Why I Wrote “The Gospel-First Church”
Ordinary Congregations Experience Extraordinary Renewal
This book didn’t come about like my other writings, which often begin with a burst of creativity around a particular topic. This one was a weighty journey over the past decade, collecting data and resources and testing them against my own ministry ideas and preferences.
Sometimes the ideas surfaced during board meetings where the same questions kept coming up. Other times they emerged in conversations with pastors who loved their church but lacked direction. At times, a thought would come from my own reflection after a Sunday where everything ran smoothly, yet by Monday it still felt a bit hollow, like something important was missing.
So I processed. I journaled notes and ideas. Then created lists, documents, and blog posts. I was wrestling with a specific tension I was seeing in so many Canadian churches, desperate to ensure the church I served never fell victim to.
Faithful Churches Drifting From Gospel Centrality
Somewhere along the way, especially evident in many Canadian churches today, the Gospel slips. Now, hear me out. These churches don’t reject the Gospel. They simply stop centring everything on it.
For many congregations, the Gospel has become an assumed or optional side ministry instead of the driving force behind all they say and do. It’s a familiar topic to them, but it’s no longer forming all that they say and do.
Can our local churches proclaim these words by the Apostle Paul as true in every aspect their ministry?
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16, ESV)
Do they really believe the second half of Paul’s statement to be true? If so, how is it forming their decisions and practices within their local church?
What You’ll Find Inside The Gospel-First Church
The Gospel-First Church is written for pastors and church leaders, as well as concerned congregants, who feel something is missing or that something has quietly veered off course. I outline how churches drift without meaning to, how good structures can slowly replace clear mission, and how leadership fatigue sets in when activity keeps growing but spiritual fruit doesn’t.
In this book, I walk you through what happens when a church chooses to put the Gospel back at the center of everything. Preaching, leadership, decision making, discipleship, all stemming from a gospel first mission.
At its core, a gospel first church keeps returning to a simple question: How will this help people meet and follow Jesus?
Practical, Honest, and Grounded
You’ll learn about church life cycles, leadership resistance, pruning, and the courage it takes to let go of things that once worked. I unpack the dangers of nostalgia and survival thinking, and how missional clarity brings courage back to boards and leadership teams.
I want to help pastors who feel the quiet strain of leadership. Elders and board members trying to lead wisely without causing discord. Churches that feel small, tired, or overlooked but still believe Jesus hasn’t abandoned His Church. And believers who love their local church and want to see it brought back to life.
My perspective is shaped by pastoring in a smaller northern context, which has proven to be an excellent testing ground for many of these principles. As you’ll see, with a collection of over forty endnotes of data and resources, many of the core ideas in this book aren’t new, but they are intentionally framed to address Canadian and modern Western church drift.
Why Now? (And Why Your Church?)
I released The Gospel-First Church because I’m convinced this moment matters. Churches are shrinking and leaders are tired. Pastors are retiring with a very short supply of replacements. There’s a growing temptation to chase cultural mindsets or church trends. I believe there’s a better path forward. It’s slower, but it’s also deeper.
It begins with returning to the Gospel as our first priority and letting it shape everything again. If you carry a burden for the future of your local church, the Canadian church, or the Western church as a whole, this book was written for you.
The eBook of The Gospel-First Church is available now on Amazon. The print edition will be available by the end of the week.
Join the Conversation; Answer This Question
- Where have you felt the tension between staying busy and staying centred on the Gospel in your church?
