Love one another

Diversity is wonderful

LOVE ONE ANOTHER
Becoming the church Jesus longs for
By Gerald Sittser
IVP. 188 pages. £8.99
ISBN 978-1-84474-345-2

This is a reworking of a book written by the author nearly 20 years ago. I can’t comment on the original, but to my surprise I was thoroughly helped by the revision.

The surprise was that having groaned at the prospect of reading yet another book on how to get on with each other in church (!) I found this refreshingly different.

The difference lies in the pastoral insight which this American professor of theology brings to the classic ‘one another’ mutuality texts of the New Testament.

Here’s a rare combination of good exegesis with strong application that does not leave the reader with an easy one-size-fits-all answer to the challenges raised. Pastoral theology at its best is shaped by confidence in Scripture, informed by a profound understanding of human nature, and inspired by the power of grace to effect real change.

Pastors, elders and small group leaders, no, all followers of Christ who want quick fixes, should not read this book! But those who struggle with conflict resolution or who ache to see broken relationships mended or who belong to a church where diversity is a wonderful thing but often in danger from uniformity, will find much within these pages that is helpfully penetrating.

A useful chapter by chapter study guide at the end will mean that group discussion can be facilitated. And, if you want a sermon series to preach, then this could be it! But the book does carry a spiritual health warning — it might change your life.

Peter Baker,
senior pastor, Highfields Church, Cardiff

© Evangelicals Now - February 2009
Please consider supporting this ministry by subscribing.

• Request Free Sample

Main Articles

• Training: who pays?
• The Commentary
  Back to Bongo Bongo land?
• Arthur Stone, 1924-2008
  Obituary
• Faith in action
  Interview with Philippa Stroud
• Pastor Cool
• What you missed in church
  A report to an absent friend
• Carbon-free Christianity?
  A response to Paul Helm's article on climate change
• No conflict
  Why Melvin Tinker thinks evangelicals can differ over their approach to creation
• The semantics of inerrancy
• Monthly arts and media column
  Can a non-Christian lead a church?
• Letter from America
  When everyone does as they see fit
• Monthly youth leaders column
  Beyond the fringe
• The Music Exchange
  Best practice in rehearsals
• The Third Degree
  New year, same gospel
• Darwin's 'Black Box'
  Some more questions for Darwin in thi aniversary year
• When your partner isn't a Christian

Other articles

• Such a great salvation - The collected essays of Alan Stibbs
• Together for the Gospel Live
• Australia
• Finally alive - An extract from a new book by John Piper
• Simplest diet ever
• The shack
• A gospel primer for Christians
• Fearless pilgrim - The life and times of John Bunyan
• Building bigger people - Success is more than numbers
• Love rules - The Ten Commandments for the 21st century
• Christ walks where evil reigned - Responding to the Rwanda genocide
• Quitting church
• Becoming a contagious church
• Great revivalists - 1700 to the present day
• Praying through the Scriptures
• You can change
• From guru to God - An experience of the ultimate truth
• Environment
• Did I hear the voice of God?
• A friendly dialogue between an atheist and a Christian
• Love one another - Becoming the church Jesus longs for
• The Baptists - Volume Three, The Modern Era
• The Prodigal God
• Metavista