WORD-CENTERED CHURCH: HOW SCRIPTURE BRINGS LIFE AND GROWTH TO GOD’S PEOPLE, by Jonathan Leeman

A Brief Book Summary from Books at a Glance

by Steve West

 

About the Author

Jonathan Leeman serves as editorial director for 9Marks. He has written and edited over a dozen books and edits the 9Marks Journal and a series of books. He also serves as a professor and church elder.

 

Table of Contents

Introduction: One Thing Is Necessary

Part 1: The Word

1. Acts
2. Invites and Divides
3. Free
4. Gathers

Part 2: The Sermon

5. Exposes
6. Announces
7. Confronts

Part 3: The Church

8. Sings
9. Prays
10. Disciples
11. Scatters and, Once Again, Invites

 

Summary

 

Part One: The Word

 

Chapter 1: The Word Acts

It is very tempting these days to believe that there is little meaning in words and that promises are empty and unreliable. Today, cynicism and mistrust abound. Like electricity, God’s Word buzzes through the church, empowering believers. We need to trust God’s words, and we need to live in faith. God’s Word (i.e., Scripture) must be the center of what we do. God’s Word is an extension of God, so when we hear Scripture we are hearing God himself. Every word in the Bible is the word of God. God is present with his people through the Word. God also acts through his Word. By his words, God creates and sustains. By his words, he makes and breaks relationships. His word created the heavens and earth and his word created covenants. It is God’s Word that causes the new birth. It is essential to understand that God acts through his Word by his Spirit. Without the Spirit’s work, people can hear the Word but will reject it. Only when the Spirit works through the Word is life created. Because of this reality, the preaching of the gospel in faith in the work of the Spirit is the greatest power in the church. Whereas so much that is said today is hollow, the Word and the Spirit work efficaciously together. When God wants to make something happen, he is always successful. One of the amazing realities of life is that God speaks through human preachers and uses human words to reach people. God speaks to people and appeals to them through the preaching of the message of his truth. What God accomplishes in the church and in the world is accomplished through the power of his Word. . . .

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