"Still, imperfect as it is, it is the dearest place on earth to us" Charles Spurgeon
It’s hard to feel this way about our local church sometimes though, isn’t it?
Spurgeon’s words ring deeply, especially when the church feels like more of a place of hurt than hope. We are a ragtag group of wandering souls—prone to returning to old habits, yet always being renewed by God’s unending grace. Some of us carry wounds still tender and bleeding, while others are burdened with the pain of disappointment, rejection, or hurt. For many, it’s easy to feel unseen, lost in the crowd, or disconnected from the body of Christ. And when its fractures run deep, it can be difficult to hold on to the goodness and the beauty that remain.
But there is still hope. In this collection of articles, you'll find testimonies of the honest struggles faced within local churches, yet you will also see glimpses of how the church continues to act as it should—shining with God’s grace, despite its brokenness. These stories remind us that while the church may be imperfect, there is still much goodness to be found.
This book was birthed from a blog series at Gospel-Centered Discipleship, centered on the blessings of the local church. I submitted a piece about how the church tenderly and tenaciously cared for us during the season our youngest daughter was gravely ill. In our pain and suffering, their knees hit the ground and lifted us up.
I’m honored that my article was included, and it’s a privilege to contribute to this initiative, to sit alongside authors I deeply admire, as we help others see the treasure of the local church as it strives to function as it should.
It officially releases into the world today, so I invite you to grab a copy!!
Table of Contents
1 She Is Broken, and She Is Beautiful | Glenna Marshall
2 Missing Church Is Missing Out | Timothy M. Shorey
3 How God Humbled Me through a Church I Didn’t Agree With | Lara d’Entremont
4 The Dearest Place on Earth | James Williams
5 The Unexpected Blessing of a Rural Church | Stephanie O’Donnell
6 The Local Church Helps Rid Me of Morbid Introspection | Chrys Jones
7 The Church Is Not a Meritocracy | Jessica Miskelly
8 A Family of Redemption for Children of Divorce | Chase Johnson
9 The Warmth of the Local Church for the Suffering | Brianna Lambert
10 The Singles Among Us Deserve a Better Church Culture | Denise Hardy
11 Love Your Church Anyway | Heidi Kellogg
12 For the Love of Liturgy | Erin Jones
13 God’s Good Design of the Local Church | James Williams
14 Finding Beauty in the Local Church in Our Age of Social Media | Cassie Pattillo
15 The Hands of Grace | Amber Thiessen
16 How the Church Shapes Us on Our Faith Journey | Rob Bentz
17 On the Other Side of the Church Split | Abigail Rehmert
18 Dear New Mother, Embrace the Body of Christ | Lara d’Entremont
19 The Gold Mine in the Local Church | Chrys Jones
20 The Local Church Is a Sandbox | Timarie Friesen
21 Unless the Seed Dies | Tom Sugimura
22 Redeeming Love Has Been My Theme and Shall Be Until I Die | Timothy M. Shorey
Epilogue | Jeremy Writebol
*As a contributor for this book I received a complimentary copy and I'm sharing my honest opinion.
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