DMIN 810 Ministry Approach Analysis Thread

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Liberty University *

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DMIN 810

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Religion

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Apr 3, 2024

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docx

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4

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What aspects of the book Deep & Wide and The Prodigal Church have stood out the most to you thus far in your reading? (Be sure to cite a specific example from each book.) How are the books similar in their approach? (Address the theological and philosophical approaches, not grammar or writing styles.) How are the books dissimilar in their approach? What Has Stood Out In a short review of both Prodigal Church and Deep & Wide , both authors speak passionately about the centrality of community within the confines of the church building itself, though they may have different interpretations of who should be a part of said community. In fact, the author of Hebrews speaks out about the importance of congregating as God’s people when he writes, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” 1 Obviously, any good student of the word would first ask, “Who is this book written to?” This should point its readers to see that the book of Hebrews was written to those who have claimed Christ as their Savior; not lost people, though there are stern warnings about going back to Judaism. Moreover, one of the most debated questions amongst Christians is, “Is the church for the saved or for the lost?” Both Stanley and Wilson share much of their own opinions and personal testimonies in order to better answer this question from opposing views. One thing that stood out the most was Wilson’s argument for expository preaching. He explains that Stanley argues that “preaching ‘verse by verse’ directly from Bible passages isn’t how people grow” and “that there’s no example of that in the Bible itself.” 2 While Stanley would be correct to say that there is 1 All Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible unless noted otherwise (La Habra, CA.: The Lockman Foundation, 1995). 2 Jared Wilson, The Prodigal Church: A Gentle Manifesto against the Status Quo (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2015), 73.
no single verse that states that the Torah was taught explicitly verse by verse, the apostle Paul states, “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27, NKJV). All of God’s Word needs to be taught in order for the body to be built up (cf. Eph 4:12) so that each believer could be led to spiritual maturity (cf. Col 1:28). Furthermore, Stanley makes a valid point when he mentions, “ Ekklesia never referred to a specific place, only a specific gathering.” 3 The Greek word ekklesia , in essence means those who are called out. This refers to both Jew and Gentile who have claimed Christ as their Messiah, which inevitably sets them or calls them out of the world and sets them apart for His good work. Clearly, as the gospel went to the Jew first, believers continued to gather and worship together in the temple and local synagogues. As the gospel message spread outside of Israel, believers would not only gather in synagogues, but would also meet in public, in private, and also in homes. The book of Acts gives proof that the assembling of God’s people continued in the homes as the primary gather place rather than the temple or synagogues (cf. Acts 1:13; 2:2, 46; 12:12). Therefore, Stanley is correct to say that the ekklesia is a gathering of people, rather than the location of where they meet. Similarities in the Books Though both Stanley and Wilson may answer the question of who the church is designed for in different ways, they have similarities in what they deem is vital for the gathering itself. Both express the significance of how worship plays a key role in how a person grows in the faith and connects to God Himself. Stanley suggests that changing the name from “worship” to “singing” would be more inviting to nonbelievers who may feel intimidated when asked if they 3 Andy Stanley, Deep & Wide: Creating Churches Unchurched People Love to Attend (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012), 59.
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