Part of the Rethink Church series by Abingdon Press, Change the World seeks to recover the message and mission of Jesus. In this book, Mike Slaughter has crafted a powerful read that will leave the reader begging for more. There are four reasons I believe you will find this book of value:

• This book inspires

As I read this book, I found myself highlighting certain phrases and sentences. When the book was finished, as is my habit, I wrote out those quotes on 3 x 5 cards so as to review and recapture the essence of God’s message through Mike to me. My stack was large! Here are just four of the dozens of quotes that caught my eye and inspired my soul:

“The DNA of the missional church of the book of Acts is based in day-to-day authentic community (74).”

“The call is to go and build disciples, not go and assemble crowds (80).”

“Many of our mainline churches continue to dump vital resources into the corpses of institutional churches that died decades ago. If you are not reaching the lost and freeing the least, you are dead (89)!”

“Every member is a missionary who serves the needs of the least and the lost (95).”

• This book challenges

As you can tell from the previous quotes, Mike doesn’t pull any punches. Take as an example the first paragraph of the first chapter where he says, “Some of our superficial theology is the residue of evangelistic methodologies that sold grace at wholesale prices. We cajole people into making decisions for Jesus rather than truthfully challenge people to calculate the cost of following Jesus in a lifestyle of sacrificial service (1).”

His chapter titles alone challenge most of the sacred cows of American Church Growth today. They read as follows: Chapter 1: Missional vs. Attractional; Chapter 2: Inclusive vs. Exclusive; Chapter 3: Disciples vs. Decisions; Chapter 4: Micro vs. Macro; Chapter 5: Multiplication vs. Expansion; Chapter 6: Mission vs. Mortar; and Chapter 7: Courage vs. Compliance.

If you are ready to shake off the lethargy of current methodology for the passionate mission and heart of Jesus, this book will put some adrenaline in your soul.

• This book encourages

As a fellow worker in the gospel, Mike’s words flow from a heart that works with people and longs to reach his community (and his world) in his generation. From that fire there rises an urgency that translates into conviction and challenge, hope and help for the one who desires to reclaim Jesus’ message and mission.

• This book engages

One of the things I most appreciated about Change the World was how it continually drew me into the discussion in ways I could not have imagined. Personal stories, illustrations, how-we-did-its, and step-by-step explanations caught my heart time and again. Mike’s no-nonsense approach allows the reader to see that they can do what he has done, especially since he started in a small community with a small congregation. By the time you complete this book, you find yourself ready to change the world!

In a recent interview, Mike shared his heart and thoughts about Change the World with me. If you would like to listen to that interview, click this link.

Write me at PastorMatt@EaglesInLeadership.org if I can be helpful to you and your church.