Jamie Dunlop and Mark Dever's The Compelling Community - Part 3 & 4

 Parts 3 and 4 of The Compelling Community by Jamie Dunlop and Mark Dever focus on protecting community and community at work. Part 3 addresses the former, dealing with addressing discontentment and sin in the church. Part 4 discusses the latter, focusing on evangelizing as a community and fracturing the church to advance the Great Commission work.

In the chapter "Protecting Community," I deeply appreciate how the authors emphasize the importance of church unity. This chapter is particularly significant to me because it addresses a vital issue I have observed in churches back home, where gospel unity is often undermined. Reflecting on the authors’ wisdom regarding leaders’ roles when unity is threatened, I find their sequential approach especially helpful: threats to unity demand leaders’ attention; leaders must lead the congregation to address these issues without taking sides; and they should seize opportunities to tackle structural problems when they arise. I will keep these principles in mind, knowing that after this season of my life, I will return to a place where gospel unity is desperately needed. This need is so profound that even well-trained seminarians have struggled to maintain it. As a believer aspiring to start a multi-ethnic church, I recognize that maintaining church unity is crucial, especially in regions where communal conflicts are common and churches have struggled to uphold this value. Through the authors’ wisdom, I now understand the boundaries of responsibility and whose role it is to foster church unity.

In the chapter "Addressing Sin in the Church," the section “Be Slow to Judgment” on page 177, though concisely written, profoundly impactful to me. The authors highlight Jesus’ teaching, which draws on Deuteronomy 19:15, requiring at least two witnesses to establish a conviction for a crime. Jesus acknowledges that we may sometimes be mistaken about a brother’s sin, emphasizing the need for others to help clarify the facts. This insight strikes a chord, as I reflect on my past pastoral ministry, where I was often quick to judge while addressing sin in members’ lives. The authors’ wisdom has shown me the value of involving one or two others in counseling sessions. This approach not only demonstrates humility but also fosters clarity in addressing sin, promoting a more thoughtful and biblical response.

            In the chapter "Evangelize as a Community," the authors’ discussion of corporate evangelism, or "Mob Evangelism," deeply resonates with me. The story of Walter’s conversion vividly illustrates what it means to share the gospel as a community, opening my eyes to its significance. Reflecting on my seminary days, I recall how we went to villages in groups, passionately sharing the gospel. We were fervent about spreading the good news, but sadly, we failed to follow up with those we reached or invite them to join a local church. Without an understanding of corporate evangelism, our heartfelt efforts often became more about self-glorification than building God’s community. The authors pose a piercing question that strikes a chord: “Why would you share the gospel with someone without inviting them into the life of the local church?” This challenges me to rethink evangelism, not merely as sharing the message but as welcoming people into the church family.

In the section on the "Regulated Free Market of Evangelistic Initiatives," the authors outline three approaches to evangelism: the Programmatic Approach, the Organic Approach, and the Regulated Free Market of Evangelistic Initiatives, with a clear emphasis on the third. While I appreciate the authors’ preference for the regulated free market approach, I find myself questioning why a church could not implement all three approaches simultaneously. I believe evangelism requires discipline and a strategic progression. In the initial phase, a church could benefit from a programmatic approach to establish structure and intentionality. As the church matures, it could transition toward an organic approach and ultimately, the regulated free market approach could become the norm.

In the chapter "Fracture Your Community," I am particularly drawn to the "yogurt approach," which involves intentionally dividing the precious fellowship God has established to plant new churches. This approach allows new congregations to bear witness to the gospel far more effectively than a single church could alone. Such planting may occur locally or even overseas, and I deeply admire this vision. A biblical community must spread, replicating its DNA to advance God’s mission. I am convinced of the value of this approach, but I have concerns about its application in a context like Northeast India. For a church there to become self-supporting, able to sustain preaching pastors and manage its finances independently, it typically requires a membership of at least 200. Building a newly planted church to this size could take a minimum of 10 years, or even longer in some cases. While the yogurt approach may thrive in urban settings, its implementation in a region like Northeast India, with its unique cultural and logistical challenges, may prove difficult. Nonetheless, I believe this approach, when carefully adapted, would be super good.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to church pastors and deacons in my home region, as I have highlighted in my previous reflections. I encourage them to read it first and then invite church members to read in small groups. By studying the book together, the church can discover the beauty of biblical community and feel compelled to cultivate it intentionally.