Book Review-Revitalize by Andrew Davis

In the current state of contemporary Christian culture, a disheartening trend has emerged. Churches across North America are shutting their doors. Mainline denominations that once stood on biblical truth have gone the way of compromise. This overwhelming reality is discouraging and growing with no end in sight. This is why Andrew Davis’s book Revitalize: Biblical Keys to Helping Your Church Come Alive Again is a must-read. Davis, a pastor of First Baptist Church of Durham, North Carolina and a visiting professor of church history at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, brings his extensive experience and insights to the table. He sets out to prove that “the only remedies to this trend are church planting and church revitalization.” (p. 18). Davis's own experiences and insights into church revitalization offer a beacon of hope for fellow shepherds who find themselves in similar circumstances. The book's applicability extends beyond churches in immediate need of revitalization, making it valuable for all church leaders, thereby making the audience feel included.

The book contains fourteen lessons he gleaned from his time revitalizing FBC. Although not specified in his outline, these ideas (found in chapters 3-16) can be divided into two sections. Lessons 1-5 address the revitalizer's relationship with God, followed by lessons 6-14 that focus on the revitalizer's relationship with the congregation. A summary of all the lessons may be found on pages 22-26, but Davis's full explanation is worth reading the entire volume. 

In chapters one and two, Davis begins by building and defining his idea of church revitalization. Describing Revelation 1-3, he expresses how “this vision, as well as the subsequent letters to the seven churches, represents Christ’s ongoing work of church reformation.” (p. 14). If Christ prioritizes this ministry, so should pastors and elders today. Davis’s point is that every church must examine its spiritual health and embark on any needed revitalization. He defines church revitalization as “the effort to restore by biblical means a once healthy church from a present level of disease to a state of spiritual health, as defined by the Word of God.” (p. 20). Borrowing from his friend Mark Dever and his book 9 Marks of a Healthy Church, Davis carefully identifies problems that may be found in a church that needs revitalization compared to a healthy church (pp. 38-41). This helpful list (pp. 42-46) is not exhaustive but introduces several subjects Davis will address. It confronts readers with real issues they may find in their church, such as a low view of Scripture, disorderly church polity, and disunity, among several others. He is sensitive yet pointed in his assertions. He gives clear examples to support his points, which will help churches examine their ministries. Having laid this foundation, Davis dives into the lessons he learned from his experience.

 After laying the foundation, Davis begins the section of vertically oriented lessons, starting with Christ’s ownership and supremacy in the church. This idea sets the tone for the whole book, and the reader will benefit from returning to this theme during the entire read. Davis emphasizes that pastors need “A passion for the exaltation of Christ as head of the church must enflame the heart of all church revitalizers. You must burn with a passion for the supremacy of Christ in your local church.” (p. 48). Davis’s thought is clear: the church belongs to the Lord. He bought her, He is preparing her, He will build her, and He will work in her (pp. 48-54). Davis encourages the revitalizer to rest in Jesus, trusting Him to accomplish the work. Davis then explores the need for holiness, reliance on God, and prioritizing Scripture in the work of the revitalization (pp. 58-92). A chain of development unfolds in these chapters. How can pastors focus on the supremacy of Christ? Focus on personal holiness. How do pastors develop personal holiness? Rely upon God. How can pastors hone their dependence upon God? Careful study and dedication to His word. Davis intentionally and thoughtfully demonstrates how each element plays a crucial role in revitalization. A notable highlight in these chapters is Davis's resistance to the idea of methodology that is prominent in the church culture today. He is careful not to impose any specific revitalization model upon the reader. Davis refers to Charles Finney’s claim that “if you do the work properly, you will of necessity get a revival every time” (p. 87). He counters by stating that every church is different and requires a different approach to revitalization. The commonality is that “…in every case, true revitalization comes…with a firm reliance on the sufficiency of the Word of God…” (p. 87). Davis concludes the God-focused section of the book with the need for prayer to saturate the church. He claims, “Church revitalization will only ever happen in answer to faith-filled, prevailing prayer.” (p.94). It may seem rudimentary, but pastors would do well to follow Davis’s advice and cultivate a thriving prayer life in their personal lives and churches. 

Davis then focuses on the relationship between the pastor and the congregation. This section makes up the bulk of the book and offers practical insights for the reader. He begins by calling for pastors to cast a Christ-centered vision for their church. Davis submits, “Visionary leadership is vital in all churches in order for them to bear maximum fruit for the glory of God. But it is especially essential in church revitalization situations.” (p. 105). He helps pastors see “…what is true, godly, real, and ultimately biblical.” (p. 108). 

