An emergency call, and I rush from my coziness into the dark community where the police have requested a chaplain. Arriving in minutes, I find the family imploding with grief having just discovered their son hanging in the garage. In a moment of unshakable pain, he jumped off the ladder and into eternity. And I will never shake the look in their eyes when I asked why he hadn't called a church. "Why would he do that?" Across town, a pool of tears on my kitchen table as an out of town guest feels the weight of his infidelity, despairing that his famished soul finds no refuge and that he has to board a plane to feel fellowship. "Has your church tried to help you?" And the Christian leader confesses he hasn't been to church in years. Infighting, backbiting, heartbreaking, frustrating ... church.Though exceptions do exist, the reality is that church in America is failing one life at a time. Somewhere between pathetically predictable and shamefully entertaining, sadly sentimental and rarely authentic, church has become worst of all ... godless.Vertical Church points to a new day where God is the seeker, and we are the ones found. In Vertical Church God shows up, and that changes everything. If you want to experience God as you never have before and witness His hand at work, if you want to wake up to the first thought, "Thank God it's Sunday," if you're ready to feel your heart beat faster as you drive to your place of worship ... then devour and digest the lessons of Vertical Church.
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"Macdonald's writing was very riveting and the message he put forth in placing God vertically, which is where He should always be, was very convicting. I truly enjoyed every chapter of this book. There were so many times as I was reading that I had to just stop and pray!"
— Shalena (5 out of 5 stars)
" Very "high church" and still thought-provoking. I want to give it 4 stars but MacDonald's tone is pretty abrasive. "
— Sean, 12/16/2013" One of the best books on what the church could be. I think all church leaders should read it. "
— Jason, 11/19/2013" Truly what my heart longs for; I think others as well. What Crosspoint can be :). "
— Laura, 10/6/2013" This is a must-read for anyone who is a follower of Christ and wants more. We all need to take a look at what "church" is about...us or God? James MacDonald asks some great questions and challenges our cultural ideas of what "church" should look like. "
— Josh, 9/19/2013" Helpful outlook on priorities within a church. While not all expressions of church will look the same, it is helpful to review some essential pieces for Gods church. "
— Jacob, 5/28/2013" oh my...this is where we are as church...trying to fill up the theathers for a good movie, without even finding the glory of God...this book is a must read...especially for all those who have been feeling..there is just something not right here... "
— Kim, 5/14/2013" The first few chapters on the purpose of the church are dynamite. Those alone are worth picking this up and reading it. "
— Dan, 9/19/2012James MacDonald is the founding and senior pastor of Harvest
Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Pastor MacDonald has written many
books, including Lord, Change My Attitude, When Life Is
Hard, and Gripped by the Greatness of God. His teaching can be
heard on Walk in the Word, a daily radio program heard on outlets
across North America. He and his wife, Kathy, have three children and reside in
the northwest suburbs of Chicago.
Wayne Shepherd’s
voice is heard widely in
Christian radio and television, as well as numerous audiobooks and special projects. With nearly forty years of broadcast experience, Wayne serves a growing
number of clients as a radio host, interviewer, voice-over talent, and consultant.