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| Jerry
Cook is an Associate Pastor at Eastside Foursquare Church
in Bothell, Washington, where he maintains a teaching
and church-consulting ministry. He addresses conventions
and leadership conferences throughout the U.S., as well
as Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific. Cook is the
author of Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness
and A Few Things I’ve Learned Since I Knew
It All. He is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University
and Fuller Theological Seminary and also holds a Doctor
of Divinity degree from Life Pacific College. He and
his wife, Barbara, have four children and three grandchildren. |
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UPCOMING RELEASE
Moving Out of the Sanctuary and
Into the Streets
CBN.com – BOTHELL, Wash.
– Fired by the passion to take the message of the gospel
beyond the walls of the church, best-selling author Jerry Cook
challenges Christians to reconsider their role in society in his
new book, The Monday Morning Church (February 2006).
Cook encourages Christians to consider themselves strategically
placed by Jesus Christ to go to the non-believer rather than having
them come to God. Drawing from the book of Ephesians, he challenges
traditional thinking of how ministry occurs and what the church
should be.
“The church on Sunday is great,” says Cook. “I
love it and enjoy it. But what I get really excited about is the
church on Monday—the body of Christ at work in the world.”
Cook suggests that the church, as Christ’s body, pose to
a secular, godless and hurting world the ultimate “Jesus
Question.” Cook writes, “Jesus has come to ask that
question. Not to condemn us, not to set us straight, not to deepen
our guilt, not to make a point, but to ask a simple question:
‘Can I do anything for you?’”
“I’m convinced that as Christians, we’re not
about programs,” Cook continues to write. “We’re
not about bigger or better blessings. We’re about responding
to people who call for help because their world is falling apart.
These individuals aren’t looking to be converted—they’re
looking for help! Being their help—by being the presence
of Christ in their lives—is the only thing we’re about.
Everything else we do is secondary and can even detour us from
carrying out the true purpose of the church.”
Cook pushes the message even further by speaking to those churches
that adopt large marketing strategies. “We’re not
in the sales business. We don’t have a product to push;
we have a person to reveal. Persons are revealed by persons, not
by marketing strategies.”
But before Christians can hit the streets, Cook stresses the importance
of understanding one’s true identity. Cook says, “Without
the foundation of an accurate understanding of our true identity,
we will never have the confidence, courage, and trust to reach
out to others with Christ’s healing and love.”
For more information about this book visit www.howardpublishing.com.
Courtesy of Howard Publishing.
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