In general, I really like the writing style of Leonard Sweet. You can tell that he is an educated man, but also that he is a passionate, lively person. And this book, From Tablet to Table: Where Community Is Found and Identity Is Formed, Sweet again writes a passionate tome about where he believes the modern church has gone wrong. His thesis is that we've traded a church that resembles a family or community gathering around the table for a meal for one that is founded on rules and legalism.
I have to agree with him. I've been in churches where church life is attending an overly formatted service and maybe volunteering occasionally. I've also been in churches where the environment is more like an extended family gathering together each week to break bread together and worship the God they serve. There is certainly a life to that latter that one doesn't find in the former.
The book is broken into two short sections. The first explains what is gained by moving from a church of legalism to a church of fellowship. The latter part is about "setting the table" in different parts of our life, or in other words, making the environments of life conducive to being a communal gathering.
I loved this book. It is short, so don't expect it to be chocked full of elaborate step-by-step procedures, but that is kind of the point. If you set your "table" according to the kind of community you have, it won't look the same as another one. Jesus will still be center, but the people will be different. I recommend this book to any Christian, but especially church leaders or small group leaders.
I was provided this book free of charge by NavPress in return for my honest review.
I have to agree with him. I've been in churches where church life is attending an overly formatted service and maybe volunteering occasionally. I've also been in churches where the environment is more like an extended family gathering together each week to break bread together and worship the God they serve. There is certainly a life to that latter that one doesn't find in the former.
The book is broken into two short sections. The first explains what is gained by moving from a church of legalism to a church of fellowship. The latter part is about "setting the table" in different parts of our life, or in other words, making the environments of life conducive to being a communal gathering.
I loved this book. It is short, so don't expect it to be chocked full of elaborate step-by-step procedures, but that is kind of the point. If you set your "table" according to the kind of community you have, it won't look the same as another one. Jesus will still be center, but the people will be different. I recommend this book to any Christian, but especially church leaders or small group leaders.
I was provided this book free of charge by NavPress in return for my honest review.
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