The Gospel-centred Church

by Steve Timmis and Tim Chester

Good book Co. 2002

'A vision for church growth must be a vision for church planting.' (page 90)

What do the writers mean by a 'Gospel-centred' church?

'By 'gospel-centred church' we mean more than simply a group of people that engages in evangelism. We mean a church in which the whole of its life and activities are shaped by the content and imperatives of the gospel... It is only by this practical obedience to the Word of God, which leaves behind the traditions of men, that we can build healthy churches in our land.' (page 6)

This is a workbook or study course, rather than a book you would sit and read. You could certainly work through it individually, but it would be far more useful for the whole church to go through it together. (A series of sermons and discussions? Go through it in home groups?)

It is divided into three main sections, and eighteen chapters. So you could take eighteen weeks to go through it with a group. This might feel like a long time in some groups. However, the chapters are quite short, so you could probably take two chapters per week, and cover the whole book in about nine weeks.

Part one: The priority of mission

Mission at the centre
Mission for everyone
Mission and worship
Mission without walls
Mission without compromise
Mission without fear

Here are some of the challenging and provocative things Timmis and Chester say:

'The problem is the gap between our rhetoric and the reality of our practice.' (page 10)

'A lot of evangelism revolves around getting people to come to church or church events. For some this appropriate, but most people ar no more likely to enter a church than you or I are to go into a betting shop.' (page 24)

'Church is where we feel safe and comfortable. Church is where non-Christians feel embarrassed and awkward.' (page 25)

'... the fear of failure can be a significant impediment to the work of the gospel. Someone suggests a new gospel initiative and we immediately think of ten reasons why it might not work. The result is inertia.' (page 34)

'If we measure success in terms of our reputation with our peers, the numbers in our congregation or the professionalism of our Sunday meetings then we are going to be 'risk-averse.' (page 34)

Part two: the priority of people

The priority of people
People in relationships
People in partnership
People enabled for service
People not programmes
People not buildings

'... if we bury church under a barrow-load of incidentals such as buildings, clergy, hymn books, constitutions or whatever, then it becomes prohibitive in terms of time, money and personnel. The net result is the loss of a gospel opportunity.' (page 41)

'Too often our desire is to be known as a church with good teaching. But good teaching, however engaging and orthodox, counts for nothing. What counts is good Bible learning and good Bible action.' (page 55)

Part three: the priority of community

The priority of community
A persuasive community
a Welcoming community
An inclusive community
A multiplying community

'People need to encounter the church as a network of relationships rather than a meeting you attend or a place you enter.' (page 75)

Church planting creates a simplicity that prevents a maintenance mentality – there are no expensive buildings to maintain or complex programmes to run. (page 89)

'Large churches shape our image of success. We all want to be like large churches with full-time paid staff, music group, youth and children's work, building, office, notice sheets and so on. And so we hesitate to release people and resources. But the church in the New Testament chose to grow by dividing and reproducing, not by building larger auditoriums. A vision for church growth must be a vision for church planting.' (page 90)

This workbook should be used alongside 'Multiplying Churches,' by Steve Timmis, Tim Chester, Tim Thornborough and Roger Welch.

Go here to buy 'The Gospel-centred Church' from The Good Book Company