Endorsements for the Gospel-Centered Community
To entice you to purchase dozens - maybe even hundreds - of copies of The Gospel-Centered Community, some notable leaders have offered their endorsements. I'm thankful for these friends and ministry partners who are willing to lend their weight to our work and who have honored us with their words of affirmation.
“The word ‘community’ has become such a buzzword in Christian circles that it has almost lost its meaning. Bob and Will bring us out of the land of the buzzword and into the biblical definition and application of what it means to share our lives in the church through the gospel. I highly recommend this book for pastors and lay leaders who desire to see Christ formed into the relational life of the church.” - Dr. Darrin Patrick, Founder of The Journey in 2002 in the urban core of St. Louis, MO; author of For the City, Church Planter: The Man, The Message, The Mission, and The Dude's Guide to Manhood: Finding True Manliness in a World Of Counterfeits
“Thune and Walker’s first small group study, The Gospel-Centered Life, had a profound and life-changing impact on our church. Our small groups worked through the book, and everyone responded with great enthusiasm. With the publication of The Gospel-Centered Community it appears they’ve done it again. I’m certain this short volume will take us even deeper into what it means to live in a community fashioned by the gospel of grace. Every church that longs to experience the development of healthy, Christ-centered and gospel-shaped community should avail themselves of this excellent resource.” - Sam Storms, Lead Pastor, Bridgeway Church, Oklahoma City, OK
“Using this resource is a no-brainer. It’s a practical, biblical, gospel-saturated study that connect the dots between community and the rich Christian life, without losing anyone’s attention! Pastors, your people will thank you for using this small group study–and you will thank God for the fruit!” - Dave Harvey, Pastor; Author of Am I Called? and When Sinners Say I Do
“I’m a cynical old preacher who knows that real community in the church is hard to come by. But Thune and Walker’s gift to the church of this wonderful and practical small group resource gives this old preacher hope. It should be read and underlined by every leader in the church. Use this small group resource and then you, with me, will ‘rise up and call them blessed.’” - Steve Brown, Key Life radio program Bible teacher; author of Three Free Sins
“Community is a great idea until you have to interact with sinners. This wise and biblically solid guide cuts beneath platitudes to address how the gospel seizes the heart and transforms our desire to do more than merely exist in community, and instead allows us to participate in God’s merciful kindness together. This excellent study guide will transform many groups into communities of life and love.” - Dan B. Allender, PhD, Professor of Counseling Psychology and Founding President, The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology; Author
“The Gospel-Centered Community is an incredible introduction and practical guide for helping us live out the radical implications of God’s grace and love together. The gospel is personal, but it’s definitely not private. Why do we need each other? How does grace reframe and refocus our relationships? What’s the difference between an ingrown ‘clubish’ church, and a community of believers who are learning to live and love missionally? That’s what this little gem is all about!” - Scotty Smith, Founding Pastor of Christ Community Church; Teacher in Residence at West End Community Church; author of Everyday Prayers: 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith
“Everyone longs for community. And pastors long to shepherd churches that are deeply, authentically communal. In The Gospel-Centered Community, Thune and Walker provide church planters, pastors, small group leaders, and all Christians a clear, accessible tool for working through the messy challenges of living in community, and for growing together as the body of Christ.” - Daniel Montgomery, Lead Pastor, Sojourn Community Church, Louisville, KY
“Thune and Walker deftly diagnose our tendencies to hide and isolate, and then show how gospel practices enable us to live in rich, real community. Loneliness is lethal and the faint hope we’ve harbored for more finds fulfillment in gospel-centered community." - Glenn Lucke, President, Docent Research Group; coauthor Common Grounds: Conversations about the Things That Matter Most
“We desperately need to apply the gospel to our life together so we can live out our calling together to be ‘the light of the world’ and a ‘city on the hill.’ Thune and Walker give us an insightful, clear, easy-to-follow road map for applying the humility, kindness, and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to our relationships at church and in our community.” - Angelo Juliani, Church planter, Bridge Community Church (PCA), Philadelphia, PA
“Will Walker and Bob Thune offer us probing questions that will confront your small group head-on with the transforming power of the gospel as it works through a community. If you are looking for a resource that could bring real change to the small group environment of your church, this is it.” - Matt Carter, Pastor of Preaching & Vision at the Austin Stone Community Church and co-author of The Real Win: A Man's Quest for Authentic Success