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Priorities for the churchRediscovering leadership and vision in the churchComfortable assumptions?PRIORITIES FOR THE CHURCH Two major needs in church life are addressed: biblical, passionate leaders, preachers and preaching earthed in the real world of their hearers is one, and the other is the need for serious effort in biblical church unity. The contents have appeared before in the Monthly Record of the Free Church of Scotland and Evangel, and provide thoughtful questions for those engaged in preaching and teaching, and for those who listen. The contemporary loss of faith in preaching is highlighted with refreshing candour, and a recovery of conviction in its divine authority is urged. Frequent words of challenge set many a comfortable status quo trembling! Let evangelistic preaching be aggressive, and let it be done in many places as well as a pulpit! Amen! We are, with 'effort, outreach, and invitation', to seek increase in the church. Amen! John Knox is called up and quoted with suitable enthusiasm - 'Let's ding the pulpit into blads' as we tell the good news to all creation. As an Englishman I presume this approximates to 'threaten the pulpit with serious structural damage while preaching the gospel'. Amen! Here is a timely call to excellence in preaching, in counselling, in leadership, and a call to the whole church to be playing their part. The section on church unity offers much food for thought. The marks of a true church are discussed from the Reformers onwards, as are the fundamental doctrines that need to be the foundation for true unity. The book is written from a Presbyterian perspective, but most of what is said will stimulate every Christian believer. His words will stir up a fresh examination of some of our comfortable assumptions about church, about evangelism, and about unity. He will make you think. He may make you disagree. And he will do you good. Peter Ninnis,
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