Customer Reviews

Transformation: How Glocal Churches Transform Lives and the World

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a great read for people who are wanting their lives to count for the Kingdom of God. Roberts is a great thinker and practicioner and has lived out his message for the last 25 years (or so). I have learned a great deal from he and the guys who are a part of Northwood and Glocal Net (www.glocal.net). There is so much to be learned about being about the Kingdom of God, Church Planting, Global Movements, creating culture inside of a group of people that perpetuates (sp?) itself and much more. i believe that the true authority of Roberts' writing is his faithfulness to practice these things along with his teachings. Don't just read his book, learn from his life and the example he and his family are of people who have laid their life down for the mission of the good news about Christ.

On the structural side of things: Roberts is a global thinker in multiple ways. He writes with a circular form of logic. Meaning he will loop towards a point. This resonates with the way I think, especially because I am so ADD. My only problem in reading the book is when I would take some other tangent in my mind off something he said and he would go a totally different direction. I think that his flow of writing will more effectively connect with some from my generation (30 and under) because we think more like this. Boomers... Maybe it will be harder for you. Not sure.

Bob, thanks for the book!

The book begins with a rhetorical question "What would your church be like if ..? and follows with a piercing assessment of the state of the art in the church and missions. I'm not a church professional and haven't spent a single day in a seminary class so I found it quite refreshing that a guy that has so much experience with both can be that objective and introspective about his profession and the contemporary church. I can imagine that Dr. Roberts situation analysis will cause an immune response from those that are comfortable with the incremental statistics and "successes" of the modern church. Even if you don't like his perspective that somewhere between the first and 21st century the church evolved from substance to style, keep reading. The rest of the book deals with personal transformation, church transformation, and the impact that has on local and global transformations. Good stuff.

The book cautions that it is not a recipe or how-to guide. It is unlikely that other churches would successfully duplicate what has been done at Northwood and their 80 plus daughter churches using the same methods and programs. Every church has to find its own way to be transformed and then transform locally and globally. The book offers numerous examples and some insight into their unique situation. In fact, it seemed a bit exaggerated at times. On a trip to Texas a few months back I had an opportunity to visit Northwood on a Sunday morning. Folks - this is for real. Bob is a real guy that has the energy, drive, and insight of a silicon valley entrepreneur, the heart of a guy doing his best to walk with God, and a thick Texas accent. The people at Northwood are real. They really do those things like take their kids to countries that have state department travel advisories and plant churches in their own neighborhood. Something that struck with me was that most of the people at Northwood were new to church when they got there. They didn't know you weren't supposed to or couldn't do the things they've done. Perhaps those of us that have been doing church and missions all our lives have some things we can learn (or forget) from these folks and the principles outlined in the book.

I hope this is not wasted on professionals - some of us amateurs might just get it too. In fact, I think that is a core premise of the book. After returning from my trip to Texas, I bought extra copies and gave them to some other average folks and even a few church staff. Books don't transform people but this one provides a decent kick in the pants.

With the volume of books I read and review, I've found it valuable to be intentional about reading. Before I begin a book, I generally skim the endorsements, chapter titles and, if possible, the chapter divisions. I also usually skim the endnotes and bibliography, for these elements of the book often speak volumes about the book's content. They can help me understand the book even before I begin the first chapter. Of course a potential problem with this practice is that it can lead me to form judgments about a book before I have even begun reading it. In the case of Transformation, a new book by Bob Roberts, here are the elements that stuck out in my mind based on my initial screening:

* Proprietary language. As soon as I see newly-created words and terms, I know that a book is going to introduce either a new program or a new model of something. In this case, two of the books three sections were headed by such a word: T-Life and T-World.
* The bibliography reads like a who's who of popular influencers among emerging, missional church leaders. Among those listed are Dallas Willard, George Barna, Richard Foster, Mother Teresa, Soren Kierkegaard and G.K. Chesterton.
* The final chapter is entitled "What Do You Get When a Church Combines Billy Graham with Mother Teresa?.
* The book is endorsed by many of the leaders of the more conservative wing of the emerging church and some who are far into all things emergent. Among the endorsers are Ed Young, Leighton Ford, Bub Buford, Mark Driscoll, Ed Stetzer, Andrew Jones and Brian McLaren.

