If there is one thing I should take away from this book it's that I should probably keep this review short. "Less is more" is David Browning's mantra in his book Deliberate Simplicity: How the Church Does More by Doing Less. I've not been in full-time church ministry long but I would agree that generally speaking if there is a convoluted way of doing things in the church people will find a way to do it that way. Browning's book is like a much needed machete helping to slice through the overgrowth of church ministry.
The book is so rich with illustrations and examples from every area of life that I wonder if he had to exhaust his preaching bag to get them all. His loss is our gain, for, again and again the principle is stated and verified: sometime less is more.
Although much of the book resonates with common sense, Browning's commitment to simplicity challenges that inner voice that is comfortable with traditional models and wonders "but that's the way we've always done it!" Of course no one should read the book hoping to replicate the success Browning has seen. Yet, the principles of healthy church growth are there if one is willing adjust the application to one's own setting and community culture.
Bottom line, keep it simple. An enjoyable and thought provoking read that I would recommend to and church leader interested in doing more by doing less.
