The Gospel-Centred Church was used by many of the church plants here in Hobart over the last 12 years. It is a pretty fun and useful workbook, even if it does push towards the 'total church' model at various points. You could do a lot worse, if you were looking for content to take your launch team through.
He gives a great illustration to help people think through what it's like to visit a church for the first time. It is also an emotionally powerful, if morally complicated, activity to do together:
“I asked the members of my church to go into a betting shop and place a bet on a horse before the next meeting. There was (I am glad to say) uproar. 'Trust me,' I said. 'I don't want to encourage gambling, but trust me – all will be explained next week.'
About hald of them did it – myself included. The following week I asked people what it felt like. This is a selection of our replies:
- it was an alien environment
- I hadn't got a clue what to do
- it was better with a friend
- I felt very awkward, nervous, very odd and on edge
- I felt that people were looking at me
- no-one talked to me – and I was glad about that
- I wanted to get in and out as quickly as possible
- the people inside were very different to me”
The Gospel Centred Church: a tool for shaping your church around Christ's mission, The Good Book Company: Surrey, 2002, page 24.
