Mark Driscoll
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Mark Driscoll is the leader of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington. It is one of the largest churches in the USA and currently has a membership of 8000 people. Confessions of a Reformission Rev. is his account of the growth of this megachurch.
Here is the Amazon synopsis:
This is the story of the birth and growth of Seattle's innovative Mars Hill Church, one of America's fastest growing churches located in one of America's toughest mission fields. It's also the story of the growth of a pastor, the mistakes he's made along the way, and God's grace and work in spite of those mistakes. Mark Driscoll's emerging, missional church took a rocky road from its start in a hot, upstairs youth room with gold shag carpet to its current weekly attendance of thousands. With engaging humor, humility, and candor, Driscoll shares the failures, frustrations, and just plain messiness of trying to build a church that is faithful to the Gospel of Christ in a highly post-Christian culture. In the telling, he's not afraid to skewer some sacred cows of traditional, contemporary, and emerging churches. Each chapter discusses not only the hard lessons learned but also the principles and practices that worked and that can inform your church's ministry, no matter its present size. The book includes discussion questions and appendix resources. "After reading a book like this, you can never go back to being an inwardly focused church without a mission.
Even if you disagree with Mark about some of the things he says, you cannot help but be convicted to the inner core about what it means to have a heart for those who don't know Jesus." - Dan Kimball, author, "The Emerging Church". "...will make you laugh, cry, and get mad...school you, shape you, and mold you into the right kind of priorities to lead the church in today's messy world." - Robert Webber, Northern Seminary.
I really enjoyed this book. I came across Mark Driscoll last year and have thoroughly enjoyed listening to his preaches so was looking forward to reading this book. It took me just over a day to complete the book, which is just under 200 pages long. Even my BF, who is a slow reader read this book in a matter of days.
He writes honestly and humorously. There is a lot of theology in the book, as well as practical advice, however, it is written simply and flows smoothly so it is so easy to read. He covers the complete growth of the church, from the first day to when they hit the 4000 people mark.
This book has opened my eyes to what happens behind the scenes in church leadership, the struggles pastors and elders face and has inspired me to step out and serve more at my local church - which has a membership of just under 1000 people at present.
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to everyone, even non-church goers.
9/10 - the theology and practical advice was sometimes a touch heavy-going.
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Relevant, honest and Biblical
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This book has helped revive my commitment to church planting in the UK. The divide between those committed to cultural engagement, and those afraid of culture seems to grow, but Driscoll cuts right through it.
I can appreciate that some may find his style offensive, but I am fed up with bland Christian books, and this is certainly not Bland. Driscoll retells the story of Mars Hill Church, Seattle from beginning to today, warts and all. He is honest about his own failures and weaknesses, and those who find his humour too coarse, or are offended by it are missing the point.
This is not a "how to" book on church planting, or church growth. It is a testimony to Gods faithfulness. IT underlines with clarity the fact that we can hold firm to the Gospel, and be culturally relevant - this is not an option, it is a must. Read this book.
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Biff Bang Wallop
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Straight talking, hard hitting, biblical and funny - the remarkable journey of Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church. This book is not for the faint-hearted but is a timely challenge to engage with the culture with clear biblical churchmanship and oodles of faith. A book that demands not just to be read but acted upon.
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Almost brutal, but good fun
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This is a great book to have a look see how a Pastor with a biblically based theology works to reach out to a group of people who haven't grown up with a traditional Christian childhood. Refreshing, and I think many churches will have to go through his pain and change in order to reach people currently in their 20s and 30s. He takes a singular focus on building the church and shows tremendous drive in building a sound church. I'm not sure about the importance he places on being within a large church, but othewise this has enthused me about working to build a missional church at our place.
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An honest and frank account from one of the most infuential pastors of this generation
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First read this book over a year ago now and couldn't put it down. In fact I stayed up most of the night until I finished it. So many books out there written by megachurch pastors are not always honest about the struggles to get where they are. But as the pastor of a small/medium size church I found this book so inspiring because it tell the story of a small and strugging church in Seattle, and how God has blessed them with growth. Also, the other thing that is so refreshing about this book is that it comes from a missional/emerging church pastor who has remained true to God's Word and has not compromised the gospel. One other thing, I don't think I have laughed reading a Christian book in a long time.
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United Kingdom | 
Canada