I visited a college youth conference in 2000 where I discovered Mark Driscoll. After all the big names spoke, Mark spoke last. After 30 minutes of his talk, the place was literally unable to move, jaws dropped everywhere he was so amazing. Consequently, he was asked back the next day to headline. Since then, I've downloaded all his sermons at www.marshillchurch.org and read his book several times. The book itself is probably 3 stars b/c it's sparse, but it's a great way to get started. For further info, his sermons are full of his ideas and teachings. You may have heard of Rob Bell but Mark Driscoll's ideas are so powerful and different, they will twist and change every thought about church and your relationhip with God you've ever had- in a good way. He uses the gospels to explain how culture has changed but church has not changed- and why it needs to change. Because he didn't become a christian till his college years, Mark has a very unique perspective on why non-christians don't want to go to church, and also how to relate to them. Download just one of his sermons and you'll see very quickly why I enjoy his teachings so much.

Read this book. If you are a nonchristian sickened by the hypocrisy and dullness of organized religion, read this book. If you are a christian sickened by the hypocrisy and dullness of organized religion, read this book. If you have red blood coursing through your arteries, read this book. It challenges the "system" of evangelical Christianity while maintaining all the important parts (like, you know, the stuff that's actually in the Bible). If you were (like me) dreading each Sunday morning like a weekly root canal, and feeling guilty because you're supposed to like church, then this is the read for you. Be careful, though. This Mark guy is addictive. You may find yourself listening to his sermons (available on the Mars Hill website) regularly, and sometimes [gasp!] just for the fun of it. You'll laugh, you'll cry; you'll wonder how the gospel suddenly became so relevant to your life.