A long-winded work about a radical but well-supported idea that has the potential to reinvigorate Christian churches across...
A unique biblical interpretation of Ephesians 4:11-16 that looks at evangelists’ role in the Christian church.
Kohler’s (Gate Crashers: The Offensive Church, 2015) idea is simple: “Every church should have a pastor/teacher and an evangelist.” Although he doesn’t state this clearly until the second-to-last chapter, the entirety of the book is spent heavily defending that premise against what he seems to expect will be tremendous theological opposition. Specifically, he uses Old Testament history to highlight what he sees as the corruption of church culture before referring to Paul’s work in the New Testament to outline Jesus Christ’s original design for the church. He challenges Christians to focus on God’s program instead of myriad programs that churches invent for themselves, and to boldly, lovingly share the Gospel with nonbelievers. After a lengthy discussion about why current views regarding evangelists are inadequate, he expounds on the benefits of having an outwardly focused evangelist as a church leader in addition to an inwardly focused pastor. As a whole, this book is intelligently written and theologically grounded. However, Kohler seems to marshal so much evidence that his defense of his claims sometimes drowns out his actual claims; his theory is clear, but readers often have to search for how to accomplish it. His most effective tools are testimonials from members of his own congregation who’ve been spiritually energized by the work of that church’s evangelist. These relatively few pages show the personal effectiveness of his proposed system, and the implementation of his ideas is much clearer here than in the rest of the book. Even if Christian readers don’t completely agree with all of Kohler’s claims, there’s a lot of wisdom to be found here, and some pastors will definitely want to have a look.
A long-winded work about a radical but well-supported idea that has the potential to reinvigorate Christian churches across the nation.Pub Date: April 11, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5127-3285-6
Page Count: 200
Publisher: Westbow Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996
ISBN: 0-15-100227-4
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This early reader is an excellent introduction to the March on Washington in 1963 and the important role in the march played by Martin Luther King Jr. Ruffin gives the book a good, dramatic start: “August 28, 1963. It is a hot summer day in Washington, D.C. More than 250,00 people are pouring into the city.” They have come to protest the treatment of African-Americans here in the US. With stirring original artwork mixed with photographs of the events (and the segregationist policies in the South, such as separate drinking fountains and entrances to public buildings), Ruffin writes of how an end to slavery didn’t mark true equality and that these rights had to be fought for—through marches and sit-ins and words, particularly those of Dr. King, and particularly on that fateful day in Washington. Within a year the Civil Rights Act of 1964 had been passed: “It does not change everything. But it is a beginning.” Lots of visual cues will help new readers through the fairly simple text, but it is the power of the story that will keep them turning the pages. (Easy reader. 6-8)
Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-448-42421-5
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2000
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