If Church Is Easy, You re Doing It Wrong

Is church ever difficult for you? Do you wonder why some relationships seem so tough? Or perhaps why certain people are so rough? Do you wish your leaders could be on the “same page?” Do you ever wonder why the money goes where it goes, or why decisions are made a certain way? Do your doctrinal questions get answered? Are people matched with ministries that utilize their gifts? Do you question if your work in the church actually has a point? Is your congregation growing spiritually, or just “spinning its wheels?” Do you ever think about leaving, disengaging…or perhaps lashing out? When I began to write about a personal journey set against the backdrop of my local church, I had to dig deep and ask why this book needed to be written. Aren’t there enough books out there on every aspect of church life? There are books about why we should go to church, how to choose a church, what’s wrong with the church, how to start one, and how to run one. For those who want to do some reading on the topic of ecclesiology, there are a lot of resources available. After praying and then seeing God lead me into some important conversations with Christian friends, I realized that I was writing to a larger audience. That is because this book is about struggling in church. It is for people who are committed to their church, who are involved in its ministries, and who would rather be no place else each Sunday morning. It is for people who are largely beyond the questions of whether they really need to go to church, or how they should “do” church, but are far more interested in how they should be the church. It is for people who struggle in any aspect of church life, who aren’t ready to throw in the towel, but are unwilling to accept the status quo. At its core, this is a book about discipleship, and how the Great Commission should impact every area of our lives. Because Christ calls his disciples to obey him completely, the content of this book will vary – sometimes considering a specific topic, in other places focusing on our relationship with God, and at times relying on personal testimony and story-telling. In all cases, the goal of the writing is “conversational depth,” consistent with readers who want to have their minds renewed by a deep and practical experience. The first chapter lays the foundation for the life of faith, which is the place we are called to live where we know many of the answers, but cannot know them all. It is the place where divine revelation reinforces evidence and conscience, and leads us confidently into the unknown. If faith is blind, it will not prepare us to see the continuing work of God in our midst. If it is only a product of reason, then the brightest scholars would be the most faithful. Belief must precede the life of obedience. Following this introduction, the book moves into a story about a small Bible church, mixing in stories about the decline and eventual closure of the church, and showing how God’s sovereignty and love gives his people comfort and joy in the presence of trials. This narrative is interspersed with chapters dealing with a number of topics such as leadership, unity, vision, marriage, safety, repentance, the Bible, and even death. Many of the chapters are sprinkled liberally with scripture, which is often expounded upon to illustrate the key principles. All 19 chapters of the book have bullet summaries at the beginning, and questions for reflection and action at the end. The goal of these questions is for the reader to be personally strengthened in his or her walk with Christ, and for churches to be strengthened by people who are increasingly living the life of faith. This book is ideal for study during personal quiet times, but it is also amenable to study as part of a Sunday school class or other group study. The biblical teaching is given great attention to detail, and the topics addressed should start many healthy discussion among Christians who are seeking to follow Christ in their churches and their personal lives.