David Smith diagnoses two problems when it comes to theology and local church life: blind theology and blind praxis. Blind theology is what happens when theology is done without consideration of the practical realities of church life. Blind praxis is what happens when a church acts without consideration of theology. In both scenarios local churches are cut adrift from reliable guidance, often resorting to pragmatism ("It worked for the church down the road so it might work for us") or traditionalism ("That's just the way we do things around here").

This book is an exercise in Practical Theology for Australian churches. Designed for use by local church leaderships, it brings together research into church vitality with theology and church history to generate a rich theological and practical suggestions for church life. Each chapter focuses on one of nine dimensions of church vitality which contribute to our call to live kingdom shaped lives in kingdom shaped churches and helps church leaderships develop plans for their local context.