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The Enduring Community: Embracing the Priority of the Church
Paperback. Slightly edge worn wrappers. Else good. 192 pages.
Papaerback
Published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 16, 2024
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed this one. A surprisingly easy, yet informative read about the “church” & “Church”.
While Habig & Newsom discuss topics such as the historical shortcomings, the identity, and the authority of the Church, the most important takeaway was an encouraging one.
The Church & the “church” will never be perfect here prior to Christ’s full redemption of it - in fact, it’ll never quite come close. However, it is the very love of it and within its body that will continually beautify it from the inside out and the outside looking in. Love your local church even when it’s annoying and tiring - Christ gave up his life for it.
I enjoyed this one. A surprisingly easy, yet informative read about the “church” & “Church”.
While Habig & Newsom discuss topics such as the historical shortcomings, the identity, and the authority of the Church, the most important takeaway was an encouraging one.
The Church & the “church” will never be perfect here prior to Christ’s full redemption of it - in fact, it’ll never quite come close. However, it is the very love of it and within its body that will continually beautify it from the inside out and the outside looking in. Love your local church even when it’s annoying and tiring - Christ gave up his life for it.
January 14, 2025
Solid book on the church and why it’s so beautiful. The church is not perfect but Jesus loved it so much he came to earth to die for it which is honestly mind blowing. Gave me a greater appreciation for the church and the work God chooses to do through its brokenness.
October 2, 2021
Read this in conjunction with my church's summer book club. Content was fine - straightforward, simple (sometimes overly so) perspective of the Church. Chapter 4 especially contained some insights new to me on the proper functions of a church and what is better left to its members and to religious organizations. Wished the authors had quoted more heavy-hitting theologians instead of more modern ones, and there was no Further Reading section included beyond the End Notes' references.
Main gripe was in style. The authors are clearly decent teachers but not great writers (exclamation points, unnecessary quotation marks for cute phrases, pop culture references to make the content more relatable, etc.). Formatting also had all the worst aspects of cheap publication (weird spacing and headers, unnecessary italics and bolding, just plain ugly layout).
Lots of good reminders so it was worth the time. Just wish it had been a little deeper and more academic in nature.
Main gripe was in style. The authors are clearly decent teachers but not great writers (exclamation points, unnecessary quotation marks for cute phrases, pop culture references to make the content more relatable, etc.). Formatting also had all the worst aspects of cheap publication (weird spacing and headers, unnecessary italics and bolding, just plain ugly layout).
Lots of good reminders so it was worth the time. Just wish it had been a little deeper and more academic in nature.
August 23, 2020
This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for years, and I’m so sad I didn’t pick it up sooner. For someone who has city (and thus church) hopped for most of my 20s, I never fully took the time to understand what it means to 1) be a member of your local church and 2) prioritize your local church.
I’ve heard both Brian and Les speak on multiple occasions, and their writing is just as eloquent and impactful as their speaking. Highly highly recommend this book!
I’ve heard both Brian and Les speak on multiple occasions, and their writing is just as eloquent and impactful as their speaking. Highly highly recommend this book!
July 29, 2022
As with a couple of the other books we read for Pastoral Ministry: Local Church/College Campus class, it is always welcome to read what people who have participated in college ministry think about issues affecting them. It is significant to get the idea of what college ministers think about the local church since, in my experience, there has been a large amount of friction between college ministries and local churches. Furthermore, students I have discipled, and I myself have come out of college somewhat disillusioned and unsure of how we are supposed to fit in at a local church. I am glad this book thoroughly addresses the question for those like me.
It is great to see a book such as this start with a glossary of terms helping those ignorant of some of these terms and concepts understand what they mean from the beginning. The authors are also very forthright from the beginning in heading into somewhat controversial and painful waters by addressing the disappointment many have had when attending and searching for a church home. This initial frankness sets the stage for a beautiful exposition of what the church looks like and should aspire to be. In reading the book, there can be a sting felt by those who, including myself, have been notorious church hoppers. However, this sting will encourage us to continue being a part of or finally find that faithful and ordinary church home we need.
What is more, is that the book is unapologetically Presbyterian in explaining church government. Many have been hurt by churches that lack any sense of accountability for their leaders. As such, the authors show a better way for a church to be governed and prevent these things from happening. Elders are a Biblical imperative, essential to the smooth running of a local church and the entire church proper. As such, it is good to see that the authors do not shy away from the form of church polity that seems taboo in an individualistic culture like ours.
Nevertheless, they show their Biblical basis and necessity. It is refreshing to see many young Christians coming in and out of college who see the importance of elders and lovingly submit to their authority. Suffice to say, contained within this unassuming book, which would surprise someone looking at the cover, is a good primer on the benefits of Presbyterian ecclesiology.
The book also has lengthy discussion sections for use in groups, which is also incredibly helpful in reading it alone. Thinking through and digesting these concepts that are new to many is essential in developing a deep love of the church. Especially if we are to develop a love for the church that results in tangible action and changes in our behaviors. And this book offers much in the way of help in this aspect as well in guiding the reader through what it looks like to take part in the local church and not just being a watcher but a participant.
As stated before, to those who have little to no idea what the church is, what it’s purpose is, and how to be a part of it this is a very helpful and easy read. Students who have been a part of the para-church movements and been very shut off from participating in a local church body will find this to be a very edifying and helpful read. And, if anything, this book should help create a deeper appreciation of the local church and want to contribute to it in meaningful ways.
