Confident Witness--changing World

Confident Witness--changing World
Author: Craig Van Gelder
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Total Pages: 342
Release: 1999
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780802846556

In Confident Witness -- Changing World, twenty-two scholars and skilled ministry practitioners explore this complex question not only theoretically but also in practical terms immediately useful to pastors and church leaders.

Confident Pluralism

Confident Pluralism
Author: John D. Inazu
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 187
Release: 2018-08-03
Genre: Law
ISBN: 022659243X

In the three years since Donald Trump first announced his plans to run for president, the United States seems to become more dramatically polarized and divided with each passing month. There are seemingly irresolvable differences in the beliefs, values, and identities of citizens across the country that too often play out in our legal system in clashes on a range of topics such as the tensions between law enforcement and minority communities. How can we possibly argue for civic aspirations like tolerance, humility, and patience in our current moment? In Confident Pluralism, John D. Inazu analyzes the current state of the country, orients the contemporary United States within its broader history, and explores the ways that Americans can—and must—strive to live together peaceably despite our deeply engrained differences. Pluralism is one of the founding creeds of the United States—yet America’s society and legal system continues to face deep, unsolved structural problems in dealing with differing cultural anxieties and differing viewpoints. Inazu not only argues that it is possible to cohabitate peacefully in this country, but also lays out realistic guidelines for our society and legal system to achieve the new American dream through civic practices that value toleration over protest, humility over defensiveness, and persuasion over coercion. With a new preface that addresses the election of Donald Trump, the decline in civic discourse after the election, the Nazi march in Charlottesville, and more, this new edition of Confident Pluralism is an essential clarion call during one of the most troubled times in US history. Inazu argues for institutions that can work to bring people together as well as political institutions that will defend the unprotected. Confident Pluralism offers a refreshing argument for how the legal system can protect peoples’ personal beliefs and differences and provides a path forward to a healthier future of tolerance, humility, and patience.

Cultures and Societies in a Changing World

Cultures and Societies in a Changing World
Author: Wendy Griswold
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Total Pages: 233
Release: 2012-01-10
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1452289409

In the Fourth Edition of Cultures and Societies in a Changing World, author Wendy Griswold illuminates how culture shapes our social world and how society shapes culture. She helps students gain an understanding of the sociology of culture and explore stories, beliefs, media, ideas, art, religious practices, fashions, and rituals from a sociological perspective. Cultural examples from multiple countries and time periods will broaden students′ global understanding. They will develop a deeper appreciation of culture and society, gleaning insights that will help them overcome cultural misunderstandings, conflicts, and ignorance; equip them to be more effective in their professional and personal lives, and become wise citizens of the world.

Cultivating an Evangelistic Character

Cultivating an Evangelistic Character
Author: Christopher James Schoon
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 233
Release: 2018-04-24
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1532644329

This project explores the relationship between worship, discipleship, and evangelism within the missional church movement. Engaging contributions from liturgical theology, Christian ethics, and post-Christendom evangelism, the book proposes a missional approach to worship that, when integrated with a praxis-oriented discipleship, cultivates Jesus' character among God's people. Along the way, the project attends to the Holy Spirit's transformative presence, the liturgical rhythms of remembering and anticipating, and the practices of hospitality and compassion. In the end, Cultivating an Evangelistic Character contends that the Spirit works through the integration of worship and discipleship to form God's people. In other words, God's people become evangelistic, or as Newbigin said, "the hermeneutic of the gospel."

Spirit-empowered Christianity in the Twenty-first Century

Spirit-empowered Christianity in the Twenty-first Century
Author: Vinson Synan
Publisher: Charisma Media
Total Pages: 609
Release: 2011
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1616382198

Spirit-Empowered Christianity in the 21st Century is an authoritative compilation of the presentations from thirty leaders in the Charismatic/Pentecostal movement given at the Empowered 21 Conference in Tulsa, OK, in April 2010. These chapters share emerging insights on how the next generation will handle the profound issues facing Christians within the Charismatic/Pentecostal movement in the 21st century.

