With over 11,000 attendees and many more online, Spring Harvest is one of the largest Christian events in the UK. For a number of years, a new book has been released in conjunction with the event theme, and I’ve just finished reading last year’s edition - ‘Restore, Renew, Rebuild’ It’s a short, snappy book full of theological nuance and prophetic vision.

Split into three sections, the book is an examination of Nehemiah chapters 1-3. Its primary author Cris Rogers is a Church of England Minister who was among the first to be ordained to the ordained pioneer ministry in the Church of England, and this is evident, given the particular emphases in the book that seek to communicate how churches can ‘do’ change. As the world continues to come to terms with what ‘Church’ looks like in a post-Covid context, it’s a timely message. I’ve been using this book as I preach through Nehemiah, and it’s been a helpful resource in four different ways:

1) Great biblical teaching with practical application in a modern context.

Rogers takes us through the theological background and context of Nehemiah and then places it in today’s setting. To give an example, in the first section, he speaks candidly about sin and repentance.

It’s refreshing to see that focus tie in not only to the biblical themes seen in Nehemiah, but also in the broader biblical narrative, and then connecting to how the Church has failed in particular areas, from consumerism to abuse. It’s quite sobering reading at points. In answer to the question, ‘how do we keep the passion and heartbreak for the Church in prayer?’, Cris poignantly notes: “surface-level desire will wane as other things replace it, but deep heartbreak will lead us to a life lived in prayer for the issue in hand” (p25).

2) Space for personal response.

At the end of Rogers’s teaching chapters in each section is a chapter entitled ‘Yes, But How?’ written by Debra Green and Paul Weston. This is filled with stories and offers a further practical look at how the Church can help to rebuild our communities, from two seasoned experts. It’s not just a karaoke machine of generic ideas going forward - rather, it is rooted in the spiritual rhythms of life. I was both challenged and convicted by this.

It’s not just a karaoke machine of generic ideas going forward - rather, it is rooted in the spiritual rhythms of life.

3) God’s timing.

Throughout the book a common theme is seeking God’s timing and God’s way. This quote I found very helpful: “Like the people of Jerusalem, we talk about getting back to the good old days, when churches had choirs, the members of the leadership team dressed like leaders and the seats were pews. There is nothing wrong with this; it is in our nature to be sentimental. The Church, however, is not ours, it is God’s and we must again check ourselves and ask what God wants us to do” (p.78).

4) Connections to Jesus.

This book doesn’t stay in the Old Testament context of Nehemiah, but always looks towards the mission of Jesus for today. One key point Rogers makes is when evaluating Nehemiah’s vision for the people there is a duty to respond to the needs of the city, to bring back its security, community and pride.

This book doesn’t stay in the Old Testament context of Nehemiah, but always looks towards the mission of Jesus for today.

However, as this is “not the right solution for us today… Nehemiah was building backwards. The plan was to rebuild the city so that it would be just like it had been in the golden era the people of God remembered…for us though, the vision is Jesus and the pull of the resurrection is in a forwards direction” (pp78-9).

The only criticism I have with ‘Restore, Renew, Rebuild’ is that it only focuses on the first three chapters of Nehemiah. I wanted more! On one level I felt ever so slightly short-changed when I ordered the book because it can feel as if the book has been written to sell ‘mass-market’ for a conference, when the chapters could perhaps have been made shorter to fit the entire book of Nehemiah and the theme could have then been expanded somewhat.

That minor thought aside, all in all this is a great book and a helpful resource for Church members and leaders as we join God's mission and seek to make Jesus known in our nation. I now look forward to reading through Spring Harvest’s 2023 offering!

Restore, Renew, Rebuild (176 pp) is published by SPCK, and is available from Eden Christian Books for £7.82 (+ p&p).

Brian Macleod is a Church of Scotland Minister based in the Highlands. He is married with 3 young daughters.