It is quite easy to assume that if we understand the gospel accurately and preach it faithfully, our ministry will necessarily be shaped by it—but this is not true. Many churches subscribe to gospel doctrines but do not have a ministry that is shaped by, centered on, and empowered through the gospel. Its implications have not yet worked their way into the fabric of how the church actually does ministry. These churches’ theological vision has likely arisen from something other than sustained reflection on the gospel. Gospel-centered ministry is more theologically driven than program driven. To pursue it, we must spend time reflecting on the essence, the truths, and the very patterns of the gospel itself. This eBook contains the first part of Center Church, “Gospel Theology.” In it, Keller examines what the gospel is and is not, and how churches can be shaped by, centered on, and empowered through the gospel.

Fruitful ministry in the century must embrace the unavoidable reality of the city. A Center Church theological vision affirms that center cities are wonderful, strategic, and underserved places for gospel ministry and recognizes that virtually all ministry contexts are increasingly shared by urban and global forces. Regardless of your particular cultural or geographical context, you will need to consider the city when forming a theological vision that engages the people you are trying to reach. Churches and ministries that flourish in urban and cultural centers are marked by what we call “city vision.” This eBook contains the fourth part of Center Church, “City Vision.” In it, Keller examines the characteristics that mark churches and ministries that flourish in urban and cultural centers. He examines the key characteristics of city vision that are based in an understanding of how the city develops as a theme throughout Scripture, from its anti-God origins, to its strategic importance for mission, to its culmination and redemption in glory. Most important, a city vision will give us a genuine love for the place we are called to reach with the gospel, rather than hostility or indifference toward it.

In Center Church, Timothy Keller offers challenging insights and provocative questions based on over twenty years of ministry in New York City. This eBook contains the fifth part of Center Church, "Cultural Engagement." In it, Keller discusses four models for engaging urban culture, acknowledging that each model has strengths and weaknesses—-ways in which it reflects a particular biblical emphasis and other ways in which it reflects an unbiblical imbalance or idol.

In Center Church, Timothy Keller offers challenging insights and provocative questions based on over twenty years of ministry in New York City. This eBook contains the sixth part of Center Church, "Missional Community." In it, Keller looks at what it looks like to be a missional church today, offer some words of caution about the missional conversation, and suggest how churches can practically equip their people in missional living.

In Center Church, Timothy Keller offers challenging insights and provocative questions based on over twenty years of ministry in New York City. This eBook contains the seventh part of Center Church, "Integrative Ministry." In it, Keller examines what is required to apply a Center Church theological vision to four ministry to God, to one another, to the needs of the city, and to the culture.

In Center Church, Timothy Keller offers challenging insights and provocative questions based on over twenty years of ministry in New York City. This eBook contains the eighth part of Center Church, "Movement Dynamics." In it, Keller discusses what it means to faithfully connect the gospel with the culture and the need to develop intentional movements of churches planting new churches that faithfully proclaim God's truth and serve their communities.