It is great to see a book such as this start with a glossary of terms helping those ignorant of some of these terms and concepts understand what they mean from the beginning. The authors are also very forthright from the beginning in heading into somewhat controversial and painful waters by addressing the disappointment many have had when attending and searching for a church home. This initial frankness sets the stage for a beautiful exposition of what the church looks like and should aspire to be. In reading the book, there can be a sting felt by those who, including myself, have been notorious church hoppers. However, this sting will encourage us to continue being a part of or finally find that faithful and ordinary church home we need.
What is more, is that the book is unapologetically Presbyterian in explaining church government. Many have been hurt by churches that lack any sense of accountability for their leaders. As such, the authors show a better way for a church to be governed and prevent these things from happening. Elders are a Biblical imperative, essential to the smooth running of a local church and the entire church proper. As such, it is good to see that the authors do not shy away from the form of church polity that seems taboo in an individualistic culture like ours.
Nevertheless, they show their Biblical basis and necessity. It is refreshing to see many young Christians coming in and out of college who see the importance of elders and lovingly submit to their authority. Suffice to say, contained within this unassuming book, which would surprise someone looking at the cover, is a good primer on the benefits of Presbyterian ecclesiology.
The book also has lengthy discussion sections for use in groups, which is also incredibly helpful in reading it alone. Thinking through and digesting these concepts that are new to many is essential in developing a deep love of the church. Especially if we are to develop a love for the church that results in tangible action and changes in our behaviors. And this book offers much in the way of help in this aspect as well in guiding the reader through what it looks like to take part in the local church and not just being a watcher but a participant.
As stated before, to those who have little to no idea what the church is, what it’s purpose is, and how to be a part of it this is a very helpful and easy read. Students who have been a part of the para-church movements and been very shut off from participating in a local church body will find this to be a very edifying and helpful read. And, if anything, this book should help create a deeper appreciation of the local church and want to contribute to it in meaningful ways.
December 30, 2022
My motivation to reread was in search of wisdom regarding a particular real life situation. The book didn’t really provide answers on the topic I was looking for, but it was indeed very encouraging to be reminded what a healthy church should look like, and particularly to contemplate the eternal implications. I think it would be wise to update the book to include guidance on handling church abuse situations and how to determine whether it’s more prudent to “be patient” with your local church (as the book encourages) or to find a church that better reflects scripture.
March 15, 2021
This book was a great look into the role of the church, as it should be and as it often winds up being, and what we instead should be striving towards as a community. It was a really honest look at where our failings are a lot of the time, as well as super concrete ways that we could all be doing better in this regard.
August 11, 2019
Would recommend for every believer. Especially those who are out of college and starting to attend a local church. It is essential, this book AND church membership.
July 1, 2017
The Enduring Community: Embracing the Priority of the Church is a compelling resource, particularly for young adults, or just people young in the Christian faith, to show the relevance and daily importance, of the church as a community bound together in love and service.
The authors, Habig and Newsom, Presbyterian ministers serving with the RUF campus ministry at the time this was written, obviously write out of experience in explaining and helping questioning students to come to grips with many modern questions. They present here an engaging, experiential teaching of the church, not as a mere institution, but as a living, breathing organism, founded and directed as the representative of Jesus at this time. They do a fine job of showing what the church's limits are, and what drives it, namely the love of its saviour.
This book would make a fine resource for personal and group study.
The authors, Habig and Newsom, Presbyterian ministers serving with the RUF campus ministry at the time this was written, obviously write out of experience in explaining and helping questioning students to come to grips with many modern questions. They present here an engaging, experiential teaching of the church, not as a mere institution, but as a living, breathing organism, founded and directed as the representative of Jesus at this time. They do a fine job of showing what the church's limits are, and what drives it, namely the love of its saviour.
This book would make a fine resource for personal and group study.
November 12, 2012
This is a good book on Church and the basics of how it is to function. I picked it off the shelf about 10 days ago to get my brain back into what really matters - instead of the election. The church is Plan A - and Mr. Habig does a good job of dispelling the myths that often lead people away from church and what it truly is. It is a refutation to the idea that Church is a consumer based club and refocuses grumbles back to the worship of God.
February 9, 2013
Really excellent introduction to ecclesiology and practical life in the church. This is a good book for a winsome and clear defense of Presbyterian church order and why it's a good thing. Christians often neglect to think through questions about why church is important and why we do what we do as members of the Church. The Enduring Community provokes consideration of those questions and points toward biblical answers.
September 26, 2013
Read this book when it first came out and have read it for various reasons in subsequent years. This time, the elders of the church were reading it and discussing it as part of their monthly meeting. There are good reminders here for us about that nature of the church and good application points. The authors do a good job holding together the tension between the ideal of the church and what is actually happening in the church.
February 3, 2014
In a day when many folks dismiss the local church as irrelevant, this was such an encouraging reminder of how much Christ loves the church - even the church expressed in the particular local body where I serve and worship. Easily readable, very practical, convicting, and encouraging. Highly recommend.
February 28, 2008
A good study on the church with some memorable illustrations. It is also a great small group study, especially for discussion and such.
August 14, 2008
One of the best books for practical, yet biblically grounded thinking about what it means for Christians to take part in the life of the Church that I have read.
January 30, 2009
Really good.
April 26, 2016
Fantastic primer on ecclesiology.
July 29, 2013
Really helpful introduction to the Church. Helped me understand the scriptural basis for what I've grown up believing. Very helpful to me, but maybe less so if you aren't PCA.
January 23, 2016
Excellent beginner's resource concerning the local church.
November 17, 2011
Terrific book on the church.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews