Gospel DNA

Peter Lillback

Acts 20:17-38 summarizes St. Paul’s timeless apostolic wisdom for the vitality of the church. The gospel DNA of this classic text has been helpfully distilled by Richard Coekin, a pioneering church-planter and church-planting-movement leader serving in contemporary secular London. His biblically rich, Christ-centred insights will encourage you to bolder evangelism, greater care for the integrity of the church and more careful exposition of the Scriptures. Be warned, this little book may inspire you to plant a church as the Gospel’s DNA replicates itself in your community.

PLANTER’S HANDBOOK

Richard Coekin’s handbook Gospel DNA, with a Foreword by D A Carson and commended by other household names, outlines 21 hallmarks of gospel churches from Acts 20. The author is someone who doesn’t just ‘talk the walk’, having already planted 30 churches in London out of Dundonald Wimbledon under the banner of Co-Mission. His conservative aim is to plant 30 more by 2025 and the bigger, hairier one of 360 ‘a little further down the road’. Whatever our ecclesiological DNA, we would all profit from a post-winter, gospel-health check-up !... continue reading

“Compelling and faithful”

I was encouraged to read this by a previous pastor and I'm glad I did. The values and way of life Richard advocates are centered on Jesus and in response to hearing the gospel. Richard unpacks Acts 20 and he shows that God's word is lifegiving and able transform our character and outlook on life.

The questions after each chapter are quality and helped me to think about how I equip God's people now and continue becoming more like Jesus myself.

This is an ideal book for training teams that lead God's people.