Finding a Vision for Your Church: Assembly Required

“Mike Milton’s Finding a Vision for Your Church could be yet another “This is how to bring revival to your church” book. Thankfully it is not. Instead, reflecting on Scripture and using his own experience, he introduces us to questions that every church should ask and reflect upon. As a Scotsman, I particularly warmed to the fact that this book is, in my view, applicable outside the North American context as well as within. The vision is God’s; by his grace I pray that Mike’s book would help us find and implement that wonderful plan the Lord has for his church.”

“The resurrection of Christ was such a great experience for the apostle Thomas that when he encountered the risen Lord, all he could say was “My Lord and my God” to Jesus. He worshipped him. When Christ appeared to the disciples in Galilee, Matthew says, “They worshipped him and some doubted.” The early church had this fresh experience of resurrection and they “broke bread together and worshipped him.” This is what Mike will bring to you and your congregation through this book: the fresh experience of Jesus the Lord. Jesus is exalted through our worship.”

“Assembly Required is a great subtitle at a time when some believers are so turned off by showtime mega–churches that they fall into lone–wolf legalism. Mike Milton eloquently shows us the importance of assembling for worship, prayer, and teaching about grace and compassion.”

“In Finding a Vision for Your Church, Mike Milton has provided an excellent resource for those who would lead Christ’s church to the glory of God. While intended for pastors and teaching elders, the book provides outstanding guidelines for all those in local church leadership. Beginning his study with “A Burden for God's Glory” and ending with “The Ministry of Prayer,” Dr. Milton keeps the focus just where it should be—on him whose church it is. The frequency with which Dr. Milton uses phrases like “hunger for God to be glorified” and “longing for revival and reformation” reminds me of Jonathan Edwards. And the inclusion of questions for reflection at the end of each chapter makes this an excellent resource for practical implementation of the vision presented. I heartily commend this book to all who desire to see Christ's church be all that she can and should be.”

“Michael Milton is a born leader with a keen mind that cuts to the chase and a heart that burns with passion for the gospel. He comes at this subject as one who has walked the walk. If you are a pastor or worship leader, you need to read this book. If you are not a pastor or worship leader, you need to buy two copies, one for yourself and one to give to your pastor. I do not doubt that you and your church will be far better off for reading what Mike Milton has to say in these pages. As a teacher of worship and preaching, I intend to make it required reading for all my students.”

“Mike Milton’s book is a gift to the church. Proved in the laboratory of Mike’s own pastoral ministry, it exhibits that marvelous mixture of Scripture and story, theology and wise application, objective truth and personal insight, that we have come to expect from one of the foremost leaders and theological educators of our day.”

“This challenging book must be read by all Christians. Subjects include God’s glory, God’s Word, the gospel, church growth, biblical preaching, and prayer—and there is much more to help and encourage churches. Read and pray over its contents!”

“As a seasoned pastor, Dr. Milton provides a great model for how local congregations can practice what it means to be “Reformed and always reforming.” The topics and questions raised in this book are of the sort that will extend the book’s usefulness decades after purchase. It is a strong model of the type of spiritual discernment that will not only revitalize congregations but also ignite new fires for churches to pursue their calling in mission of God. Dr Milton delivers a book that will be useful for not only staff and church officers, but also Sunday school and small group settings.”

“The worship of almighty God is our supreme calling in this life and our eternal destiny in the next. This book by Mike Milton will help all who earnestly desire to glorify and enjoy God in corporate worship and to encourage church leaders to go forward in faith through his miraculous means to achieve his glorious vision.”

“Michael Milton is a pastor, a pedagogue, a preacher, a presbyter, a president, and a picker (of guitars, that is). He weaves all these roles into this fine, small work that will be used and used again because of its simplicity, clarity, harmony, and beauty. Don’t let its brevity fool you: in a day of Styrofoam castoffs, this is one that you’ll read and reread. Its most important value is how it embraces and follows God’s revealed mind on ministry, outreach, worship, and preaching. Instead of doing ministry as everyone else or as some other stale pattern suggests, why not let the Master of Ministry instruct us? Dr. Milton knows that Master well, and it shows in this fine collection.”

“Mike Milton has brought to the table not only his extensive experience in leadership and lessons learned in pastoral ministry, but more importantly faithful, biblical insights for the spiritual vitality of the church....I’m extremely excited about this resource, which I highly commend to you.”