Jesus's Broken Church: Reimagining Our Sunday Traditions from a New Testament Perspective

by Peter DeHaan

Overview

Do you have a nagging feeling that something's missing from your church experience?

 

You're not alone. And it's time to discover a better way.

 

Church-reform advocate and Bible scholar Peter DeHaan, PhD is a strong proponent of meaningful Christian community. In Jesus's Broken Church he uses Scripture to guide us into right practices and away from the off-track customs that most every church adheres to.

 

The problem is that today's church follows an Old Testament model. We go to a building where we have professional clergy serve as our liaison between us and God. Then we pay for the whole thing with our tithes and offerings—just like Moses instructed.

 

But Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament. Through him we are the church, we are living stones. We don't need to go to a building. As the church, we take it with us wherever we go. And we don't need paid clergy either. Each of us serves as priests to one another. Or at least we should.

 

In Jesus's Broken Church, you'll discover:

• How Jesus moves us from an Old Testament understanding to New Testament enlightenment
• The early church's approach to their meetings, which we neglect to follow today
• Essential New Testament practices that are more important than song and sermon
• Biblical ideas to inform the activities of our spiritual communities
• Seven religious concepts that require reformation

If you happen to like how your church functions, then don't buy this book. It will only make you mad. But if you sometimes leave your Sunday service feeling let down, that something is lacking and there must be more, then this book can guide you into a new direction.

 

Get your copy of Jesus's Broken Church today to discover what's missing and how to fix it.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940164503154
Publisher:	Rock Rooster Books
Publication date:	12/13/2020
Sold by:	Draft2Digital
Format:	eBook
File size:	213 KB

About the Author

Peter DeHaan, PhD, often makes religious people squirm, but spiritual seekers cheer. He's not trying to be provocative, but he seeks truth, even if it makes some people uncomfortable. He yearns for Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives. Peter earned his doctorate, awarded with high distinction, from Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary. He lives with his wife in beautiful Southwest Michigan and wrangles crossword puzzles in his spare time.

Table of Contents

Zealous about Church

A Biblical Church

Sunday Church

Meeting Together

Chapter 1: The Old Testament Approach

- A Place

- Clergy

- Finances

- The Old Testament Model for Church

Chapter 2: Following the Old Testament Model

- Building

- Staff

- Money

- The Exceptions

Chapter 3: Jesus Fulfills the Old Testament Practice

- Jesus Becomes the Ultimate Sacrifice

- Jesus Turns Law into Love

- Jesus Changes Our Perspectives

- New Temple

- New Priests

- New Finances

- The Status Quo

Chapter 4: The New Testament Approach to Church

- They Meet in Homes

- They Serve as Priests

- They Give Generously

Chapter 5: Ten More New Testament Practices

- Holy Spirit Power and Direction

- Worship

- Prayer

- Fasting

- Community

- Breaking Bread

- Caring for Their Own

- Valuing One Another

- Helping Others

- Flexible and Informal Leadership

Chapter 6: Five New Testament Ideas for Church

- The Acts 2 Church

- The Acts 4 Example

- Paul's Perspective

- Don't Forget Meeting Together

- What Jesus Says

Chapter 7: Seven Things That Must Change

- Church Is Not about Membership

- Church Is Not for Consumers

- Church Is Not about Division

- Church Is Not about Theology or Doctrine

- Church Is Not for Networking

- Church Is Not a Business

- Church Is Not an Institution

Chapter 8: Church Keys

- Put Music or Message in Its Place

- Community

- Unity

Chapter 9: Perspectives We Must Change

- Building

- Staff

- Money

- Membership

- Seminary

- Sunday School

- Division, Disunity, and Denominations

- Make Disciples, Not Converts

- Kingdom of God

Chapter 10: Next Steps

- Do Nothing

- Think About It

- Pursue Incremental Change

- Embrace Total Transformation

Moving Forward

Further Discussion

Acknowledgments

About Peter DeHaan

Books by Peter DeHaan