Simple Church: Returning to God’s Process for Making Disciples

Publisher – B & H Publishing Group: Nashville, Tennessee, 2006

Authors – Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger

Ok.  So I needed this interesting read.  The book was pointed out to me over five years ago.  But I ignored the invitation.  Last week, a local pastor recommended this book to me again.

So I read it.  Better late than never.  My weakness is business administration.

From a business standpoint,  I understand the need for clarity, movement, alignment, and focus.

I earnestly read the section on accountability.  I particularly took note of the illustration that effectively drove home the need for a church family to “unite around the process”:

One of the coolest toys for children is Mr. Potato Head.  Mr. Potato Head has holes all over his body.  The child gets to plug the body parts into the holes on Mr. Potato Head’s body.  The arms, feet, nose, eyes, ears, and lips are all placed in a specific spot on the body.  When assembled the right way, Mr. Potato Head almost looks human.  Almost.

Mr. Potato Head does not always look human though.  Most children decide to place the body parts in different locations on his body.  An arm will go where the nose is to be.  The eyes will be placed where the feet belong.  The nose will be attached to the side of poor Mr. Potato Head’s face.

Sadly, most churches look like a discombobulated Mr. Potato Head.  Everything is badly mixed up.  The parts of the body are not aligned as they should be.  Confusion abounds.  While it is funny on the toy, it is not funny for churches (182-183).

The book helped me to understand discipleship in a management mindset through a simple process that is clear and rallies the whole church family.