The Essential Church

Two hours sounds like a long documentary, but The Essential Church could have been much longer, considering everything it covered, and honestly, I wish it was much longer. From the fight of Grace Community Church against government restriction, two jailed pastors in Canada, and a crash course in Scottish Covenanter history, the film left me provoked and inspired.

Though the film had limited reach, which may be why you cannot see it in a theater, you can pre-order a copy here. Thankfully, the DVD has bonus features, which I hope include uncut interviews.

There are two thoughts that I left the movie theater with; I want to study the history of those who stood against government rule in the churches and how thankful I am for men who wrestled with Scripture, changed their minds, and reopened church and stood their ground.

To use Spurgeon’s term, it’s not hard to recognize the downgrade in many churches today. The Gospel is lost amid entertainment and self-help with a few Bible verses thrown in. The Church needs men of conviction and clarity; the three men and their elders in the film are such men.

When I listen to the preaching of Pastors John MacArthur, Steve Lawson, Tom Pennington, and others, I am convinced that I don’t know the Bible as well as I want or should. I am encouraged to look to Jesus and be a student of the Word of God. As I read Charles Spurgeon and the Puritan Paperbacks from Banner of Truth, I am reminded of how amazing and central the gospel message is and how Jesus should be at the center of everything I teach.

Anyone who watches The Essential Church will come away longing to be part of the gathered Body of Christ, your interest in Church history will be peaked, and you won’t find it boring. I believe each of us will come away with a greater appreciation for the preaching of the Word and a desire to support those who will put it all on the line to say, The Church is essential to the life of the believer, and the spiritual health of every person, whether they realize it or not, is their most important health. Physical fitness will eventually give way to death, and at that moment, the only thing that will matter is, do you know Jesus, and does Jesus know you?