GAINING BY LOSING – J.D. Greear (2015)

What is the criteria for a successful church that is growing and impacting its community for the sake of the gospel?  While many churches point to attendance numbers or the size of one’s campus, J.D. Greear argues in a completely different direction.  Greear says this: “Jesus’ measure of the church is not seating capacity, but sending capacity.”  Pastor Greear effectively makes this case in his newest book, Gaining By Losing.

J.D. Greear is the Pastor of Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.  His previous books, Jesus Continued, Gospel: Recovering the Power That Made Christianity Revolutionary, and Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart have been an immense encouragement to me, personally.

Gaining By Losing is equally encouraging.  The author argues that churches in our generation who make an impact learn to send people – ultimately to plant the church.  In part one, the author develops his philosophical and biblical case for being a sending church.

In part two, the author presents readers with ten principles, what he refers to as plumb lines for being a sending church.  These plumb lines are biblical, practical, and have been field tested in the church that Greear pastors.

At the heart of the book is an appeal for churches engage in systematic discipleship.  The author argues, “Every spiritual gift serves the larger purpose of making disciples.  The gifts are varied, but the mission is the same.”  In the final analysis, “The future belongs to churches that send.”

Gaining By Losing is a much-needed book in our age of pragmatism and man-centeredness.  This book provides both an important perspective as well as a corrective to some of the unhelpful practices in the church.

I received this book free from the publisher.   I was not required to write a positive review. 

Highly recommended!