Sweet, whose title is Dean of the Theological School and Vice President of Drew University, does not give a "how to" on dealing with changing culture and society. As the reader will realize, there may not be any way to write a "how to" book which guides the reader through a series of easy steps on "How to Do Ministry in the New Millenium." Instead, Sweet delineates 10 "Life Rings" -- seeming paradoxes -- in which apparently opposing trends are taking place at the same time. With each chapter is a small group discussion guide which could prove to be very useful in helping the local church come to terms with the changes which are taking place in our society. In addition to the discussion guides are internet resources which will enable the reader to "experience" what Sweet is writing about.

Throughout Sweet's extensive analysis of the shift from a modern to a post-modern culture, he makes several observations that are significant for preachers. In his first chapter, Sweet asserts, "Postmodern preachers don't populate the pews; they connect people to the living Christ. Postmodern evangelism doesn't say to the world, 'Come to church.' Rather it says to the church, 'Go to the world.'" Further, Sweet says, "Postmodern evangelism is recognizing that God is already at work in people's lives ... and that our role is helping people to see how God is present and active in their lives, calling them home." Sounds a lot like Henry Blackaby's popular Experiencing God to me.

Preachers can no longer assume that lost and unchurched people will come flocking to the church house to hear them preach. The implication, more than ever before, is that the church must engage in servant ministries in order to gain a hearing for one who would presume to be a spokesperson for God, whether in public or in a one-to-one setting.

Sweet also asserts, "Nothing pushes postmoderns' nausea button quicker than sermons that are pure didactic cardboard or psychological mush." Postmoderns live in a world where they are inundated with information. They resist the kind of preaching that says follow these three easy steps and you will be happy. They are open to sound teaching which is not offered as dogma but allows them to draw their own conclusions, according to Sweet.

Those who preach in a post-modern world must be men and women of strong ethos. In spite of the fact that the world around us seems to be in a moral meltdown at times, there will be a hunger for people of authenticity. Those who are able to be artistic rather than simply rationalistic will gain a greater hearing by postmoderns.

A rule of thumb for churches in the postmodern era, according to Sweet, is "to figure out how to do what you're already doing, except better and on a smaller scale." This sentiment is akin to "eating the elephant one bite at a time." It will require developing niche ministries and a good bit of "de-construction." Perhaps worship will need to be de-constructed so as to allow for God's Spirit to move in a spontaneous way. Perhaps errant notions of what a Christian is and what a Christian does will need to give way to more authentic expressions of discipleship.