Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Contribution to the Emerging Church Discussion
Review: I have read many emerging church books and this one is one of the most comprehensive and most compelling. This book, along with the author's Who is Your Covering? and Pagan Christianity presents a balanced and biblical deconstruction of the traditional church along with a positive alternative. I wholeheartedly recmomend it as part of the emerging church discussion.
Rating: 
Summary: Indepth Treatment of House Church Movement
Review: I recently purchased this book by Frank Viola (who also was the 1987 World Series MVP but not the same person as this writer). The book explores the house church movement from a biblical (and somewhat historical) viewpoint. I found that I agreed with much of what Viola stated. I am a "paid clergy" in that I'm a full-time youth pastor nevertheless, I found that I agreed with Viola that the church is not a business but is the BODY of Christ. God works through the entire body and not only through "professional" Christians. All Christians are called to share their faith (Mark 16:15) and bear fruit (John 15:8). This book will teach you how house churches effectively reach unbelievers with the gospel. If you believe in today's modern system of "church" and you are a lazy Christian who thinks we should pay someone to do all the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:11-16) than you will not like this book. This book will make you mad and will attack those who are complacent in their ministries.
Rating:
Summary: Indepth Treatment of House Church Movement
Review: I recently purchased this book by Frank Viola (who also was the 1987 World Series MVP but not the same person as this writer). The book explores the house church movement from a biblical (and somewhat historical) viewpoint. I found that I agreed with much of what Viola stated. I am a "paid clergy" in that I'm a full-time youth pastor nevertheless, I found that I agreed with Viola that the church is not a business but is the BODY of Christ. God works through the entire body and not only through "professional" Christians. All Christians are called to share their faith (Mark 16:15) and bear fruit (John 15:8). This book will teach you how house churches effectively reach unbelievers with the gospel. If you believe in today's modern system of "church" and you are a lazy Christian who thinks we should pay someone to do all the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:11-16) than you will not like this book. This book will make you mad and will attack those who are complacent in their ministries.
Rating:
Summary: Truthful and Loving
Review: I throughly enjoyed this book along with all of Frank's others in the series. It seems to unravel all of those tangled up messes that the Institutional Church seems to weave. All of his books set the captive free through his straight forward truth. Although he is straight forward, he does not attack anyone per so. He only attacks the system and justifiably so. After reading, you will begin to see that the institutional church seems to be a "business" instead of what Jesus intended for it.
Rating:
Summary: Thank goodness
Review: I've been practicing house church for a while now, and it was really nice to finally see a book that hit the main points of home church. house church isn't just about meeting at home, there is so much more that goes it to it. Frank does a great job of covering the way house church is done and how we need to get back to the original design that God had for the Church.
Rating:
Summary: Thank goodness
Review: I've been practicing house church for a while now, and it was really nice to finally see a book that hit the main points of home church. house church isn't just about meeting at home, there is so much more that goes it to it. Frank does a great job of covering the way house church is done and how we need to get back to the original design that God had for the Church.
Rating:
Summary: More than a book about home churches.....
Review: In his book Rethinking the Wineskin, Frank Viola will cause you to rethink all of your religious notions of the church. Through extensive documentation and out of his own revelation of the Lord and His Bride, Viola shows us how we have been crippled and kept from knowing our Lord by the way we "do church" today. This book will challenge you to lay down your preconceived ideas of church and pick up the purpose God called us to before the world began, His Ekklesia.
Rating:
Summary: More than a book about home churches.....
Review: In his book Rethinking the Wineskin, Frank Viola will cause you to rethink all of your religious notions of the church. Through extensive documentation and out of his own revelation of the Lord and His Bride, Viola shows us how we have been crippled and kept from knowing our Lord by the way we "do church" today. This book will challenge you to lay down your preconceived ideas of church and pick up the purpose God called us to before the world began, His Ekklesia.
Rating: 
Summary: Some good, some bad, sometimes lacking.
