Super Center Savior
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Super Center Savior
The Joy of Living between Sundays
By Jeff Noble
Published:
12/18/2012
Format:
Perfect Bound Softcover(B/W)
Pages:
118
Size:
5x8
ISBN:
978-1-46272-330-0
Print Type:
B/W
There are few areas of the country that have not been affected by Wal-Mart stores. In many communities, these stores serve not only as retail hubs but also as community centers. In Super Center Savior, Pastor Jeff Noble explores the similarities between the church and Wal-Mart and suggests how the church can become more influential in our lives and communities.
Using stories, personal examples, and cultural events, Noble helps Christians connect their mission and identity with creative analogies to Wal-Mart. He issues a thoughtful challenge for Christians to rethink, reinvest, and repent of selfishness and nudges the western consumer to commit to a faith-filled, dynamic, and influential lifestyle.
Super Center Savior shows what stores get right, what churches get wrong, and vice versa. It communicates how our world needs churches in which ministry happens 24/7 and the contagious joy that is revealed when Christians quit going to church and start being the church. When believers begin to live for Christ and others every day, and not just Sundays, our churches become as influential and important to our communities as Wal-Mart.

On a church-wide level, it's amazing what happens when we embrace humility and admit when we’re wrong. For the past several years, Westboro Baptist Church in Topkea, Kansas has been in the news for the opposite. They have no concept of customer service. In fact, I doubt they've ever thought about serving anyone.

They have regularly picketed across our country any events of communal grief. When the anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre (April 16) arrived in 2011, they showed up on the streets of Blacksburg with their "God hates fags" signs. (Yes, their website can be accessed through www.godhatesfags.com.) Harsh words, I know, but as of the time of publication of this book, I can only identify that "church" as one in which the New Testament points to as false teachers and destructive to the gospel.

You see, they are known for their hatred. Wikipedia states that the church is, "known for its extreme stance against homosexuality and its protest activities, which include picketing funerals of American servicemen and desecrating the American flag. The church is widely described as a hate group and is monitored as such by the Anti-Defamation League and Southern Poverty Law Center. It is headed by Fred Phelps and consists primarily of members of his large family; in 2011, the church stated that it had about 40 members."

How can such a small group of people inflame an entire nation? For one, they are zealous about their perspective. Instead of saying, "I'm wrong," they scream, "You're wrong." Second, they're persistent. Third, they are self-sacrificing. By all reports, they use their own funds to travel across the country to protest.

I wonder what might happen if real Christ-honoring churches (I do not consider WBC to be a Christ-exalting or honoring group.) would become as known for our "customer service" as WBC is known for its hatred?

How do we treat our communities, towns and their leaders? Do we reach out to them? Do we intentionally build relationships with them? I've not yet met a principal who didn't welcome a group of people that wanted to help his school. I'm not talking about putting up posters about a church activity. I'm talking about painting a classroom or collecting school supplies for students who come from lower-income families.

What are we known for?

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5.14-16 ESV)

When we become known for our lives of loving service rather than our weekly services, we are beginning to transition from being church-centered to being people-centered. If we exist only for ourselves and our church activities, we are missing the heart of our Savior who was centered on showing His Father's love to people who did not know Him.

Jeff Noble earned an MDiv degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as a campus minister for eight years and a pastor/church planter for six years in Arkansas. Noble currently serves as pastor of Northstar Church in Blacksburg, Virginia. He and his wife, Carolyn, have two children, Sam and Adelyn.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Super Center Savior". I have been looking forward to its release for sometime and it did not disappoint! For those of us that know Jeff, it is like he is sitting across the table from you at Starbucks speaking these truths to our hearts. I have and will continue to encourage people to read this small book that packs a big punch!
Jeremy Woodall 
I thoroughly enjoyed "Super Center Savior". I have been looking forward to its release for sometime and it did not disappoint! For those of us that know Jeff, it is like he is sitting across the table from you at Starbucks speaking these truths to our hearts. I have and will continue to encourage people to read this small book that packs a big punch!
Jtwoodall 
The book is an extended metaphor or, more accurately, a collection of loose analogies between the Church and Walmart. The analogies are offered up as modern parables with insights relating to the Christian life, the life of a Church, and just human nature in general. Don’t be worried about runaway metaphors. The author seems to understand and even acknowledges the limitations of using Walmart as a metaphor. The content would stand on its own as a great read; the metaphor just amplifies the impact with examples that we’re all familiar with. Which brings me to what I enjoyed most about the book; it turns every trip to a big-box store into a reminder to live out the mission that we’ve been called to as Christians. You can be sure that I’ll be listening for “The Voice” the next time I’m shopping for cauliflower and underwear.
OREVIK 
I know Jeff is a pastor, so initially I thought this book would be geared towards ministers, but really, this book is just as informative to anyone who has (or even wants) a relationship with Jesus. That's not to say that this book doesn't have lots to say to those to whom God has entrusted the day-to-day ministry of the local church. In fact, I was amazed at how well Jeff relayed his message to both those who serve the church as an occupational calling and those who may only be weekend attenders. It's hard to communicate effectively to multiple audiences, but Jeff has done that masterfully in this book.



This book uses a comparison to a retail giant that we all have to admit, whether we love or love to hate Walmart, knows a thing or two about reaching its target audience. Jeff ponders ways the church could use Walmart's philosophy to meet the needs of its target audience. And even gives some examples of how the church may be too much like Walmart.



I think what I love most about this book is its practical application supported by God's Word. But this isn't stuffy, over-your-head theology. Even if you've never met Jeff, if you read this book you would feel like you were sitting across a table from him at a Starbucks, talking about living life between Sundays in the places God put us to represent Him. I certainly didn't feel like Jeff was preaching at me, but in several chapters I identified ways that I'm missing out on living out my relationship with Jesus.



This would be a great book to read through with your spouse or another friend or in a small group setting. I highlighted lots of good stuff that I'd love to flesh out with some friends. Jeff even mentioned some other books that I now want to read to add even more to the discussion he initiated. I feel like Jeff started the conversation, but left plenty of room for us to add our voices. Kind of like a brainstorming session where the capital "C" Church gets together to talk about how we can better do little "c" church to make it better represent what Jesus had in mind when he entrusted it to His best friends. How have we followed in the disciples' footsteps and where have we gone off the trail? How do we tear down the walls of our church that keep us looking inward to make ourselves available to those who need what we have the most? I think Super Center Savior offers some great insight on how to begin answering those questions.
Amy Lawson 


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