Houses that Change the World

Houses that Change the World
Author: Wolfgang Simson
Publisher: Authentic
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2001
Genre: House churches
ISBN: 9781850783565

Millions of Christians around the world are becoming aware of an imminent reformation of global proportions within the church. God is changing this revered institution and is making a new collective awareness of an age-old revelation, a corporate spiritual echo that reflects God's desire for the church. In this book, Simson brings to light what God is saying to Christians everywhere. Researched across the globe, he presents the case for the reformation of the church's existence. In a world where the church is being ignored, it is time to bring the church to the people and not the people to the church. Whether it is what we know as church from the last five years or the last five hundred years, no one has truly been able to break free from the structures of the past. Many may see this book as radical, many may see it as a reforming of old ideals but all who read it will be challenged and their priorities refocused in a life-changing way.

House Churches in Post-Communist Europe

House Churches in Post-Communist Europe
Author: Randy Hacker
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 203
Release: 2023-02-10
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1666740055

This is an exploration of house churches, especially in Poland. The book begins with a review of literature about the "global house church movement" and continues with an article on the early Christian transition from house churches to purpose-built buildings for churches. Next is an article regarding the concept of "sacred space" in relation to house churches. The first half concludes with a chapter on methodology of research for a qualitative interview approach to studying house churches. The thesis then presents a theological method for using the qualitative interviews to develop ecclesiology. Sixteen interviews from thirteen house churches are presented. The thesis continues the theological method by attempting to answer the question "why is it going on" and presents a thematic analysis from the qualitative interviews that includes input from sociological research done in Poland. The thesis concludes by using scriptural and academic sources in conversation with house church interviews from the interviews and global house church literature to present four primary conclusions in a practical-prophetic ecclesiology.

Missional House Churches

Missional House Churches
Author: J. D. Payne
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Total Pages: 209
Release: 2008-03-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0830857060

Using original interviews with over thirty missional house churches, J. D. Payne examines the influence of the house church movement on local communities throughout the United States.

Leadership in Japanese House Churches

Leadership in Japanese House Churches
Author: Simon Cozens
Publisher: Wide Margin
Total Pages: 162
Release: 2011
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0956594360

This study provides a survey of Japanese house church leaders, coupled with sociological analysis of leadership patterns in Japan focused primarily on the leadership of voluntary organisations and a historical review of house church movements, to determine the form and function of leaders and leadership within these movements. The key findings were that leadership is a function and not a role, is often coterminous with disciple-making, and can be characterized primary in terms of the maintainance of group cohesion.

Kingdom Expressions

Kingdom Expressions
Author: J. D. Payne
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Inc
Total Pages: 151
Release: 2012
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1418545961

In our changing world how do Christians come together in non-traditional ways? An expert takes a look at some of the most significant gospel-advancing movements and trends to take place in the latter twentieth and twenty-first centuries in the United States. New Christian groups examined include: the Church Growth Movement, Missional Church Movement, Multisite Movement, the rise of church planting networks, the House Church Movement, and the Emerging Church Movement. Readers are introduced to each expression, along with important definitions, history, convictions, and influential leaders. Features include: A close look at non-denominational movements that reach new people for Christ Explanations of how contemporary Christianity is changing Concise guide to non-traditional Christian groups "

Salt, Light, and a City, Second Edition

Salt, Light, and a City, Second Edition
Author: Graham Joseph Hill
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 357
Release: 2017-06-13
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1532603231

Graham Hill's pioneering classic remains the seminal work on missional ecclesiology. The bestselling first edition redefined theology for the missional church. Hill builds biblical foundations in conversation with major theologians, including Sarah Coakley, John Zizioulas, Stanley Hauerwas, Miroslav Volf, and Jurgen Moltmann. In this major update, he offers new insights and provides fresh examples of missional churches. In the first edition, Hill interacted with twelve major theologians to build a missional ecclesiology. In this thoroughly updated edition, he interacts with sixteen major theologians from the Western world. This edition includes five new chapters and an expanded treatment on the key convictions of global missional theology. It also offers a new study guide that has been uploaded on an innovative website linked to this book. This expanded edition now becomes volume 1 in a series on missional ecclesiology. In volume 2, Hill will turn our attention to voices from the Majority World. Known for his groundbreaking approach to theology--theology for the global missional community--Hill shows how God is releasing his global church to mission, across all cultures and Christian traditions. This extensive update to Hill's influential work offers pioneering theology and practices that will continue to shape the global missional church for generations.