Review: Quite an interesting book. Viola does a pretty good job at showing what is often wrong with the "Institutional Church." He shows the truth behind the Lord's supper very well, that the scriptures liken it to a love feast, not eating a themble portion of wine and bread. He also shows the truth behind the priesthood of all believers very well, exhorting all to get involved, and not simply be passive receivers. This book has very little to do with meeting in homes, and having church there. While he does show that Christians in the bible did pratice this, he does not ignore the fact of larger assemblies that were dominated largely by a small number of people in the scriptures as well. My complaint however with why he chooses "house church" for regular meetings over your typical church building is that Viola (as well as many home-churchers) seems to think the house church "fosters" (an often used word) an environment of openness, where as the typical church building discourages such. That these environments have significant influence on how believers interact with eachother. This is simply wrong. The place where we meet is not to influence us in such a way. Our freedom to move in the Spirit, and fellowship with one another is not determined by environment, rather, it is found in Christ alone. Unless Christ has given us freedom, then we will not find it in the institutional church, nor the house church. As Moses said, God is a dwelling place; so let us know that whatever tent we might find ourself in, God is our true place of dwelling. Another major objection I have with this book is that Viola teaches that the scriptures heavily establish the principle that a local assembly does nothing about a matter without full consensus of the entire body. He uses the council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 as his primary justification. Such a view is unscriptural, and not practical. He seems to look past the obvious time that Paul and Barnabas could not agree with eachother over who to take with them on one of their missions. Did Paul and Baranabas simply wait until they all agreed before they seperated? Hardly. Had Paul not moved on without Barnabas, the world would have quite a few less Christians. Or what would've happened if there was a disagreement on what to do about the prophesied famine, and the support of other churches? Folks would have starved. You cannot simply wait for everybody to agree before doing anything, because there will often be those who resist the leading of the Spirit. New believers and backslidden believers will often be the most resistant. Don't understand me wrong though, we should seek and pray that all are with one accord concerning any matter, for we are one Body. However, some members of the Body will sometimes not function as Christ would have them. It is times such as these though, when the elders must assert their authority and declare the work of God move forward as in accordance to the Holy Spirit. Viola doesn't see the elders having such "authority," though it is clear in the Bible the elders must be ones who "manage" their own homes well. Why? If they cannot manage their own home, how can they manage the church? Viola doesn't see elders as really having any authority, just simply a more "respected" opinion in matters due to their maturity. However, this is where I feel Viola's book is really lacking. He wants you to buy his other book "Who is your covering?" to find out more about authority. Finally, Viola encourages folks to leave the institutional church. Though, he doesn't give much reason as to why. He clearly states that christians should not divide fellowship over "non-essentials" (Which is unbiblical; also he defines these essentials as the divinity of Christ, and His blood atonement.) So, why leave the institutional church? You will find brothers and sisters in all denominations, will you not? They will all believe these doctrines, will they not? So, Viola is looking to divide over what he defines as non-essentials. An interesting read, and has some truly great gems in it. However, a lot of the ideas he puts forth are lacking any biblical foundation. He also seems to leave one hanging on a few issues, ones that if he addressed, would've made my review of this book at least have 3 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Some good, some bad, sometimes lacking.
Review: Quite an interesting book. Viola does a pretty good job at showing what is often wrong with the "Institutional Church." He shows the truth behind the Lord's supper very well, that the scriptures liken it to a love feast, not eating a themble portion of wine and bread. He also shows the truth behind the priesthood of all believers very well, exhorting all to get involved, and not simply be passive receivers. This book has very little to do with meeting in homes, and having church there. While he does show that Christians in the bible did pratice this, he does not ignore the fact of larger assemblies that were dominated largely by a small number of people in the scriptures as well. My complaint however with why he chooses "house church" for regular meetings over your typical church building is that Viola (as well as many home-churchers) seems to think the house church "fosters" (an often used word) an environment of openness, where as the typical church building discourages such. That these environments have significant influence on how believers interact with eachother. This is simply wrong. The place where we meet is not to influence us in such a way. Our freedom to move in the Spirit, and fellowship with one another is not determined by environment, rather, it is found in Christ alone. Unless Christ has given us freedom, then we will not find it in the institutional church, nor the house church. As Moses said, God is a dwelling place; so let us know that whatever tent we might find ourself in, God is our true place of dwelling. Another major objection I have with this book is that Viola teaches that the scriptures heavily establish the principle that a local assembly does nothing about a matter without full consensus of the entire body. He uses the council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 as his primary justification. Such a view is unscriptural, and not practical. He seems to look past the obvious time that Paul and Barnabas could not agree with eachother over who to take with them on one of their missions. Did Paul and Baranabas simply wait until they all agreed before they seperated? Hardly. Had Paul not moved on without Barnabas, the world would have quite a few less Christians. Or what would've happened if there was a disagreement on what to do about the prophesied famine, and the support of other churches? Folks would have starved. You cannot simply wait for everybody to agree before doing anything, because there will often be those who resist the leading of the Spirit. New believers and backslidden believers will often be the most resistant. Don't understand me wrong though, we should seek and pray that all are with one accord concerning any matter, for we are one Body. However, some members of the Body will sometimes not function as Christ would have them. It is times such as these though, when the elders must assert their authority and declare the work of God move forward as in accordance to the Holy Spirit. Viola doesn't see the elders having such "authority," though it is clear in the Bible the elders must be ones who "manage" their own homes well. Why? If they cannot manage their own home, how can they manage the church? Viola doesn't see elders as really having any authority, just simply a more "respected" opinion in matters due to their maturity. However, this is where I feel Viola's book is really lacking. He wants you to buy his other book "Who is your covering?" to find out more about authority. Finally, Viola encourages folks to leave the institutional church. Though, he doesn't give much reason as to why. He clearly states that christians should not divide fellowship over "non-essentials" (Which is unbiblical; also he defines these essentials as the divinity of Christ, and His blood atonement.) So, why leave the institutional church? You will find brothers and sisters in all denominations, will you not? They will all believe these doctrines, will they not? So, Viola is looking to divide over what he defines as non-essentials. An interesting read, and has some truly great gems in it. However, a lot of the ideas he puts forth are lacking any biblical foundation. He also seems to leave one hanging on a few issues, ones that if he addressed, would've made my review of this book at least have 3 stars.
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