This is the best book on the church that I have read in a long time. It is brilliantly penned and succinctly portrays what the hallmarks of any church should be. Although composed from an Anglican perspective, it has global relevance due to the universally valid principles laid out. Therefore, I have included this book in the Core Reading of NCIU’s Ecclesiology course.
McGinley expands on eight characteristics to be displayed by the Church of tomorrow: It honors Jesus as Lord, is dependent upon the Holy Spirit, is confident in the Gospel, is a disciple-making community, plants churches that will plant churches, has a diverse leadership, is a holy people, and prioritizes prayer.
If you are reading this as a church planter or pastor, ask yourself in all honesty which qualities might be missing or could be improved in your church. For example, how many church leadership team members have really grasped that – unless there is a church planting vision – the focus will be on maintenance or growth?
In all likelihood, this list will have irritated you to some degree. If this is the case, then that is good. Yield to the Holy Spirit and endeavor to become a church of tomorrow.
Dr. Jörg Strate