Customer Reviews

Primary Purpose: Making it hard for people to go to hell from your city

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Ted Haggard has picked up on the direction God is taking his Church. After centuries of in-fighting and bickering, separation and denominations, God is putting His Church back together. Ted tells the story of Colorado Springs and something of the journey they have had in finding value in other Christians. They have discovered that God has bride, not a harem. It doesn't tell much of the mechanics of how it happened and how they sustain unity, nor of theology behind unity, but it certainly goes further than anything else I've ever read.

This is an outstanding book on how to live a life that demonstrates the life of Jesus. It is much more than the history of New Life Church but rather a pattern adaptable for churches and people. Practicing forgiveness, living from the tree of life, choosing humility, showing respect and cultivating character are just some of the topics covered here. This book is about discipleship that results in fruitfulness.

This book is as relevant today as it was when it was written, despite recent events with its author. Ideas are pregnant with wisdom in this book, such as "Christians have built a cultural wall that non-Christians don't understand, so we need to overcome it as often as possible." The following is prophetic "We have a choice. We can learn to discipline our bodies and live a Spirit-filled life in the seclusion of prayer and fasting, or let the Lord teach us those lessons in public."

Pastor Ted's 5 principles are important if we want to be effective witnesses:
1. Focus on the absolutes of scripture
2. Promote the ministry of Christ and His Word above your won mission or method
3. Pray to raise the overall activity of the Holy Spirit in your city (not just in your life and church)
4. Appreciate one another's respected interpretations of scripture
5. Practice supportive speech and actions toward others

Read this book if you're interested in having less contention and arguing in your church and life. Read this book for the next level of discipleship and witnessing.

This is a light read, and easy to understand. The book is set in three sections addressing different aspects of Haggard's plan to " Make it hard for people in your city to go to hell".

Section one is a brief, but interesting look at the work the author has done in Colorado Springs, Co. There is some detail as to the actual church planting up through the growth and health of the New Life church. Some specific and difficult spiritual confrontations are listed here and throughout the book.

Section two contains practical advice on how to implement biblical priciples into reaching the lost of your city and region. This section offers a practical guide to building a relationship with other christian leaders in your area.

The third section gets up close and personal. It was by far the best part of the book. It will cause you to consider your approach to reaching the lost and your personal walk with the Lord. This portion of the book was invasive and will give you opportunity to do some self evaluation. This teaching is important for all of us interested in approaching the Lord's work in the harvest.

We've seen some of these principles working in our town and believe they can work everywhere.

This is an outstanding book which promotes a sound biblical philosophy of ministry. This book points us towards the church of the future. I highly recommend it.

Ted has a way of making things simple in this book. It does so much more than explain how to make it hard for people to go to hell from our city. It helps establish a biblical worldview and really tests your motives. Very humbling. I would recommend it to those in leadership as well as the congregation.
Remember, whose kingdom are we building?

Solid as a rock, piercing as a thunderbolt, soothing as anointment oil, inspiring as the scent of a rose, straightforward as an innocent heart - Ted's words reflect his Christ-like character, do make the Lord's teachings very alive and securely point the way for those who want to live by them and make them alive in this age of intense spiritual threats and even greater spiritual opportunities.

Revolutionized my view of grace. Ted Haggard is a good teacher not only on what to do, but why.

for soliciting prostitutes and drug buys!

In his own city, he practiced self-hate, hypocrisy, and bigotry.

How very, very "christian!"

But now that he's gone from his mega-mall church, those "christians" left behind can still practice those godly virtues on their own.