Davis then addresses the humility needed when opposition rises against the established vision. Drawing from his experience, he gives ten reasons for meekness that will inform the reader and are readily applicable (pp. 121-124). A notable point Davis points out is “Your enemies may be right…about something.” (p. 123). This corrects any temptation for revitalizers to assume they are always right. Employing examples from the Bible and history, Davis gives a solid basis for humility and love when dealing with opponents. When faced with opposition, a pastor cannot be thin-skinned. As Davis notes, they need courage. Davis gives helpful thoughts, drawing again from biblical and church history, providing examples that address courage. A unique thought was employing humour to settle the nerves when contentious situations arise—a refreshing idea for a solemn topic. The subsequent chapters provide two lessons closely related to dealing with opposition. Not only is courage required, but Davis also discusses the need for patience and discernment when addressing church spiritual health issues. Considering the opposition and controversy revitalizers will face, patience is essential. He argues that it is detrimental to rush the process. Davis reminds pastors, “When we are tempted to move ahead of God, we must realize that we will only do damage to the perfect plans he has laid out for our church.” (p. 141). Just as patience is essential, pastors must pick their battles carefully. Davis explains, “…not every issue is worth fighting over—or at least addressing right away.” (p. 155). This hearkens back to the previous chapter on patience. The road to spiritual vitality is long; patiently discerning which issues to address is essential for successful revitalization. Chapter thirteen deals with battling discouragement, and Davis’s wisdom shines here. He thoughtfully expresses key reasons revitalizers may become discouraged, but heroes from scripture and church history will comfort the reader. His own personal struggle gives him credibility to provide helpful insights. He reminds the audience, “…do not fret or be anxious, do not worry or be alarmed. Simply stand firm and watch the deliverance that God will bring about.” (p. 171).

After establishing concepts to help combat opposition, Davis focuses on key areas where challenges will likely be faced. In chapters fourteen through sixteen, he addresses raising up a plurality of male elders, conducting corporate worship, and developing discipleship in the church. These are hot topic issues, and Davis precisely and thoughtfully defends male eldership and blended worship. One thought-provoking insight is, “God likes more forms of worship than you do…it is good for you to worship in forms that you do not like—but God does.” (p. 194), invoking personal reflection. He concludes his book with a beautiful call to glorify God for His work through the labour of revitalizers. This labour-intensive task is entrusted to some faithful shepherds, but God deserves the glory. 

Davis’s book is a joy to read, and I found it helpful. It gives readers a thorough, engaging, compelling, and encouraging treatment of a sober subject. Each point is clearly explained and practically illustrated, making it easy to understand and implement. Examples from the lives of the apostle Paul, Martin Luther, Adoniram Judson, William Tyndale, and others strongly support Davis’s arguments and make the book more relatable. However, Davis may face criticism for his treatment of some of the divisive issues he addresses. Subjects such as male leadership and worship style are controversial; some may disagree with his stance. His defences of male eldership and blended worship styles are scriptural and compelling but may not persuade every reader. This may serve helpful as it encourages the reader to dig into scripture and evaluate their viewpoint before embracing Davis’s advice. 

I appreciated Davis’s use of anecdotes. They are effective at giving credibility to his advice throughout the book. They demonstrate that his wisdom has come from careful reflection and application from real-life situations. His down-to-earth approach is beneficial to the reader by being applicable in a variety of scenarios. He includes practical advice sections at the end of each chapter that are thoughtful, biblical, theologically sound, historically informed, and even humorous. Another strength is Davis’s pastoral heart. It shines through in statements like “This book is written from a deep yearning to equip you for that fight, strengthen your hearts with solid food from God’s Word, and guide you with wisdom and clear strategies for victory” (p. 17). Davis targets church revitalizers specifically, and unfortunately, the title does not communicate the benefit any church can glean from this book. Many may overlook this book because they do not believe their church needs revitalization. However, Davis never addresses when a church will need to be revitalized; instead, he gives traits found in a church with poor spiritual health. This allows for a broader application of his thoughts, but that intent needs to be clearly communicated. The reality is that any pastor or church leader can find this material helpful in leading their congregations toward church vitality. I urge any church leader to add this book to their library because, as Mark Dever comments, “God may use this book to answer your church’s prayers for new life.” (p. 12). 

Davis, Andrew M. Revitalize: Biblical Keys to Helping Your Church Come Alive Again. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 2017, 221 pages.