Book review: Ready or Not - Kingdom Innovation for a Brave New World, by Doug Paul
I love the book, Ready or Not: Kingdom Innovation for a Brave New World, by Doug Paul.
When I met Doug a few years ago, I was impressed with his laser focus and quick wit. He is brilliant and fun. So is his book. If you have a church leadership role, this book should be mandatory reading.
The best aspect of this book from my perspective is the toolkit included in its pages and in supplementary fashion online. A book that does not show more than it tells is destined to stop short of leading readers into true transformation. I have a library full of books telling me I ought to do stuff without bothering to show me what it looks like.
This is not a book to read, say you read it, and add to your Book-A-Week bragging list. This is a book to read, re-read, ponder, contemplate, work through and discuss, discuss, discuss. This book should be read alone once and then again with a group capable of taking what it says and building a better future.
Please read the Foreword and Introduction. Stick around for the Epilogue and Afterword. You will be glad you did.
The five main sections of the book are
1. Identification - We must frame the start of this journey by locating the big idea and framing the problem we are trying to solve.
2.Ideation - We must generate whole new practices, concepts, and ways of thinking if we're going to solve our innovation challenge.
3.Experimentation - We launch, test, and relaunch the innovation until the prototype we are testing achieves the measured goals set out.
4.Mobilization - Once our prototype has seen breakthrough, we need to know why and how it worked so that we can mobilize many to multiply it.
5.Multiplication - Make the innovation scalable, removing as many barriers as possible, for as many people as possible, so we can invite them all into a brand new breakthrough.
At the end of each of these five sections are several pages capturing the essence of the content in the preceding chapters. Sifted gold nuggets fill these pages. You will return to them again and again as you work through this process with teams.
About those online resources: You will find in the pages of the book directions to web content that includes video training on the five Master Tools, a downloadable Small Group Discussion Guide, downloadable Case Studies, an in-depth video exploring the Scalability Tool from Phase 5, and curated videos and resources referred to in the book.
What is kingdom innovation? Doug explains on page xxviii where he says, "It's simply this: It's new, it works, and it brings glory to Jesus." That is a pretty good definition.
Notice the last thing in that definition. "It brings glory to Jesus." How many books have you read which started like that and ended up giving all the glory to the author?
In contrast, check out the last two pages of the main part of the book. The section is entitled, "This is a Spiritual Process." Spoiler alert: It's all about giving glory to Jesus.
Buy this book. Then buy a case. This brave new world of ours needs us to innovate with Jesus and for his glory.
 | David Bowman, (DMin, PCC) is the Executive Director of Tarrant Baptist Association in Fort Worth, Texas. He also serves as a Multiplying Trainer for Future Church Co. Learn More » |
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