Word-Centered Church

Word-Centered Church: How Scripture Brings Life and Growth to God’s People
By: Jonathan Leeman

I was immediately drawn into this book after just reading the introduction. Leeman wastes no time getting right to the heart of the matter and lays out the path he will take for the rest of this phenomenal book.

He begins with, "People today are enamored with authenticity, which means being something, not saying something." (think about that for a minute)

He goes on to differentiate the roles God has assigned to words and actions: "Words create; actions are the creation. You see the same division of labor in Genesis 1 between words and physical matter. Words created; the physical universe was the creation...True spiritual life is produced in the heart only when the Father speaks with creation power through the Son and by the Spirit… Our invisible God is known only through His Word."

And this: "Actions speak louder than words, we say. And talk is cheap. Yes, but Christianity begins not with what we do, but with the announcement of what God has done. Furthermore, it’s only words that can challenge our self-rule. Melodies or visual images can inspire us, encourage us, or cause us to grieve. But only words can command us to surrender control of our lives and yield them to Christ." (again, just sit on these words!)

Words first. Actions follow.

Words are powerful. Or rather, God's Word is powerful. And absolutely necessary. Leeman talks about how we are in the "age of the ear" meaning we can't see God. After Adam and Even sinned He withdrew from the sight of the people, only let Moses see his back, and though Jesus came in the flesh, Scripture gives no account of his physical description. Scripture forbids idols or graven images of God. It's not what we see that God apparently wants us to pay attention to. But words. What we hear Him say.

You want to build God's Church? Read His Words. Out loud. Sing them. Pray them. Teach them. Share them. This book was previously printed under the title "Reverberation"- God's Word spoken from the pulpit and echoing, reverberating, through the lives of all who hear. I love that! Words that transform and change hearts.

All aspects of a church should be centered on the Word- the premise of this book. Programs, small groups, ministries, missions, etc aren't bad, but if they are hindering or overshadowing the preaching, teaching, and reverberating of God's pure Word then we're doing it wrong.

I've grown up in the church and yet all of this kinda floored me. I've always had a high regard for the Bible and wouldn't have disagreed with any of this before. I know we need God's Word to hear from him and know the gospel, but Leeman does an outstanding job of bringing these principles to life. Of challenging how the church functions. Of questioning the church's faith in the Word- its veracity and its power. His analogies are spot on and every single point he makes is dictated by Scripture. It is straightforward and profound.

I'm currently part of a small church plant in my community and the truths Leeman teaches in this book are absolutely paramount for us to uphold as we seek to transform our community for Christ. Everything we structure moving forward and seek to implement needs to be centered on the Word or we are not actually calling people to the right gospel.

Leeman points out that we shouldn't unite people under a specific style of music, age group, community, ethnicity, or ministry. Do we have faith enough in God's Word to grow His church or do we feel like we need to "help" it bring people to Him by appealing to emotions, visual allure, or cultural relevance? Do we treat the Bible as sufficient in growing a church? It's a convicting thought.

Leeman is not writing to condemn. He has grace for all churches. He does not single out mega-churches as an abomination, as lots of Christians tend to do. "May God fill all our churches!" he says. The concern is with any church's lack of faith in the Word and if they, whether intentional or not, present something else as primal other than God's Word. I found his book to be challenging yet inspiring. It doesn't tear down, but builds up and encourages, lovingly pointing out blind spots- exposing and covering them with Scripture.

I thought it was interesting when he suggested that a lot of churches adapt certain music styles, dress, ministries, or other visual components because they feel like they need to change people's minds about what church looks like or is about. But he strips that down when he counters, "[Churches] are not up against the need to change people’s minds about God like a political campaign… or a marketing campaign...What humans need is not a change of mind about God, but a change of nature. They need to be born again, given spiritual sight, set free. Style can’t do that. Law and good deeds can’t do that. Music and liturgy cannot do that, at least apart from the words of the gospel. We need something not with natural power but divine power. (2 Cor 10:3-4)" I often find myself falling into this trap. This way of thinking that, again, assumes the Bible as insufficient to reach people. That we need to dress it up with cool lights, hip music, charismatic leadership. As if that will help people recognize the sin nature we are all struggling against. How foolish!

I could go on and on about all the things he covers but then you won't read the book! A quick overview: It's divided into three parts and then subpoints-
- The Word (acts, invites/divides, frees, gathers)
- The Sermon (exposes [aka expositional preaching], announces, confronts)
- The Church (sings, prays, disciples [including church membership], scatters/invites)

This book will make you ask the right questions about the operations of a church- from the sermon's theology, the music's lyrics, the length and content of the prayers, and our own willingness to sit and listen to God's Word to name a few.

What does the way your church operates tell you about the things it values?

"No other medium of communication works quite like [His Word]. Present me with the picture of a pretty face, or a sound of a sweet melody, and my mind and heart can become engaged, yes, but apart from words, there is no challenge to my self-sovereignty. Only words—and especially words from a king—can call me to surrender my will."

It feels weird to express a strong recommendation for you to read this book that is all about centering your church and life on the Bible. So first- go read your Bible. But this is a good supplemental book that teaches us the same things we will find in the Bible- that God's Word is supreme and powerful. That "God’s Word working through God's Spirit" is the one thing absolutely NEEDED to create and grow a church, to transform people's hearts.

The Word first. Actions follow.