Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness: Equipping the Church to Be Truly Christian in a Non-Christian World (Paperback)

~ Jerry Cook (Author), (Author) "A pastor in our town whom I knew only slightly became involved in adultery..." (more)
Key Phrases: Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, East Hill (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"You're nothing but a bunch of garbage collectors!" That's the kind of reaction Pastor Jerry Cook has received over the years as he and his church have gotten serious about showing love, acceptance and forgiveness. When Jerry and his wife came to East Hill Church in 1965 total membership was 23. In the next 14 years they grew to over 4,500 by "becoming the Body of Christ in their own community". To share his provocative approach to ministry, Jerry teamed with free-lancer Stanley Baldwin to produce a highly readable account of how he has applied biblical principles to real people seeking real love, real acceptance and real forgiveness. You'll meet and learn about: the adulterous minister with no place to go the doper saved by special appointment how to make your church a spiritual forcedeveloping a philosophy of church ministry equipping everyone in the church to serve turning members loose to minister the crucial role of the family handling hassles in the Body of Christ why every church must become a servant. Here is a book full of hope and help for everyone, from Christians looking for reality in their churches, to pastors and other leaders seeking to provide that reality.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Regal Books; 1st edition (June 25, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830706542
• ISBN-13: 978-0830706549
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #487,259 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical Christianity, January 12, 2004

By	Manuel Hernandez (Shavertown, Pa.) - See all my reviews

I sat down with this book and did not get up till I finished it. That is not amazing due to the few pages there are. The amazing part is how my faith, my worldview and my Chrisitanity was so radically changed by such a small book.

The Bible is the original text while this book if the Cliff Notes in applying the real Christianity.

I now see Jesus in the eyes of the homeless; the prisoner; the "pain in the neck" people and therefore my christian expression has changed.

Do Not read this book if you do not want to change your actions toward people.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why I keep reading this book, October 1, 2002

By	Jeffrey Espeseth (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness changed the way I view church, ministry, and Christians as a whole. As a result of first reading this book ten years ago, and rereading it every year, I have discovered that people need unconditional love simply because they are humans.
The key concept is simply that people need to be loved and deserved to be loved because they were created in the image of God.
Acceptance should have nothing to do with stature or position, but simply with the fact that we are all humans.
Forgiveness should flow freely without strings attached because we can all receive that same gift.
I would encourage all people to read this book, embrace the concepts, and allow it to change the way you opperate as a person. In the simplest terms, in the most concise way to put it, it will challenge you to examine the way you view humanity.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love Acceptance & Forgiveness, June 23, 2000

By	Linda Whiddon (Hazel Green, Alabama) - See all my reviews

This book should be on the reading list of every Christian. In this day when people are searching for a return to simplicity in everyday life, this book boils all of the programs and rituals into simple terms to show the difference between being "religious" and living as Christ lived.

I wish every Christian friend I have could read it. My husband and I read it chapter by chapter aloud to each other and could hardly put it down until the last page was finished.