GOSPEL DNA
21 Ministry Values for Growing Churches
By Richard Coekin
Good Book Company, 190 pages. £7.99
ISBN 978 1 784 980 894
16 Tests of an Authentic New Testament Church, 9Marks, and now 21 Ministry Values. Groan? Well, hold on, this one is also worth the effort.
Richard Coekin’s handbook Gospel DNA, with a Foreword by D A Carson and commended by other household names, outlines 21 hallmarks of gospel churches from Acts 20. The author is someone who doesn’t just ‘talk the walk’, having already planted 30 churches in London out of Dundonald Wimbledon under the banner of Co-Mission. His conservative aim is to plant 30 more by 2025 and the bigger, hairier one of 360 ‘a little further down the road’. Whatever our ecclesiological DNA, we would all profit from a post-winter, gospel-health check-up !
Paul’s ministry
Beginning with Paul’s address to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20.17-38, Richard’s aim is to get to the heart of Paul’s ministry in proclaiming the ‘good news of God’s grace, which saves sinners and builds churches today’. The book is therefore particularly suited for ministry-training courses (at all levels) and leadership teams, but will sharpen every Christian’s thinking.
The structure of the book follows the logic of Paul’s discourse (21 verses, so 21 values), but under each principle he then expands the theme along the lines of biblical, systematic and historical theology, keeping it pointed, but giving enough to whet the appetite for further group discussion.
Some highlights: Chapter 2 looks at how Paul trained leaders to equip all God’s people for ministries to grow the church and not just ‘the staff’. How many of the churches you know do that? Chapter 4: ‘Serve the Lord whatever the cost’; this will doubtless become more evident in the next few decades as opposition gets hotter in the West. Chapter 7: ‘Risk is scary, but right’. Quote, ‘We may well fail. But we are going to have a go and not die wondering!’ Chapter 8: ‘Enjoy the Holy Spirit’ is refreshingly sane. Quote, ‘New Testament prophecy equals fresh insights into Scripture, not messages from God beyond Scripture’. Chapter 20: ‘Help the weak’ usefully explores the proportions between gospel proclamation and community action.