Intercultural Theology, Volume Two

Intercultural Theology, Volume Two
Author: Henning Wrogemann
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Total Pages: 481
Release: 2018-01-09
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 083088906X

In this second volume of his three-volume Intercultural Theology, Henning Wrogemann turns to theologies of mission. Tracing developments across a range of Christian traditions, movements, themes, and regions of the globe, Wrogemann provides an overview of the theological underpinnings, rationalizations, and visions for mission and its practice.

Transforming Pastoral Leadership

Transforming Pastoral Leadership
Author: Quentin P. Kinnison
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 191
Release: 2016-05-20
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1532600283

For many congregations, change creates discomfort. Pastoral leaders are often expected to be experts who manage and control realities beyond their expertise, experience, and ability. That expectation, a product of modern approaches to leadership, views the pastor as responsible for maintaining the status quo. Transforming Pastoral Leadership responds to this context by challenging readers to rediscover key biblical themes around the shepherding metaphor as well as key theological themes steeped in our historical faith narratives. Readers are challenged to consider the origins of our dominant leadership practices and to reconsider how Christ's preeminence as the leader of his church requires us to reconstruct leadership practices that are faithful to his preeminence. To assist congregations, Transforming Pastoral Leadership suggests two processes that might help congregations discern God's missional promptings as they move forward into God's future and experience conflict as opportunities for transformation.

Introduction to Spirituality (Foundations for Spirit-Filled Christianity)

Introduction to Spirituality (Foundations for Spirit-Filled Christianity)
Author: Gary Tyra
Publisher: Baker Books
Total Pages: 196
Release: 2023-06-20
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1493441795

This introduction explores Christian spirituality as a pursuit of the global church today. It encourages students to adopt a lifestyle spirituality, which involves relational intimacy with the triune God. Gary Tyra is well known for his work in the field of Christian spirituality and has years of experience in the classroom and in the church. In this book, Tyra encourages us to adopt a Pauline lifestyle spirituality, whereby we keep in step with the Holy Spirit so that we might experience an ongoing mentoring relationship with the Son in order to faithfully and fruitfully engage in the mission of the Father. Keeping in step with the spirit unfolds in a "lifestyle spirituality," a collection of convictions, commitments, and customs that constitute the disciple's lifelong journey with the triune God. This book is part of a new series that reflects the changing face of global Christianity. Series volumes are written by leading Pentecostal/Charismatic scholars who highlight themes of interest to Pentecostal/Charismatic students; however, the books are respectful, appreciative, and inclusive of a variety of church families and traditions. Series editors are Jerry Ireland, Paul W. Lewis, and Frank D. Macchia.

Sent and Gathered

Sent and Gathered
Author: Clayton J. Schmit
Publisher: Baker Academic
Total Pages: 224
Release: 2009-10
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0801031656

Examines worship in church settings around the globe and provides a practical manual for shaping liturgies that are informed by and relevant to contemporary missional contexts.

A Strategy For Reaching Secular People

A Strategy For Reaching Secular People
Author: Ernan A. Norman, D. Min.
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Total Pages: 344
Release: 2007-05-11
Genre: Self-Help
ISBN: 1467084042

Dr. Ernan A. Norman, D.Min. has identified strategies to implement John 13:35 “All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.” An excellent source for the essential principles of discipleship in a postmodern world. This book is written in nontechnical language based on the experiences as a student, pastor, and professor. I believe that the concepts presented are fundamental and are in harmony with the model demonstrated by Jesus during His ministry on earth. Meeting people at their level, putting their needs ahead of His own, treating people with respect, befriending the nonreligious and inviting them into a relationship with Himself are some of the concepts that are identified and supported as strategies for reaching secular people. This book is an outstanding and important piece of work, and easily readable. I would urge A Strategy for Reaching Secular People on members and leaders in every church – if they are willing to challenge basic assumptions and embrace change relative to reaching lost people. Strategies that remove the barriers that keep people from hearing about God’s love, and to create a warm, friendly, uncritical, and non-judgmental attitude of acceptance are clearly presented. Full of practical how-to’s and watch-out’s this book by Ernan Norman is for individuals serious about sharing the love of God. As we interact with and minister to secular people, matters such as marriage and family, academics, employment, addictions, and human rights must be addressed. Norman clearly gives strategies for intentional efforts to reach secular-postmodern men and women in our day. The central concept is the example of Jesus that we should follow. A must read! Weymouth Spence, Ed.D. President of Washington Adventist University