A story that will take you on a journey to finding christ and help you learn key bible truths, on salvation, bible authority, and the church. According to shank, one must be immersed in water for the right reason for the remission of sins and be faithful to the right church 25. The church of christ on mcdermott road is a church striving to be loving and faithful. Muscle and a shovel is a raw and gritty true story about a pair of young newlyweds who move to the city to chase the american dream. Welcome to chapel grove church of christ in summertown, tennessee. I am going into this book skeptical as its written to be promoting the church of christ, from what i understand but i am interested to read the story. We in the churches of christ have a very inconsistent position on. Aug 29, 2014 i recently did a quick read of the book muscle and a shovel by michael shank. It is all about a person lining up with the right steps. Randall, the guy who studies with michael, is a member of the church of christ. For most members of a church of christ, this sentiment is one that makes us feel comfortable and at home, but is this idea a reality. Bookstores that carry material by brethren cei bookstore.
I first want to address the form of the book muscle and a shovel by michael shank that i purchased. Jan 29, 2014 the book is full of suspense, he added, even though readers know the outcome when they first pick it up. Aug 02, 2015 muscle and a shovel places the emphasis for salvation on the sinner and the sinners obligation to god. Dionysius noted that john did not name himself in his epistles, not even in the second and third epistles, although they are short. Members at the fort logan church have been reading muscle and a shovel and would encourage you to read it as well. After that, nobody had to remind gavin about the ramseys driveway. Both books are selfpublished from within the churches of christ. The fact it is nondenominational and each church is independent lead by the elders. Here are some helpful links and apps that we recommend using for study and every day use. For a church movement to be considered healthy, at least half of its congregations should be below 40 years of age, the age when reproductive capacity and initiative are at their highest. Muscle and a shovel the kitchen of halfbaked thoughts. The couple moves from rural southern illinois to nashville in pursuit of the american dream. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading beyond the church of christ.
A good over view of the basic structure of the church of christ from the the first century till now the church remains the model set forth by our savior jesus christ. Church growth church leadership church history and biographies church of christ commentaries communion ware craft books curriculum familyparenting hermeneutics hope and encouragement inspirational books ladies books lords supper and giving marriage marriage and divorce ministers manuals music music in worship new christians offering plates. Outline of the book of i john floral heights church of christ. Muscle and a shovel places the emphasis for salvation on the sinner and the sinners obligation to god. Muscle and a shovel author reflects on falling away the.
Review of muscle and a shovel by michael shank part 1. Feb 12, 2015 michael shank in his book muscle and a shovel recounts his biographical experience of learning from a coworker that he should let the bible interpret itself. At the chapel grove church of christ, our mission is to model the church found in the new testament. Muscle and a shovel official website by michael shank. The book details singing, with out instruments and the bible authority for that. Michael shanks book the muscle and the shovel is a powerful tool for the church. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Muscle and a shovel is the bestselling true story about eighteenyearold newlyweds, michael and jonetta shank. With the help of the snowshovel squad, the ramseys driveway was snowfree in just a few minutes.
The book is a good example of what and why of attending the church. If you choose to read this book, your beliefs will be challenged in ways you. Serving thousands of churches and individuals since 1938 with biblebased curriculum, teaching materials, books, church supplies, and more. Written in an autobiographical style, its intended to be an apologetic for traditional church of christ beliefs. The high school bible class has been studying from the muscle and a shovel student workbook. Mcgarvey, restoration reprints, alexander campbell, r. Muscle and a shovel is one of those rare books that will raise your heartrate, your. May 31, 2015 i just finished reading when shovels break by michael j. But, the teaching of this book leads one to put their trust in themselves rather than jesus christ. This book was ed in 2011 and has been a popular read among members of the churches of christ in the last several months. If youre looking for a good book, regardless of genre, youve come to the right place. Sep 03, 2014 muscle and a shovel places the emphasis for salvation on the sinner and the sinners obligation to god. Aug 20, 2015 shanks previous book, muscle and a shovel, took the churches of christ by storm after its release in 2011.
In essence, muscle and a shovel is about how to obey the gospel and what constitutes the true church of christ. The church of christ practices and believes only what is prescribed in the bible. This site is dedicated to sharing works written by women who are members of the church of christ. Id encourage you to use johnie edwards book, it is detailed in the name a church should have, reflective of following christ not man. The book has a 1 out of 12 conversion ratio, in just handing the material out. Sometimes it snowed so much they had to shovel two times in one day. Only about 21 percent of churches of christ are in that age range, granberg says. In the process theyre befriended by a man who turns their belief about god, their church, and their faith upside down. Jun 25, 2014 posts about church of christ written by durough. Am i allowed to say that it is what i thought it was. I belong to the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Muscle and a shovel by michael shank church of christ men.
Muscle and a shovel was written as a true story of a couples journey to finding the. Some of our members recently completed a study using this book as a guide, and found its contents very informative. The apostle john is the author of the gospel of john, 1, 2, and 3 john and revelation. Muscle, a shovel and thousands of baptisms the christian chronicle.
The church of christ women authors blog is owned and operated by susan elliott. The workbook engages the student in a threefold training system which brings about lively group discussions, practical homework assignments, and proven methods of evangelizing that anyone can learn and implement immediately. One baptist preacher described it as one of those rare books that will raise your blood pressure. In the book, shank describes his friendship with his church of christ coworker, identified as randall edges, in the context of their daytoday lives working for a communications service company in nashville, tenn. Any church which is not essential to mans salvation is not christ s church, because membership in this church is indispensable to salvation. Apr 02, 2020 a selection from a gathered people by john mark hicks, johnny melton, and bobby valentine just as matthew begins his gospel with the assurance of divine presence in jesus matt 1. Church of christ evangelism free material store page. This book is focused around the church of christ, and it will try and convert you to their churchit will make you question your faith, and your soul i did not. Were a group of believers following the biblical plan for the church, who meet in bridgeview, il.
Click the picture above to link to our online study of the book muscle and a shovel how can we pray for you today. It is the new testament church because, guided by the new testament alone, it neither adds nor subtracts from what is prescribed there. We pray and hope that our worship, spirit, and conduct mirrors the word of god. Outline of the book of 1 john introduction to 1, 2, and 3 john author. Before i ever began blogging, i wrote a book on that very subject, do we. Cocwa also shares writing advice, publishing tips, and more. In the book, shank describes his friendship with his church of christ coworker, identified as randall edges, in the context of their daytoday lives.
Read an updated message from our elders regarding the covid19 virus worship services will be streamed online sunday at 10. May 20, 2011 it answered some questions for me that ive had. If it snowed, the snowshovel squad was out shoveling, sometimes even before breakfast. Muscle, a shovel and thousands of baptisms the christian. How the church is to use its funds, what a elderdeacon is supposed to be, in their roles and qualifications. All inperson worship services, bible classes, and activities are suspended. The mission of freedhardeman university is to help students develop their godgiven talents for his glory by empowering them with an education that integrates christian faith, scholarship and service. Christian researcher publications, used religious books, church of christ books, foy e. It does take a muscle and a shovel to dig through gods word. This book is backed up by scriptures throughout it. Muscle and a shovel will set exiting beliefs on fire. The gritty account of his movement from the baptist faith to churches of christ has in some ways become a litmus test for where one stands in our fellowship today. The muscle and a shovel student workbook is designed to be the premiere companion training tool for anyone who wants to become a randall in effectively sharing christ s gospel message.