Having skimmed the book, I buckled down and worked my way through it, doing plenty of underlining and jotting down all sorts of little notes. What Roberts is calling for is a transformation (in case you didn't understand that from the title!) in two spheres that are different, yet intimately connected: what he calls T-Life and T-World, which together comprise the T-Model. Or, in laymen's terms, a transformed life which leads to a transformed world. Sound familiar? It should, in many respects, as Roberts is not the first person to call for just this type of revolution. The bridge that connects a transformed life to a transformed world, in Roberts' model, is a person's vocation. The age of the vocational missionary has largely passed and it is now time for individuals to do the work of spreading the gospel within their vocational contexts both at home and abroad. These locations are equally the mission field.

The book begins, as many do, with a chapter explaining the trouble with the contemporary church. Roberts seems to believe that the church has utterly failed in its mission. "Where is the church today speaking to justice and mercy? Where is the church today serving the poor and hurting? Where is the church today serving as a prophet to society?" (18). He feels that we cannot expect people to respond to the gospel if we don't deal with issues at this level. Beside this section I wrote "Oh, come on!" That view is patently unfair. Sure the church may not be doing all she could do and we certainly fail in many ways, but to pretend that the church is doing so little for justice and mercy and poverty is to deny the work of many, if not most good churches. Roberts goes on to suggest that the church in the East is far more healthy and biblical than the church of the West. This is a view that is commonly touted, but one which I have never had proven to my satisfaction. Still, on the whole he does a fair job of assessing the church and of suggesting how she lost her way. He discusses pragmatism, consumerism, worldly standards of success and endless bureaucracies. He quickly shows, though, his Arminian understanding of the gospel. He also begins to slip into a problem that continues throughout the book: he makes sweeping statements without providing any sources or proof. He says, for example, that people who desire to be leaders are dangerous. This is his understanding based on the fact that Moses didn't want to be a leader while Pharaoh did and that David didn't want to be a leader while Saul did. That is not convincing proof as it is entirely possible that a man can desire to be a leader and not be at all dangerous! He also makes a potentially troubling statement when he begins to discount theological knowledge. "Merely believing the right things does not ensure Christlike behavior" (32). I don't know of anyone who would hold such a view, but it could be equally dangerous to deny that beliefs inform behavior.

Roberts then asks how the church fits into God's plan for the world. "The church is at is best when we are not a force outside the culture but when we are entrenched within the culture" (47). He presents a model based on concentric circles which shows how people are to be brought into the church and into relationship with God and then sent out again into kingdom service. He introduces the importance of missional service. Next up is a discussion of evangelism which focuses not on the message (and actually, the message is assumed in this book and never explicitly stated) but on making the gospel clear in our practice of evangelism. In other words, we need to appear as transformed people if our message is to be heard.

This brings us to the heart of the book, first a section discussing T-Life and then T-World. The T-Life model has three core elements: interactive relationship with God (reading the Bible, praying, journaling), transparent connections (authentic fellowship with other believers) and glocal impact (the bridge between a person's vocation and ministry that spans community development locally and globally). He discusses the importance of community to the Christian life and shows that, while personal, this life can never be private, for connecting in community allows us to serve together. He asks "what if the church were the missionary?" What if it was the local church that understood itself to be responsible for missions? This, he feels, is the ultimate convergence between a person's vocation and his ministry. He then introduces T-World, a vision of "every believer and every church engaging the world with the purpose of making a lasting difference" (122). It has three components: community development, church multiplication and nation building. As I indicated earlier, the book culminates in the question of "What Do You Get When a Church Combines Billy Graham with Mother Teresa?" T-World is "a marriage between the two. It is serving and boldly proclaiming. It is loving for love's sake, whether they follow Christ or not, not using the gospel as some sort of religious bait. It is the unrestrained outward expression of the kingdom inside of us" (157). Of course this seems to present the gospel as action more than declaration, something I'm not sure the Scripture supports. Roberts feels, though, that this is how missions must be done in the twenty-first century. "It's not about preaching; it's about his kingdom. We're primarily there to sweep floors and find connections for our laypeople to use their gifts and contacts with corporations" (156).

