A Great New Resource from Thom S. Rainer: I Am a Church Member

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About a month ago I received an email asking if I’d like to review a new book by Thom Rainer, the co-author of Simple Church (with Eric Geiger) and Transformational Church (with Ed Stetzer), two books I highly recommend. The new book was called I Am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference.

Can I be honest? When I saw the title I was curious, but not at all confident that I’d find it helpful. Nothing to do with Thom Rainer’s writing. I’ve loved many of his books (and he has a very helpful blog). I just wasn’t sure I could embrace the ideas behind a book about church membership.

Know what I found? Could not put it down! Read the whole thing in one sitting. Okay…it’s a short book. At just 79 pages it’s an easy read. Don’t be fooled though. I Am a Church Member turned out to handle a vitally important topic in such an engaging way that I couldn’t stop.

A look at the six chapter titles might give you a hint at where the book takes you:

I Will Be a Functioning Church Member
I Will Be a Unifying Church Member
I Will Not Let My Church Be about My Preferences and Desires
I Will Pray for My Church Leaders
I Will Treasure Church Membership as a Gift

Each chapter takes a look at an important aspect of membership. For example, chapter one contrasts the idea of country club membership, where membership has its privileges, with the biblical idea of functional membership, where every part has a role to play.

Every chapter wrestles with a key membership concept, and does it in a way that is practical, easy-to-understand, and difficult to sidestep. In addition, each of the six chapters conclude with a pledge that can be signed and a set of discussion questions.

This is a powerful little book. I can see it being used in lots of new member classes. I can see it ending up as a training resource for elders, deacons, Sunday school teachers and small group leaders. I Am a Church Member is going to get a lot of use. I loved it and I think you will too!

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am also the Small Group Specialist for LifeWay. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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