So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places (Eph. 3:10). And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all (Eph. 1:22-23).

The word “church” occurs 120 times in the whole Bible, nine times in Ephesians, the highest number of occurrences in all of Paul’s letters except 1 Corinthians. (Benjamin L. Merkle What Is Distinct about the Theology of Ephesians?)

If we are to identify the books of the Bible that best reflect the glory of the church, Ephesians would certainly be one of them. Megan Hill, in her book, uses a uniquely delicate feminine perspective to richly explain how we should apply the biblical ecclesiology in our daily lives.

“At first glance, ‘the house of God’ (Heb. 10:21) is unremarkable: a regular gathering of ordinary people committed to a largely invisible mission. None of us is much to look at. We sing slightly off-key, and we can’t always clearly articulate the faith we profess.” (Ps. 11)

But is this truly the case? Are believers really that aimless, and is the church so ordinary, like Cinderella before her transformation? Absolutely not. Megan’s strength lies in her ability to look at the seemingly insignificant details with the eyes of a video analyst, always seeing the heavenly form of the earthly church. She noticed a young boy who emptied his piggy bank, which he had been saving for two years, to support a distant translation ministry, and, in this, she saw the Gospel partnership between churches. When she noticed an empty seat on the church pew, she was reminded of the sister who had sat there for many years, recognizing the long-standing and stable relationship between the believer and the church. She also observed a former prisoner making efforts to integrate into the church, and, through this, she witnessed the flow of love within the church community. It is through these details that the church ceases to be a run-down building and instead becomes a heavenly community made up of beloved, called saints, and gospel partners.

If you are content with your life and grateful for your church, this book might help you discover even more sacredness and joy that you haven’t yet realized. If you are dissatisfied with your life, feeling weary, or cold towards the church, then you should read this book all the more. The author aims to equip you with a high-powered, golden-lens eagle eye, helping you see the holiness of the church and the blessings you have received.

Allow me to say this: if the church in your heart does not yet reflect the beauty of a bride or the fragrance of heaven, then sadly, your life is likely to remain dull and gloomy. The train to heaven does not depart from your family dining table or from Parliament Hill; it departs only from the local church to which you are committed.

Reviewer: Eric Cai (October 2024)