Woven throughout the book is a biographical thread of information which tells Roberts' story and how he came from a typical Southern Baptist family and church and arrived at this new understanding of the church's mission and there is much we can learn from his journey. His passion for this topic and his love of God is evident on almost every page. Thankfully, the book introduces a model more than a program or structure, for the last thing the church needs is another cookie-cutter program. While the book has much to offer, Roberts sometimes shows a lack of discernment that is cause for concern, sometimes turning to other undiscerning sources and expressing that he has enjoyed Roman Catholic worship. The book is premised on an understanding of the mission of the church and a non-proclamatory gospel that I simply don't feel the Scriptures can support. There is much wisdom to glean, but the premise of the book simply doesn't hold.

Over the past several months I have read and reflected on Bob Robert's book. Transformation has been one of those books that has had a major impact in my life at a critical time.

The message is clear, very basic yet so profound. Bob draws on personal experiences and his own transformation. His authenticity and transparency is powerful, real and encouraging to those of us who feel the same way but have a hard time facing it and admitting that we struggle with the same things as mature people in leadership positions.

True Transformation only comes from an authentic and growing relationship with the Living God. Global transformation, that we need so desperately today, starts with personal transformation.

Bob clearly communicates how we can personally be transformed. How we can experience the life that we were meant to live, be the people we were created to be, accomplish the work we were made to do.

Reading, meditating and following what Bob shares from his personal life experience has literarily transformed my personal time with God and my daily walk with God. Thanks Bob for being so transparent and so real with your thoughts and your practical applications.

As the process of personal transformation takes place, we are moved to be part of Global Transformation, as we view our lives, our faith and our work as one harmonious unit. We can not experience true personal transformation and "stay in our box". Be the same people, settle for keeping it quiet. We are moved to pursuing our passions and making "Transparent Connections" with others who are also being transformed. It's through these connections and each doing our part that we see "Global Transformation".

Bob uses simple memorable diagrams to clearly communicate the connections between personal and global transformation and the key elements of each. At the end of each chapter there are a few thought provoking questions that I recommend to ponder and maybe write down in an accompanying journal. It seems to really help. I did this by myself, I am considering recommending it to a group of friends I meet regularly with and do it together. I am sure it will spur some great discussions.

Bob Robert's true life examples and his personal experiences give the concepts and ideas of this book credibility and authority. I really enjoyed and use many of the stories as examples of what can happen if we experience true transformation.

Transformation is one of these books I put with Covey's "Eighth Habit". Warren's "The Purpose Driven Life". as they relate to personal purpose and impact; Collins' "Good to Great" and Friedman's "The World is Flat" for community and world impact. The best part is Transformation talks about the true power that changes the world now and forever.

Get it, read it and try to do what it recommends, it will transform your life from the mundane to world impact! I am experiencing it first hand right now.

Transformation is a book for the whole church. Roberts gives vision, understanding and practical application that can take any believer who is willing to obey and see her/him transformed into a global missionary whever they live.

Part 1 - Roberts masterfully yet gracefully dismantles the facades of western Christiantiy and challenges her to rethink why she is doing what she is doing. Leaders are challenged to move from information centers to tranformation centers and for believers to shift from seeing themselves as pew sitters to missionaries.

Part 2 - Tranformation challenges the believer to take a personal spirtual inventory and then to get serious about knowing Jesus and believing He will do great things through them. His vision casting here is simple, powerful and compelling. He combines the compelling call to know Jesus with very practical and helpful suggestions. This part of the book would be helpful to publish on its own and to give to every believer! The church would become stronger and more mature and missional if Roberts suggestions were followed.

