Introduction
1. Gospel
The Gospel makes us disciples of Christ
2. Word
Disciples live by the word of God
3. Community
Disciples belong to the community of Christ
4. Mission
Disciples engage in the mission of God
Conclusion
(download free sample pdf)
Let’s face it, the Singaporean church is a busy church.
Besides the standard cell-groups which most churches run, we organize many other events through the year – Christmas and Easter outreaches, camps and mission trips, just to name a few.
The church invests large amount of time, energy and money in all these programs because we supposed they will build the Kingdom. But do they?
If there is a way to make our programs really impactful, will you adopt it?
On May 23, 2007, the world turns majority urban. The church has entered a new era of evangelizing and discipling a new breed of people who has little or no memory of what it means to live in a community. Without the context of community, we risk compromising the integrity of gospel work. Is it too late to recover the lost art of living together?
“This book succinctly and powerfully packs in the essentials needed for redressing a huge deficiency in today’s church: the failure to practice biblical community life. There are few areas where biblical religion clashes with contemporary lifestyles as starkly as the approach to community life. But pastor Kuo Yung shows that the biblical model is not an ideal that is impossible to attain. He lets the Bible inform us of the essentials and clearly shows how these can be practically worked out in our daily lives.” – Ajith Fernando, Teaching Director, Youth for Christ, and author of The NIV Application Commentary: Acts (Zondervan)
See content page | Read first two chapters (pdf/epub) | Buy the book (paperback/ebook)
Gospel & Community – a relationship gone awry? Rapid urbanization of our societies has taken its toll on the church, resulting in God’s people drifting apart.
This book demonstrates how the gospel, when deeply understood and radically practiced, is nevertheless able to birth, shape and sustain attractive communities in our cities, which will draw all kinds of people to Christ.
“Pastor Lam Kuo Yung has written a book that is a useful antidote to modern versions of Christianity that are highly individualistic. Many churches today are filled with consumer Christians pursuing their own personal ambitions. This book shows why this is a serious departure from the gospel by pointing to the communal nature of Christian faith and life – rooted in the communal life of the triune God. Like a breath of fresh air, this book offers a view of the church that is much-needed today – that it is a graced divine community, the Body of Christ, corporately reflecting the transforming power and winsome invitation and beauty of the gospel.” – Bishop Emeritus Robert Solomon, The Methodist Church in Singapore
See content page | Read sample chapters (pdf/epub) | Buy the ebook
Prologue
1. Strange new neighbourhood
Gospel and community: a relationship gone awry?
2. Where it begins
What happens when we preach the good news?
3. Packed full of goodness
How does the gospel shape our life together?
4. Highly contagious!
How does the community bring people to Christ?
5. Moving in
How can we build strong communities?
6. Simply impossible
Will you share your life with others?
Epilogue
” I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” – 1 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV)
There has been much talk about “the organic church” in recent years. While there are some overlaps, explanations vary. Since there is yet any concurrence on this matter, I might as well throw in my view too!
All churches desire growth. But not all churches pursue growth the same way. Simply put, churches approach growth in one of two ways – organic or inorganic.
Together Alive 