This will be a controversial book among churches. Much like a book on small churches perceived as calling large churches bad... this book has many great points and a few jumps in logic.
First I agree as do statistics that the boomer and down are giving less. In fact I recently read that Christians in the Great Depression era out gave current givers. So yes. There is an issue.
Second too often churches and plants put too high of a demand on the budget. This is unsustainable and hinders ministries and often the highest cost is payroll and benefits.
Third churches need to rely less on tithing and more on secondary sources such as facility rentals.

But there are problems.
First do we not seek to educate? But since this book takes the tithe as a non-New testament “law” then we shouldn’t waste our time. Now Jesus mentions the Tithe as the author addressed but what they didn’t address is since we live by the Ten Commandments still (ever try to murder someone) then why would this be removed? Oh and how about that tithe was never called a law in the Old Testament. Yet even if it was Jesus taught a “greater law” that came from the Holy Spirit. (Think of verses about speaking ill as being murder etc). Jesus calls us to a deeper adherence.
Second, the examples of church plants is not always the norm. Not all plants are seeking $200,000 budgets and large payrolls. We have house churches, and small church, and others that are not financial drains.

I appreciate the concept and challenge of the author but had difficulty with some of the comments and leaps which are not peer reviewed or founded on all the facts. It felt as though they had their points and found stats to prove them. Check the same Ed Setzer reports and Lifeway research today and these have already begun to change.

Focus the book on the idea that churches do need to address the lesser giving and do so with sustainable income then you’ve got a great read.

Thank you to the publisher for this free ebook to review. The comments are my own and based on my views and opinions. I was not expect d to review the book in any specific way.