Book Review: Everyday Church by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis

How does the church reach the unchurched is the question that Tim Chester and Steve Timmis ask in their latest book, Everyday Church. Gone are the day when people darken the door of the church just because it is there. Most churches have people who are not under the age of 50. People find themselves doing other things on Sunday morning other than attend a worship service. Chester and Timmis write:

Christians today increasingly find themselves on the margins of the culture. We live in a post-Christian culture. The majority of people in the West today have no intention of ever attending church. Most name the name of Christ only as a swearword. Some prominent churches are growing, but much of this is transfer growth rather than true evangelistic growth.

The goal of this book is based on the foundation of their previous book, Total Church, which talks about "the Christian gospel and the Christian community should be central to every aspect of our life and mission." Everyday Church seeks to call the church "to be an everyday church with an everyday mission" and to shift from attractional activities to creating more attractional communities.

Chester and Timmis use the book of 1 Peter to offer practical ways that the church can be the everyday church to be on mission 24/7. This everyday mission includes being in the community the church is called to be and not just on the weekends. Also to be caring for one another which to be in pastoral care for one another even when we do not have a pastor title in the church. All members in the church have a pastoral ministry of some form or fashion. Also Chester and Timmis writes about the church being in evangelism everyday as they go in their jobs and daily life to share Jesus with people.

Having read Total Church earlier this year, I knew this book would be as good as that one. Everyone in the church needs to pick up a copy of this book. I hope that community groups and/or Sunday School classes will read this book together and truly understand that the church is on call 24/7.

Thanks Crossway for letting me review this book.