A Church Called Tov

What is the way forward for the church? Tragically, in recent years, Christians have gotten used to revelations of abuses of many kinds in our most respected churches―from Willow Creek to Harvest, from Southern Baptist pastors to Sovereign Grace churches. Respected author and theologian Scot McKnight and former Willow Creek member Laura Barringer wrote this book to paint a pathway forward for the church. We need a better way. The sad truth is that churches of all shapes and sizes are susceptible to abuses of power, sexual abuse, and spiritual abuse. Abuses occur most frequently when Christians neglect to create a culture that resists abuse and promotes healing, safety, and spiritual growth. How do we keep these devastating events from repeating themselves? We need a map to get us from where we are today to where we ought to be as the body of Christ. That map is in a mysterious and beautiful little Hebrew word in Scripture that we translate “good,” the word tov. In this book, McKnight and Barringer explore the concept of tov―unpacking its richness and how it can help Christians and churches rise up to fulfill their true calling as imitators of Jesus.

1. Opening Credits
2. Foreword by Tish Harrison Warren
3. Introduction: Where We Find Ourselves
4. Part 1: Forming and Deforming a Church's Culture | Chapter 1: Every Church Is a Culture
5. Chapter 2: Early Warning Signs of a Toxic Culture
6. Chapter 3: How Toxic Cultures Respond to Criticism
7. Chapter 4: False Narratives
8. Part 2: The Circle of Tov | Chapter 5: Creating a Goodness Culture
9. Chapter 6: Tov Churches Nurture Empathy
10. Chapter 7: Tov Churches Nurture Grace
11. Chapter 8: Tov Churches Nurture a People-First Culture
12. Chapter 9: Tov Churches Nurture Truth
13. Chapter 10: Tov Churches Nurture Justice
14. Chapter 11: Tov Churches Nurture Service
15. Chapter 12: Tov Churches Nurture Christlikeness
16. About the Authors
17. Closing Credits