I finally finished listening to Mark Sayers’s book, “A Non-Anxious Presence–How a Changing and Complex World Will Create a Remnant of Renewed Christian Leaders“. It’s worth a review.
Who Its For, and What It Is About
If you’ve read any of Mark Sayers‘s books or listened to any of his podcasts, A Non-Anxious Presence, is the kind of work you can reasonably come to expect from Mark. While I think A Non-Anxious Presence is primarily aimed at church and or Christian leaders, anyone can and, spoiler alert: should read it.
Mark surveys cultural, media and technological shifts, including “The Pandemic” aka COVID-19, and its implications for Christians and the church at large. A proficient student of history and culture, Mark shares a framework for understanding and navigating the present reality and challenges. He shows how times of change, flux and uncertainty can be an opportunity to build resilience and foundation for revival.
Some of My Favourite Quotes
The structures of the modern world implicitly promise that we can operate as leaders, even as Christian leaders, without thought or need for God. Instead of our foundation being in Christ and His kingdom’s way of influence, we rest on the cultural foundation set by the modern world of what it is to lead.
We measure leadership with earthly definitions of success and power. A secular autopilot version of Christian leadership takes hold, where we lead like practical atheists, with God as an afterthought.
In the networked world, even the most committed believer will consume only a fraction of the information and input from their church compared to what they consume via podcasts, YouTube, and Netflix. The digital network is now our primary formational environment.
It shapes our opinions, values, and worldview. Today, the average churchgoer will Google a problem before they approach their pastor. The digital network is the primary shaper of their theological, political, and cultural worldview.
What I Did Not Like About The Book
I did not like that I was told what we were going to explore in the chapter we were already in, instead of just being told. This is just a personal peeve. I think authors should just say what they want to and not tell us first what they are about to tells us.
I felt that the last two chapters were not a strong as preceding ones. I don’t know what I was expecting or hoping they would be. Then again, they might not be for me right now.
What I Loved About A Non-Anxious Presence
The book is well researched and written. Mark communicated some of the complicated themes and points in a way that is easy to understand and follow. Its insights are invaluable and is a great resource for Christians and church leaders as they look to lead themselves and others.
As I’ve already mentioned, read this book.
Thanks Mark 👊🏽.
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