Reimagining Church

Since the jokes still appear to be coming in, the blog manager is going to judge them this Friday. So if you’ve not yet posted your favorite joke of all time, you have time to do so. Just look at the previous blog post.

Now on to more important things . . .

When I was 19 years old, a book by Watchman Nee was put into my hands. And it changed my life. As I began to read more of Nee and study his life and ministry, I discovered that there was a man in England who Nee regarded as his mentor. His name … Theodore Austin-Sparks.

Not surprisingly, I got my hands on everything Sparks’ had written. This was when I was in my 20s. I then sought to make contact with those who knew him personally. And I did. I actually had some amazing correspondences with the son of Sparks’ closest coworker. I nearly fell on the floor when he wrote me and said that he was the kid who opened the door to Watchman Nee in 1938 when Nee visited Honor Oak (the place where Sparks was based).

Sparks had invited Nee to visit Honor Oak to deliver a series of messages to the fellowship there. Those messages were transcribed and turned into a book … and that book is called THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN LIFE.

This man (as a kid) heard those messages LIVE and in person, when they were first delivered.

Wow!! I would have given my front teeth to have been there.

Not long after, some years later I was invited to visit a group of Christians who had been meeting for years. Interestingly enough, Sparks’ daughter was there. And she graciously told me some very interesting stories about the man behind the message. I also spent considerable time with one of Sparks’ coworkers and heard many more stories.

Sparks was the author of over 100 books. All deep, rich, and profound. And all giving forth an unusual and extraordinary understanding and insight into the Lord Jesus Christ.

Interestingly, most people today … including ministers, missionaries, evangelists, pastors and teachers … have never heard of the man.

Yet in terms of Christ-centered ministry, T. Austin-Sparks had no peer.

Though he passed away when I was a child, I regard him to be one of the most influential Christians in my life.

As I’ve pointed out in Reimagining Church, Sparks is the man who deserves credit for the term “organic church.” (A word that, unfortunately, has become a clay word, being molded and fashioned to mean some very different things today.)

If I could recommend just one of his 100 books, it would be THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST, hands down, walking out.

Warning: Sparks is no Max Lucado. He doesn’t paint beautiful pictures with his words. But what he does do is reveal Christ in ways that are little seen or heard in our time.

If you are a Christian involved in serving God on any level … I would strongly encourage you to read this book. Slowly and thoughtfully.

If you are a Christian who is tired of the shallowness and superficiality that plagues Christianity today, I would strongly encourage you to read this book. Slowly and thoughtfully.

Better than a review from me, the following is from David Wilkerson (author of, The Cross and the Switchblade, and founder of Teen Challenge).

Finally, if you are involved in the current missional movement on any level, I urge you to read this book. You can pick up a new copy for less than a magazine. Here’s Wilkerson’s review.

——

It was during a time of intense spiritual hunger that the ministry and writings of Austin-Sparks came to my attention. My dear friend Leonard Ravenhill asked me to read one of his most prized books. It was an out-of-print copy of SCHOOL OF CHRIST.

I was deeply moved by its liberating, refreshing, and spiritual message. I was so blessed I wanted to share it with all my minister friends. After discovering the book was no longer being published, I located Mrs. Austin-Sparks, in London, England. This dear 91-year-old saint of God gave me her permission and blessing to publish it once again.

I believe the message and spirit of this book will profoundly affect any God-hungry servant of the Lord. Though Austin-Sparks is now with the heavenly Father, his dynamic messages are still changing the hearts of those who seek the deeper truths of the Spirit.

I agree with Brother Sparks that no man is of any use to God, in eternal values, if he has no settled assurance that he is accepted in the Beloved. Also, the true man of God must fully accept the fundamental principle that –

OF HIMSELF HE CAN DO NOTHING, AND ALL THINGS ARE OF AND OUT OF GOD.

This is a book you will want to read many times. It was during my third reading that its truth fully dawned on me. It has affected my preaching, my outlook on life, and intensified my hunger for the glorious liberty of the Cross.

We believe this book is destined by God to bless and edify numerous spiritually hungry ministers and laymen.

David Wilkerson

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While you can find this book online, I suggest you purchase a new paperback copy for only $2.00 from Wilkerson’s website This is a book that you’ll want on your bookshelf. And like Wilkerson said, reading it once is just not sufficient.

 

It will be the best $2.00 you’ll ever spend in your life J

 

Related

 

Biography of T. Austin-Sparks

 

“The Current Move of God: 8 Characteristics”

 

 

New articles on mission, community, and spiritual formation by various authors

 

 

Resource Update

 

Jeff Goin’s Adventures

 

Neue Magazine