The Gospel Centered Community (Study Guide with Leader's Notes)

“We desperately need to apply the gospel to our life together so we can live out our calling to be "the light of the world" and a "city on the hill." Thune and Walker give us an insightful, clear, easy-to-follow road map for applying the humility, kindness, and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to our relationships at church and in our community.”

“Thune and Walker deftly diagnose our tendencies to hide and isolate, and then show how gospel practices enable us to live in rich, real community. Loneliness is lethal, and the faint hope weve harbored for more finds fulfillment in gospel-centered community.”

“Thune and Walkers first small group study, The Gospel-Centered Life, had a profound and life-changing impact on our church. Our small groups worked through the book, and everyone responded with great enthusiasm. With the publication of The Gospel-Centered Community, it appears theyve done it again. Im certain this short volume will take us even deeper into what it means to live in a community fashioned by the gospel of grace. Every church that longs to experience the development of healthy, Christ-centered and gospel-shaped community should avail themselves of this excellent resource.”

“The Gospel-Centered Community is an incredible introduction and practical guide for helping us live out the radical implications of Gods grace and love together. The gospel is personal, but its definitely not private. Why do we need each other? How does grace reframe and refocus our relationships? Whats the difference between an ingrown "clubish" church, and a community of believers who are learning to live and love missionally? Thats what this little gem is all about!”

“This is an incredibly helpful resource for fostering gospel-centered community in your church. Whether you are planting a new church, or aiming to strengthen an existing community, you will find this resource profoundly valuable. The Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation. This book will help you develop a healthy, biblical view of Christian community.”

“Everyone longs for community. And pastors long to shepherd churches that are deeply, authentically communal. In The Gospel-Centered Community, Robert Thune and Will Walker provide church planters, pastors, small group leaders, and all Christians a clear, accessible tool for working through the messy challenges of living in community, and for growing together as the body of Christ.”

“Im a cynical old preacher who knows that real community in the church is hard to come by. But Thune and Walkers gift to us of this wonderful and practical small group resource gives this old preacher hope. It should be read and underlined by every leader in the church. Use this small group resource and then you, with me, will "rise up and call them blessed.”

“Will Walker and Bob Thune offer probing questions to confront your small group head-on with the transforming power of the gospel as it works through a community. If you are looking for a resource that could bring real change to the small group environment of your church, this is it.”

“The word "community" has become such a buzzword in Christian circles that it has almost lost its meaning. Bob and Will bring us out of the land of the buzzword and into the biblical definition and application of what it means to share our lives in the church through the gospel. I highly recommend this book.”

“Using this resource is a no-brainer. Its a practical, biblical, gospel-saturated study that connects the dots between community and the rich Christian life, without losing anyones attention! Pastors, your people will thank you for using this small group studyand you will thank God for the fruit!”

“This wise and biblically solid guide cuts beneath platitudes to address how the gospel seizes the heart and transforms our desire to do more than merely exist in community, and instead allows us to participate together in Gods merciful kindness.”