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Rating: 
Summary: Theology that makes a difference
Review: I spent years listening to Dr. Bolsinger's lessons when he was a young star teacher/preacher at the historic Hollywood Presbyterian Church -- and I was shaped dramatically by those lessons. This book shows how our lives and our churches can be reinvigorated by a deeper understanding of community, a community that begins in the Persons of the Trinity and flows lovingly into all of creation.
Rating:
Summary: Theology that makes a difference
Review: I spent years listening to Dr. Bolsinger's lessons when he was a young star teacher/preacher at the historic Hollywood Presbyterian Church -- and I was shaped dramatically by those lessons. This book shows how our lives and our churches can be reinvigorated by a deeper understanding of community, a community that begins in the Persons of the Trinity and flows lovingly into all of creation.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Guide for the Nuture of the Faithful
Review: Pastors and Lay Leaders of the Church - do you feel surrounded by a collection of formulaic books on church growth and Christian self help? Tired of the The Prayer of Whoever and The Purpose Driven Whatever - "five steps to being a really fantastic and super-duper Believer with no visible character flaws"? Do you long for something of depth to assist you in your desire to develop more of the nature of the Kingdom of God in your congregation? Tod Bolsinger's first book is a deep and thoughtful work on the true characteristics of a Biblically centered and contagious congregation. Do you long for a church congregation that has an unmistakable charisma, loves people unconditionally, and has a passion to introduce people in a genuine way to the Savior? As a frequent visitor to San Clemente Presbyterian over the past five years, I can attest that this is a church that desires to know and love Christ, and to be a "community to the community". Bolsinger is a faithful servant who does not aspire to mega-church status, but passionately desires to pastor a faithful, loving, and joy-filled congregation that embodies all the best characteristics of the Christian Life. As a church leader, I recommend this book for meaningful group study in your church leadership group - there is much to discuss and reflect upon in these pages - all to the purpose of building, growing, and nuturing the Body of Christ. Prepare to be challenged and encouraged!
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Guide for the Nuture of the Faithful
Review: Pastors and Lay Leaders of the Church - do you feel surrounded by a collection of formulaic books on church growth and Christian self help? Tired of the The Prayer of Whoever and The Purpose Driven Whatever - "five steps to being a really fantastic and super-duper Believer with no visible character flaws"? Do you long for something of depth to assist you in your desire to develop more of the nature of the Kingdom of God in your congregation? Tod Bolsinger's first book is a deep and thoughtful work on the true characteristics of a Biblically centered and contagious congregation. Do you long for a church congregation that has an unmistakable charisma, loves people unconditionally, and has a passion to introduce people in a genuine way to the Savior? As a frequent visitor to San Clemente Presbyterian over the past five years, I can attest that this is a church that desires to know and love Christ, and to be a "community to the community". Bolsinger is a faithful servant who does not aspire to mega-church status, but passionately desires to pastor a faithful, loving, and joy-filled congregation that embodies all the best characteristics of the Christian Life. As a church leader, I recommend this book for meaningful group study in your church leadership group - there is much to discuss and reflect upon in these pages - all to the purpose of building, growing, and nuturing the Body of Christ. Prepare to be challenged and encouraged!
Rating:
Summary: The Book on the Church We Desperately Need
Review: There are many books on the church. Some of them have theological substance, but they're hopelessly hard to read -- for experts only. Others are readable, but so "lite" and "practical" that you wonder if the author has done much theological or biblical reflection on the subject matter. Once in a great while a book comes along that combines genuine theological substance with engaging readability. This is the book! Bolsinger has done his theological homework. (This book is a popularized version of his Ph.D. dissertation.) He will help you to see the church in relationship to the Trinity. But he is also an engaging writer, whose turns of phrase are memorable and whose illustrations are insightful. If you're looking for a "seven superficial secrets to make your church grow" kind of book, look elsewhere. But if you're seeking a biblically-based, theologically-solid book that is also readable and engaging, then buy this book. Right now would be a good idea!
Rating:
Summary: The Book on the Church We Desperately Need
Review: There are many books on the church. Some of them have theological substance, but they're hopelessly hard to read -- for experts only. Others are readable, but so "lite" and "practical" that you wonder if the author has done much theological or biblical reflection on the subject matter. Once in a great while a book comes along that combines genuine theological substance with engaging readability. This is the book! Bolsinger has done his theological homework. (This book is a popularized version of his Ph.D. dissertation.) He will help you to see the church in relationship to the Trinity. But he is also an engaging writer, whose turns of phrase are memorable and whose illustrations are insightful. If you're looking for a "seven superficial secrets to make your church grow" kind of book, look elsewhere. But if you're seeking a biblically-based, theologically-solid book that is also readable and engaging, then buy this book. Right now would be a good idea!
Rating: 
Summary: Great Idea, but....
Review: This book is a rewrite of the author's doctoral dissertation and it shows. There are twenty or thirty pages of great material packed into a hundred and fifty extra pages of transition and filler. My specific frustrations include 1) too much reliance on/devotion to Calvin. Calvin certainly was a major reformation theologian, but the average lay Christian who does not attend an overtly Calvinist church would have little interest in much of the material devoted to discussing Calvin's ideas. This is one point where the dissertation should have been entirely redone for a wider audience. 2) The author spends a great deal of time framing issues and promising to discuss and say things. Indeed, he spends so much time doing so, that I either had given up on ever getting the question answered or I was dissapointed to find a thoroughly general, generic truth as the apex of pages of build up. I realize that the author has valid things to say that the wider church in America needs to hear, but it strikes me that this would be a better sermon than a book.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book on Church and Community
Review: This book is a very good read for those seeking to learn about how the church should live as a community. Bolsinger helpfully brings important trends in theology down to earth, making them readable and approachable to the layperson. He explores the nature of God as Trinity, and corresponding to this, how the church is called to model it's own life and unity after the unity of the Triune God who is being-in-communion.
Building on this emphasis of the church as a "transforming communion" that participates in the Trinitarian life of God, Bolsinger goes on to examine Christian practices of worship, proclaiming the word and witness. These examinations are helpful and insightful, offering good resources for the church to re-examine these central practices of church life.
This book is also fair and balanced toward the sources with which it interacts. Bolsinger is not out to vilify or derride those with whom he disagrees. Perhaps he is a bit too kind to the church growth school of thought, but this not a big weakness.
All in all, this is an excellent book which will be particulalry helpful to those that are just begining to explore what it means for the church to be the church. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Resource
Review: We recently had good results using this book as a resource for an early morning Men's Group. It's a bit more challenging than some of the pop-theology books that quickly climb the best-seller list. This book is different. This book will help you to think through what it means to be the church in the world today. If you want to inspire lively discussion and good conversation, let me encourage you to use this book as a small group resource.
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