Part 3 - Roberts challenges church leaders (both present and future) but doesn't leave others behind. This section focuses on gaining eyes for the world and infiltrating unreached people groups both in the our country and abroad. Roberts puts the cookies on the table once again and challenges all believers to be missionaries and to see their vocations as a way of impacting unreached people groups in short term mission trips and as a way of life in their homelands.

I am requiring all of the leaders I mentor to read Transformtiaon because I want to see the world changed.

Some would say that Bob's book is written primarily to the "emerging church." Some would assume that it is for the church planter because of Bob's influence in the church starting world. Many would assume that it is for the pastor or the staff person within the local church. But I would say that without a doubt it is a book that is written for every believer. This book should be appealing to all of the above as well as the computer geek, the rocket scientist, the doctor, the teacher, the pastor's wife, the plumber, the humanitarian or the farmer in small town America.

This book is insightful. New ground has officially been broken. It is biblically solid and personally inspiring. You can't read one chapter without feeling something inside of you begin to stir. You will find your heart and mind being led to imagine what you can personally do as a Christ-follower to transform the world around you with the gifts and talents that God has already given you.

There are few men that I respect as much as Bob Roberts. His honesty and authenticity makes this book that much better. Bob has written so much more than a "how to" book. It is a book that will challenge and transform every traditional idea of reaching the world for Christ that you have ever had. Definitely grab your journal (you'll need it), this book and a cup of Starbucks and get ready for a life changing ride.

Roberts makes a case for the importance of the organic unity of one's relationship with God, relationship with others, and living a life for ministry for the Kingdom. This ministry can be seen in being a blessing to communities, societal structures, and churches. He continues to return to principles of multiplication and reproduction in the context of a holistic lifestyle of ministry which incorporates both word and deed. He raises issues that many others have addressed throughout Christian history, calling for a reformation of life and behavior rather than merely theology, but he does it with newly-coined terminology which forces you to read carefully since you don't have preconceived ideas about these new terms. While you may find examples of overstatements or generalizations that may seem unfair, they are made in support of points that are quite valid and are made for emphasis. This is a good handbook for understanding much of the basis for the kinds of ministry arising from the Emerging Church. This is similar to the thrust of the P.E.A.C.E. Plan for example.

If the western church is to have any hope of reversing the decline of its cultural influence, a missional, full-blown ecclesiological shift must take place. Bob Roberts has set the precedent for such a shift at Northwood Church, and his book helps pastors and church leaders alike chart a similar course in their own contexts. Transformation challenges the traditional understanding of success, and helps pastors to begin to see the entire world as their parish. Roberts' book is Biblically sound, Missionally vibrant, and is based on his own real-world experience of helping his own church go "glocal." If your desire is to make a planetary-sized mark for the Gospel, this book will get you started!

Bob Roberts is the Jedi Master of Church Planting and Missional Living. For under $20 I felt like I was able to have nine different sessions with Bob at his best. Each chapter was as if he was sitting across from me telling stories and imparting wisdom from his many years of actually doing this thing called missional living and planting churches. I never felt like Bob was trying to sell me a bill of goods. I walked away feeling like I had just invested time with a guy who gets what the Church and the Gospel is about. Here is a pastor, church planter, husband, dad, deep thinker, world traveler, risk taker, Kingdom expanser, and friend who has something to say to those who think the Church can be something more than what many have settled for. Bob's book is inspiring and easy to read while being packed full of content that is consequential. As a doctoral student studying this stuff I have not read anything that has been as helpful in the conversation of transforming our churches, communities, and lives than this book. Buy it today!

If you love stories of God working in and through his people, his church, then you need to read Transformation. Bob Roberts' first book will inspire you and become a tremendous tool for any church leader to pass along to lay people as well as staff members. What does a church look like that truly reaches out to her community and unreached peoples through the passion and energy of her members. You'll see it in Transformation. What can a local church do when she really has a heart for church planting, church multiplication? Read it and be filled with vision and get ready to run!