Yes in Christ

Yes in Christ
Author: Howard A. Snyder
Publisher: Clements Publishing Group
Total Pages: 341
Release: 2011
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1894667999

The promises of God formed the basis of John Wesley's optimism of grace. Wesley believed God not only could but in fact would fulfill all his promises to bring salvation to the nations; to make new heavens and a new earth; to liberate the whole creation from its bondage to decay (Rom. 8:21). This collection of essays by respected Wesleyan theologian Howard A. Snyder reflects the spirit of Wesley's optimism of grace. The first half of this collection offers an overview of Wesley's theology and practice, particularly with regard to gospel, mission, and culture. Part Two examines the inter-dynamic between church renewal and global mission. The collection also includes Wesleyan appraisals of Clark Pinnock's theology and the ecclesiology of Karl Barth. Howard A. Snyder serves as distinguished professor and chair of Wesley Studies at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Previously he was professor of history and theology of mission in the E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky from 1996 to 2006. He has also taught at United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio, and pastored in Chicago and Detroit. He has written numerous books, including " The Problem with Wineskins " (IVP), " The Radical Wesley " (IVP) and, most recently " Populist Saints: B. T. and Ellen Roberts and the Birth of Free Methodism " (Eerdmans). "

Resilient Faith

Resilient Faith
Author: Gerald L. Sittser
Publisher: Brazos Press
Total Pages: 289
Release: 2019-10-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1493419986

In our Western, post-Christendom society, much of Christianity's cultural power, privilege, and influence has eroded. But all is not lost, says bestselling author Gerald Sittser. Although the church is concerned and sobered by this cultural shift, it is also curious and teachable. Sittser shows how the early church offers wisdom for responding creatively to the West's increasing secularization. The early Christian movement was surprisingly influential and successful in the Roman world, and so different from its two main rivals--traditional religion and Judaism--that Rome identified it as a "third way." Early Christians immersed themselves in the empire without significant accommodation to or isolation from the culture. They confessed Jesus as Lord and formed disciples accordingly, which helped the church grow in numbers and influence. Sittser explores how Christians today can learn from this third way and respond faithfully, creatively, and winsomely to a world that sees Christianity as largely obsolete. Each chapter introduces historical figures, ancient texts, practices, and institutions to explain and explore the third way of the Jesus movement, which, surprising everyone, changed the world.

Encyclopedia of Protestantism

Encyclopedia of Protestantism
Author: Hans J. Hillerbrand
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 4119
Release: 2004-08-02
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1135960283

This Encyclopedia is the definitive reference to the history and beliefs that continue to exert a profound influence on Western thought.

Underground Church

Underground Church
Author: Brian Sanders
Publisher: Zondervan
Total Pages: 271
Release: 2018-03-06
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0310538084

What If the Church Truly Empowered People to Engage in God's Mission? Something extraordinary has been happening in Tampa, Florida. A new expression of the church has been quietly growing. It's something of an experiment, but over the last ten years the church has been validating its ideas with sustained and growing results. At The Underground, being the church is not focused around a weekly gathering or church programs. It's about empowering individuals to respond to God's call to ministry and mission, especially to the poor and disadvantaged in our midst. While many churches talk about discerning calling and engaging in mission, very few are structured to make this their ministry focus. Underground Church is a new vision for the church rooted in its biblical mission to share the love of God and serve the poor. Sanders explores how to make structural changes, how to think about leadership, how to fund ministries, and how to truly engage people in God's mission. Filled with creative insights, he explains what it means to center the mission of the church around the callings of individuals to outward ministry - whether that involves leading Bible studies in the workplace, feeding the homeless, or working to free women and children from sex trafficking. This book will both tell the inspiring story of a church that is rethinking what church looks like while also outlining and uncovering the principles that transfer for every church and Christian community that hopes for more. It's the true story of a 10-year experiment that unpacks the possibilities of a church structured and streamlined for mission. X