Book Review — City on a Hill

April 22, 2008

City on a Hill, by Philip Ryken

I picked up this book off of Joe’s bookcase because of the title.  I have been thinking a lot lately about the role of the Church in the world, and how to truly and faithfully live out the calling of Jesus to be the light of the world, a city on a hill.  I hoped that this book would bring clarity on what it means to truly living out that calling in the world.

While I enjoyed this book, it was not exactly what I hoped it would be.  Don’t get me wrong, it is a good, much-needed book for the Church to consider.  Ryken describes what the Church ought to be, the main pillars that make any church what it is supposed to be.  Ryken highlights seven main functions of the local church:

Expository Preaching, Corporate Worship, Fellowship, Pastoral Care, Disicpleship, Missions/Evangelism, and Mercy Ministry.

Devoting a chapter to each of these main functions, Ryken describes why each one is of tremendous importance to sustain a healthy local church.  I enjoyed reading the book because it reminded me of some basic things that need to be a priority, and challenged me to think about how much of a priority I individually place upon these important characteristics. I think the seven attributes that Ryken mentions will be a useful guide for my prayers for our local church here in Pitman.

In sum, I think this is a good, beginner’s book for understanding the importance of the Church, and how it ought to function.  While it did not get into some of the tougher questions of cultural engagement that the title suggested to me, I still enjoyed reading it and believe it is a profitable one for anyone who wants to grow in love for Christ’s Church.

Posted by Larry | Filed Under Book Reviews, Seeking Him 

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