I remember that I have not finished my posts on this pretty cool book. I finished it a while ago but then got distracted with emotional goodbyes, cars, jobs and wifi so have not finished my ‘reiew’. There is loads that could be written but I would just like to reflect on the book generally. It is one of the most thought provoking books I have rad in a while that resonates with me. Lots of books you think ‘yes … that right’. This one seems to hit home and settle probably because it says things I love to hear I guess.

With the title you can guess the thread running through the book. The church should be provacative in all that it does. I could leave it at that but I gess you may get the wrong idea.

I think Graham Tomlin is basically saying that as Christians (a group of christians=church) we spend a lot of time and effort trying to nswer quesions that people are not yet answering. We are taking too much knowledge for granted. Our methods of evangelism are therefore, not that successful as we are starting at step 6 when people are at 1.

Tomlin suggests that the church should do things to provoke the questions. ‘Why are you doing this?’ ‘Who is this God?’ ‘Who is Jesus?’ ‘Can I have the same relationship that you have?’and so on. It suggests that all we do should aim to provoke an interest or questions. This way people ask the questions they are really thinking, rather than us thinking we know the questions and answering what they are not asking! At least i hink that it was I mean.

But the book goes further and this is what I like! It states that churches should be transforming communities. The church should transform the lives of those who come into contact with it. This ens those in the community and those who would call themselves members. This means living a transformed life. If Jesus died for me I do not need to live a life of shame. It also means that everyone I meet I will treat with a dignity, love and respect as I acknowledge they have ben created by God and loved by God.

Imagine how we coud transform our little communities if we acted like that? I tend to believe that is what peope are looking for in toays society. That kind of love and acdeptance. The transforming community of the chrch is where people should find it.

In addition I believe we should be transforming Christians with no strings attached. If we are going to see transormation in our communities we need to love others and serve others with no expectation of anything in return. Yes, we want to see people come to see Jesus – but that should not be our motivation. Our motivation should be love for people unconditionally.

Jesus healed and loved many knowing only a few would come to believe in him for who he was. That knowledge, however, did not stop Jesus loving extravanagntly. And it should not stop us.

The words at the end of the book refer to Ephesians and go something like this:

It tells them to develop a completely new way of living. This is the prioity.When that begins to happen it connects with the reality experienced by God’s people.

If you want a good read then go get the book.