Sacred Space for the Missional Church

Sacred Space for the Missional Church
Author: William R. McAlpine
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 214
Release: 2011-02-14
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 149827322X

Sacred Space for the Missional Church examines the strong link between the theology and mission of the Church and the spaces in which and from which that theology and mission are lived out. The author demonstrates that the built environment is not incidental or even subservient to mission. Rather it is a key player in the fulfillment and the communication of that mission. The book begins with a working definition of the missional church, underscoring the connection between God's mission (missio Dei) and the Church's mission. The reader is presented with historical and theological frameworks for sacred space, and reminded of the pivotal role of the built environment in the fulfillment of the mission of the Church. The design and construction of sacred spaces are shown to be fundamentally a theological exercise and not solely a matter of function, pragmatics and fiscal astuteness. The author questions the uncritical application of blanket statements such "form must follow function," and challenges the conviction that it does not matter where worship occurs, only that it occurs. The book addresses genuine concerns such as legitimizing the cost of church buildings and concludes with practical suggestions and essential questions that must be considered in posturing the built environment within the missional praxis of the Church.

Sacred Space for the Missional Church

Sacred Space for the Missional Church
Author: William R. McAlpine
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 223
Release: 2011-02-14
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1608994686

Sacred Space for the Missional Church examines the strong link between the theology and mission of the Church and the spaces in which and from which that theology and mission are lived out. The author demonstrates that the built environment is not incidental or even subservient to mission. Rather it is a key player in the fulfillment and the communication of that mission. The book begins with a working definition of the missional church, underscoring the connection between God's mission (missio Dei) and the Church's mission. The reader is presented with historical and theological frameworks for sacred space, and reminded of the pivotal role of the built environment in the fulfillment of the mission of the Church. The design and construction of sacred spaces are shown to be fundamentally a theological exercise and not solely a matter of function, pragmatics and fiscal astuteness. The author questions the uncritical application of blanket statements such "form must follow function," and challenges the conviction that it does not matter where worship occurs, only that it occurs. The book addresses genuine concerns such as legitimizing the cost of church buildings and concludes with practical suggestions and essential questions that must be considered in posturing the built environment within the missional praxis of the Church.

Holy Currencies

Holy Currencies
Author: Eric H F Law
Publisher: Chalice Press
Total Pages: 185
Release: 2013-03-31
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0827214944

Called a "must read for Christians paralyzed in survival mode," Holy Currencies teaches you how your ministry can become sustainable, grow, and thrive. Money is not the only currency your ministry needs. Author Eric H. F. Law shows us how the six blessings of time and place, gracious leadership, relationship, truth, wellness, and money flow through successful missional ministries. And they can flow through your ministry too! Learn how to use these gifts to rejuvenate, recirculate, regenerate, and expand your ministry through Law's insightful stories, instruction, processes, exercises, and activities. Tools in the book help evaluate how your church uses each gift and enables church members to measure and value the six blessings. Holy Currencies will push you to think beyond your church's current boundaries and create rich, sustainable missional ministries.

Seven Sacred Spaces

Seven Sacred Spaces
Author: GEORGE. LINGS
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2020-09-18
Genre:
ISBN: 9780857469342

Asks how and where we meet together, and what impact spaces have on spiritual life Redefines a Christian community and develops a new view on what Church is Thorough research, rich thinking and coherent theology Spaces discussed include kitchens, gardens and corridors Addresses key questions about the discipleship of church members Accessible book for personal devotion or small group use, including questions for discussion

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.

Gardens in the Wasteland

Gardens in the Wasteland
Author: Björn Asserhed
Publisher: BoD - Books on Demand
Total Pages: 291
Release: 2024-01-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9188906248

Gardens in the Wasteland is an ethnographic study of Christian formation within three Swedish church plants working against a backdrop of advanced secularisation. The thesis analyses the formative practices employed by these church plants with the intention of forming persons towards a lived Christian identity. Employing a situated learning theory framework, it traces the formative trajectories and negotiations that emerge from these shared practices, and also examines the articulations of callings and intentions within these church plants. The findings reveal that the establishment of a church plant of-ten stems from a sense of place-oriented calling that encompasses a vision of vibrant Christian life and community. These church plants cultivate formative practices -- aimed at certain teloi -- that guide individuals on their journeys towards a lived Christian identity. Through participation in these practices, individuals align themselves with the church plant's vision of Christian life. This identity formation process is not static but rather involves ongoing negotiations, both on a personal and community level, as individuals grapple with the meaning of Christian identity and faith amidst an increasingly secularised society.

Creating a Missional Culture

Creating a Missional Culture
Author: JR Woodward
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2013-09-20
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0830866795

Missiologist and church planter JR Woodward offers a blueprint for the missional church--not small adjustments around the periphery of the infrastructure but a radical revisioning of how a church ought to look that entails changing how we think about leadership and what we expect out of discipleship.

View from the Urban Loft

View from the Urban Loft
Author: Sean Benesh
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 203
Release: 2011-10-12
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 162189326X

As the world hurtles towards urbanization at an ever-increasing pace, there arises the need for further theological reflection on the city. Globalization, international immigration, and densification in cities are having a transformative impact on the urban landscape. Urban mission is at the forefront of many denominations, church planting networks, ministries, and mission organizations yearning for citywide transformation. How are we to think biblically and theologically about the city? View from the Urban Loft will take readers through the development of cities throughout history, act as a guide to navigating the current forces shaping urban environments, and seek to uncover a theology of the city that gives Christians a rationale and a biblical understanding of the meaning and purposes of the city and then how to live in it for the glory of God.

Buildings for Mission

Buildings for Mission
Author: Walter Nigel
Publisher: Canterbury Press
Total Pages: 352
Release: 2015-09-29
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1848257627

A money-saving handbook for all who care for and maintain church buildings, this practical and comprehensive guide provides expert advice from a leading church architect and an experienced heritage buildings specialist. They also show how church buildings can be tools for contemporary mission, packed with potential for community engagement.

Spiritus Loci

Spiritus Loci
Author: Bert Daelemans, S.J.
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 418
Release: 2015-01-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9004285369

In Spiritus Loci Bert Daelemans, who graduated as an architect and a theologian, provides an interdisciplinary method for the theological assessment of church architecture. Rather than a theory, this method is based on case studies of contemporary buildings (1995-2015), which are often criticized for lacking theological depth. In a threefold method, the author brings to light the ways in which architecture can be theology – or theotopy – by focusing on topoi (places) rather than logoi (words). Churches reveal our relationship with God by engaging our body, mind, and community. This method proves relevant not only for the way we perceive these buildings, but also for the way we use them, especially in our prophetic engagement for a better world.