Christians around the world are becoming aware of the need for, and the possibility of a reformation in the church of today. It is the age old structure of the churches which is due for fundamental alteration. This book, which is quite well researched, focus’s upon the need for the church to return to the house. It argues that the church, meeting in the house will in turn be the church that brings the gospel to the people of the world. Many will find this book radical in its ideas, in fact, it is a re-enforcing of the revelation of church structure which emerged in the Acts of the Apostles. This book is not about church cell groups, nor about church house groups, rather it is advocating most strongly house churches, ‘a little church in every house’. Each an autonomous entity though having links with other such assemblies within its area. Much ground is covered in the chapters. Consideration is given to emerging leadership in such little churches, the place of apostles and the other ministries mentioned in Ephesians chapter four. It is strongly argued that such assemblies are able to survive opposition and persecution and multiply steadily rather than become hierarchical structures which are vertical rather than spreading horizontally. There is a challenge issued in these pages as to whether our churches are organisms or simply organizations. It may be that for some readers the book may be before its time, but in the difficult days that lie ahead for the church in the world it shall become relevant to all. Like all books of this type an annoying sense of ‘ this is where it is at, now get on and do it’ is present, but is certainly not intended. Rather here is a call back to the simplicity of what the church is to be in the world, a call to forsake the hype and razzmatazz which is so much part and parcel of the North American church scene and to return to the life of being God’s community in the earth in the midst of our society. This is really a very good book which goes to the heart of the structure problem which has evolved in the churches of today. Here, to finish this book brief are some figures mentioned in chapter nine. They are the result of a worldwide research project conducted over a five year period. The smaller the church, the larger its growth potential For churches of an average of 51 attenders the people won to the Lord and added in five years was 32 making a sixty three percent increase. For churches averaging 2856 attenders the people added were numbering 112 making a 4 percent increase! This alone should challenge us to consider prayerfully the content of this book.
