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Center Church : doing balanced, Gospel-centered ministry in your city
Last Update:

September 16, 2023

Review:

Overview

Practical and Gospel-centered thoughts on how to have a fruitful ministry by one of America's leading and most beloved pastor.

Many church leaders are struggling to adapt to a culture that values individuality above loyalty to a group or institution. There have been so many "church growth" and "effective ministry" books in the past few decades that it's hard to know where to start or which ones will provide useful and honest insight.

Based on over twenty years of ministry in New York City, Timothy Keller takes a unique approach that measures a ministry's success neither by numbers nor purely by the faithfulness of its leaders, but on the biblical grounds of fruitfulness.

Center Church outlines a balanced theological vision for ministry organized around three core commitments:

  • Gospel-centered: The gospel of grace in Jesus Christ changes everything, from our hearts to our community to the world. It completely reshapes the content, tone, and strategy of all that we do.
  • City-centered: With a positive approach toward our culture, we learn to affirm that cities are wonderful, strategic, and under-served places for gospel ministry.
  • Movement-centered: Instead of building our own tribe, we seek the prosperity and peace of our community as we are led by the Holy Spirit.

 

"Between a pastor's doctrinal beliefs and ministry practices should be a well-conceived vision for how to bring the gospel to bear on the particular cultural setting and historical moment. This is something more practical than just doctrine but much more theological than "how-to steps" for carrying out a ministry. Once this vision is in place, it leads church leaders to make good decisions on how to worship, disciple, evangelize, serve, and engage culture in their field of ministry—whether in a city, suburb, or small town." — Tim Keller, Core Church 

center church gospel ministry city

1. Articles

2. Audio

1. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City

Today many pastors are struggling to adapt to a post-Christian culture without abandoning orthodox theology. How do we communicate the concepts of grace and substitutionary atonement in our globalized culture and context?

In Center Church, Timothy Keller offers challenging insights and provocative questions based on over twenty years of ministry in New York City. This book outlines a theological vision for ministry - applying classic doctrines to our time and place - organized around three core commitments:

  • Gospel-centered: The gospel of grace in Jesus Christ changes everything, from our hearts to our community to the world. It completely reshapes the content, tone and strategy of all that we do.
  • City-centered: With a positive approach toward our culture, we learn to affirm that cities are wonderful, strategic and underserved places for gospel ministry.
  • Movement-centered: Instead of building our own tribe, we seek the prosperity and peace of our community as we are led by the Holy Spirit.

"In this important book, Tim Keller unpacks the gospel and gently but firmly reminds us that it is nonnegotiable. At the same time, he enables us to think through how we can responsibly interact with the culture, how we can - indeed, must - appreciate good things within it, and how we can firmly and faithfully apply the gospel to it." - D.A. Carson, research professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Language



English (en)

Publisher



N/A

Audio Release



2017-05-23

Format



Audio CD – Audiobook

Duration



N/A




3. Books

1. Center Church : doing balanced, Gospel-centered ministry in your city

Today many pastors are struggling to adapt to a post-Christian culture without abandoning orthodox theology. How do we communicate the concepts of grace and substitutionary atonement in our globalized culture and context?

In Center Church, Timothy Keller offers challenging insights and provocative questions based on over twenty years of ministry in New York City. This book outlines a theological vision for ministry - applying classic doctrines to our time and place - organized around three core commitments: • Gospel-centered: The gospel of grace in Jesus Christ changes everything, from our hearts to our community to the world. It completely reshapes the content, tone and strategy of all that we do. • City-centered: With a positive approach toward our culture, we learn to affirm that cities are wonderful, strategic and underserved places for gospel ministry. • Movement-centered: Instead of building our own tribe, we seek the prosperity and peace of our community as we are led by the Holy Spirit.

"In this important book, Tim Keller unpacks the gospel and gently but firmly reminds us that it is nonnegotiable. At the same time, he enables us to think through how we can responsibly interact with the culture, how we can - indeed, must - appreciate good things within it, and how we can firmly and faithfully apply the gospel to it." - D.A. Carson, research professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Language



English (en)

Authors



Timothy Keller,

Format



Hardcover

Publisher



Zondervan

Publication Date



2012-09-08

Number of Pages



400




4. Musics

5. Videos

1. Center Church book trailer
Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City by Timothy Keller. In Center Church, Timothy Keller outlines a broad theological vision that connects classical evangelical doctrine to holistic and vibrant ministry expression, particularly in globalized, urbanized settings. Learn more at www.timothykeller.com and www.Zondervan.com "In this important book, Tim Keller unpacks the gospel and gently but firmly reminds us that it is nonnegotiable. At the same time, he enables us to think through how we can responsibly interact with the culture, how we can - indeed, must - appreciate good things within it, and how we can firmly and faithfully apply the gospel to it." - D.A. Carson, research professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Language



English (en)

Authors



Timothy Keller,

Type



Publicity

Date of Publicated



2012-06-08

Duration



00:02:17




2. Center Church Webcast, hosted by Zondervan and The Gospel Coalition
This recorded webcast with Dr. Timothy Keller, hosted by Zondervan and The Gospel Coalition. Dr. Keller discusses his book, "Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City."

Language



English (en)

Authors



Timothy Keller,

Type



Sermon

Date of Publicated



2012-10-20

Duration



01:02:45




3. Center Church: Theological Vision Q&A
Timothy Keller answers questions from New York City pastors on his talk about theological vision: https://vimeo.com/53857842 Q1: How do I begin to understand what my theological vision is? Q2: We're all committed to our theology and beliefs. Isn't that enough for our ministry practice? 2:22 Q3: How do you adapt your methods according to your vision when you're in a denomination full of traditionalists? 3:24 Q4: In your years of ministry, how have the times changed, & how have you kept up with these changes? 4:52 Q5: What are sources that help you read the culture around you? 7:10 For the list of books referred to in the final question, go to centerchurch.com and find the list of resources under "Center Church Theological Vision."

Language



English (en)

Authors



Timothy Keller,

Type



Sharing

Date of Publicated



2013-09-17

Duration



00:08:51




6. Bible Study Series/Courses

7. Downloads

Reviews

Gosh william I'm telling crikey burke I don't want no agro A bit of how's your father bugger all mate off his nut that, what a plonker cuppa owt to do


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