Compelled by Love: The Most Excellent Way to Missional Living

Compelled by Love: The Most Excellent Way to Missional Living was written by Ed Stetzer and Phillip Nation and published by New Hope Publishers. Stetzer is the director of LifeWay Christian Resources and Nation is a church planting missionary in north Metro Atlanta. Compelled is broken up into three parts. The first, "Death by Love: God and Mission" looks at how the three persons of the Trinity love and how their love applies to our relationships and ministry. The second part, "Identifying Love: The Church in the World" looks at how we are shaped by love. This section really highlights the way that love works itself out in the context of the Christian community. I would say that this is the central argument of the text. The third part, "Formed by Love: Believers and the World" looks at how the church is to interact with the non-Christian world within which it finds itself. This section I think is the most important as it challenges the presumptions of the status quo. There were two chapters that stood out among the rest. The first was Chapter 9 where Stetzer and Nation push back on the popularity of bashing the Church. They argued quiet well that if you say that you love Jesus then you will love his church. The vision cast for the necessity and centrality of the local church is fantastic. It might be one of the most simple and clearly stated arguments for the local church that I have read. The quote from James Emery White has really stuck in my mind over the last few days, "The church is not simply the vanguard of kingdom advance; it is the entire assault force (145)". When we pick on the church we are picking on the very bride of Christ. We must love what Christ loves, and Christ died for his church. The second chapter that really stood out was Chapter 12, "Called to Love: Living a Missionary Passion for the Lost". Here Stetzer and Nation challenge the deep rooted selfishness that is inherent in the Christian community by walking through the Jonah narrative. They are calling the church to a renewed sense of contextualized service. I was reminded again that I am a Jonah, as most of us are, willing to serve God on my terms in my ways. How many times do we miss the God-sized redemptive opportunities around us because we are pouting in a corner as a result of not getting our way? In conclusion, I can't really find too many weaknesses with this text. I think in future printings (yes, it's that good) it would be helpful to see an appendix with some best practices for individuals and churches to be able to look to as a model. By no means a claim of a "magic bullet" or a "recipe for missional ministry" but just some jumping off points. I think some of the people in my life will read this and wonder, "OK, now what? How do I DO this?" Become a New Hope Book Review Blogger. [...]

I just finished reading Ed Stetzer and Philip Nation's book Compelled by Love and I heartily recommend it. I've been following Ed's blog for several months and I'm always impressed with his passion for the Gospel and those outside the church. Those passions shine through in this book. The opening chapters set the tone by defining the Gospel and the call to missions. Ed and Philip work through Scripture to show that the Gospel is defined by love, driven by love and a call TO love. Putting the things of first importance (Christ's death, burial and resurrection) above everything is what drives our love. Christ's sacrificial death serves not just as our justification but as our example. Sacrificial love is what defines a Christian. With great clarity and simplicity, Ed and Philip, describe the Christian life that is motivated by love: Love for God and Love for Neighbor. They challenge us to look beyond ourselves and to die to ourselves. They push us to make disciples and to work hard at evangelism. And they do it all through the lens of love. Through it all they link obedience to Christ and love of Christ, which is exactly the way Jesus put it "You are my friends if you do what I command...This is my command: Love each other." [...]

Posted at DesireSpiritualGrowth.com: Do not read Compelled by Love if you are looking for "101 ways to love better," or "7 reasons why you should try harder to love." You won't find it. Ed Stetzer, with the help of Philip Nation, starts with the gospel of grace when declaring the truth about love and the church. Christ, not how-to sermons or elbow-grease, is the only solution to the church's inability to love as we ought. Compelled by Christ's love, we can step out of the bubble our churches live behind far too often. That's missional living. Consider these quotes from the opening chapter: "The old nature must die so Christ can live in and through us. The change that occurs by Christ's love is the only path to love as God loves. We cannot by our own strength we loving persons as Christians. We can only become those persons when Christ lives in us. God gives the gracious endowment of the sacrificial life of Christ to indwell us so we might live by faith and not be sight, emotion, or any other earthly power." "The way of Jesus is contrary to what we naturally desire. Our fleshly nature refuses to love those we find unworthy. It's only Christ in us that changes us and makes us see people as God sees them and to live a new life of compassion for both the saved and the lost (see Matthew 22:35-40)." Stetzer draws from his personal experience as a church planter to provide keen insight. The book is designed for small groups, and each chapter includes a thought-provoking list of discussion questions to spur deeper thinking on what it means to live a missional lifestyle of love towards those around us. 7 Reasons why your church should read Compelled by Love: 1. It is a Christ-centered resource for anyone who wants to grow in love. 2. It reminds us that the bubble the church lives in keeps us from being effectively reaching the lost, because "God is on a mission outside that bubble." 3. It brings us back to the Father's heart as the motivation for ministry. "We begin with the knowledge of God because the mission originates with His heart." 4. It is Bible-saturated, easy to read, and far from dry. 5. It explains the difference between treaty and surrender in our relationship with God, a section worth praying earnestly through. 6. Chapter 7 very likely will rattle your concept of church. 7. The book provides direction and spurs discussion that will encourage you and your church to prayerfully seek specific ways to lovingly reach the culture around you. Become a New Hope Book Review Blogger. [...]

Love for one's neighbor was one of the core teachings of Jesus Christ. "Compelled by Love: The Most Excellent Way to Missional Living" is a handbook for Christians to find the love of God, use it to complete themselves, and spread it to others as well. Also included is a crash course in basic theology, enhanced with biblical texts and advice on applying what one learns. "Compelled by Love: The Most Excellent Way to Missional Living" is a top pick for community library Christian studies collections.

Wow! Philip Nation and Ed Stetzer have outdone themselves on this book. I was especially amazed that this is Philip's first book. The insight into God's Word and His desires for us to live missionally in a hurting world, makes this a must read for all people of faith. It also has great application for people considering becoming Christ followers. People need to know that God loves us and we, in turn, must love those who need Him. In other words... EVERYONE! Thanks Philip and Ed for writing this fantastic book! Highly recommended!