways of doing ministry while being true to Scripture. In the process, he offers a theological and interpretive framework for evaluating any church model, new or old. He also offers suggestions for implementing change in the local church.

Genres: Church, Leadership, Christianity, Christian

208 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2007

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading through this book. I read through it slowly as I have left the traditional American church and joined a community of believers that go back to the basics of Acts 2…it’s been healing for me and my pastor husband. We took many of these principles as we have a small church community that hoping to grow and stay around for a little bit.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

By the end of it, this book was sounding more like a defense of so-called 'seeker sensitive' churches, and one mega church in particular. But it does offer a helpful introduction to ecclesiology and some starting thoughts on the essence of what a church is and should be. This naturally leads to a framework for evaluating the appropriateness of any church model or methodology in biblical terms.

[Mike Jorgensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid, not too profound though.

[John D. Bain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Malphurs has a good take on the 21st Century Church and its future.

[Jpramos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed the book and it has given me food for thought.

[SJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provide a very helpful definition of the Church.
It well explained the core doctrine of the Church.

It says that the Scripture is intentionally silent about the way of the church. So we have a freedom to do the new way of church based on the contemporary culture. I agree with some degree, but I don't think the Scripture is silent about the new way of the church. The scripture provides the guidelines not only for a traditional church but also for a new model of church.

Overall, a very good book to understand the history of church, and also those who have a heart for church planting. But, it would be more appreciated if it provided clear biblical guidelines for a new model of church, rather than saying the Scripture is intentionally silent about it.