If you have grown stale and self-dependent in your leadership and ministry, it is time to take a risk and allow God to show you a different way, according to John Bishop in his book Dangerous Church: Risking Everything to Reach Everyone. The book describes the church leadership lessons that the author has learned through the planting and growth of his church, Living Hope, and it encourages readers to risk everything and lead dangerous churches for the sake of reaching the lost.
While some of the church leadership lessons which John describes will be familiar to seasoned leaders, such as the lack of results when you try to copy Bill Hybels or Rick Warren or Billy Graham instead of finding the particular style which God has given you, other lessons are unique to the experience of Living Hope. I found chapter 8 “The Smell of the Church” particularly helpful. The aroma of a church is supposed to be the unmistakeable fragrance of the grace of Jesus Christ, but it can so easily change to the odour of human effort and striving.
I was also challenged by chapter 11 “When We See Jesus and Want Hand Sanitizer”, in which John describes overcoming fear and revulsion to embrace Jesus in the person of a disfigured leper in India. He also describes the difference between the easy mission trip option of visiting the poor and needy and the hard option of making a commitment to improve their lives by making a longer-term investment in a community.
I found the book highly engaging throughout. John’s obvious passion for evangelism shines throughout the book, and part of it is sure to rub off on any reader whose evangelistic passion has been waning. The story of John’s own faith journey is deeply moving, and his leadership lessons are sure to inspire and challenge any church leader.