Missional Church

Missional Church
Author: Lois Barrett
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Total Pages: 292
Release: 1998-02-09
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780802843500

What would a theology of the Church look like that took seriously the fact that North America is now itself a mission field? This question lies at the foundation of this volume written by an ecumenical team of six noted missiologists—Lois Barrett, Inagrace T. Dietterich, Darrell L. Guder, George R. Hunsberger, Alan J. Roxburgh, and Craig Van Gelder. The result of a three-year research project undertaken by The Gospel and Our Culture Network, this book issues a firm challenge for the church to recover its missional call right here in North America, while also offering the tools to help it do so. The authors examine North America s secular culture and the church s loss of dominance in today s society. They then present a biblically based theology that takes seriously the church s missional vocation and draw out the consequences of this theology for the structure and institutions of the church.

A Light to the Nations

A Light to the Nations
Author: Michael W. Goheen
Publisher: Baker Academic
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2011-04-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1441214461

There is a growing body of literature about the missional church, but the word missional is often defined in competing ways with little attempt to ground it deeply in Scripture. Michael Goheen, a dynamic speaker and the coauthor of two popular texts on the biblical narrative, unpacks the missional identity of the church by tracing the role God's people are called to play in the biblical story. Goheen shows that the church's identity can be understood only when its role is articulated in the context of the whole biblical story--not just the New Testament, but the Old Testament as well. He also explores practical outworkings and implications, offering field-tested suggestions for contemporary churches.

The Permanent Revolution

The Permanent Revolution
Author: Alan Hirsch
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 372
Release: 2012-01-06
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1118173589

A new brand of apostolic ministry for today's world The Permanent Revolution is a work of theological re-imagination and re-construction that draws from biblical studies, theology, organizational theory, leadership studies, and key social sciences. The book elaborates on the apostolic role rooted in the five-fold ministry from Ephesians 4 (apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teacher), and its significance for the missional movement. It explores how the apostolic ministry facilitates ongoing renewal in the life of the church and focuses on leadership in relation to missional innovation and entrepreneurship.The authors examine the nature of organization as reframed through the lens of apostolic ministry. Shows how to view the world through a biblical perspective and continue the "permanent revolution" that Jesus started Outlines the essential characteristics of apostolic movement and how to restructure the church and ministry to be more consistent with them Alan Hirsch is a leading voice in the missional movement of the Christian West This groundbreaking book integrates theology, sociology, and leadership to further define the apostolic movement.

Encountering Theology of Mission

Encountering Theology of Mission
Author: Craig Ott
Publisher: Baker Academic
Total Pages: 416
Release: 2010-05
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0801026628

Leading evangelical mission experts offer a comprehensive theology of mission text, providing biblical, historical, and contemporary perspectives.

Missional Theology

Missional Theology
Author: John R. Franke
Publisher: Baker Academic
Total Pages: 192
Release: 2020-11-17
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1493427040

The notion of missional church and theology has become ubiquitous in the current ecclesial and theological landscape. But what is it all about? In this clear and accessible introduction to missional theology, noted theologian John Franke connects missional Christianity with the life and practice of the local church. He helps readers reenvision theology, showing that it flows from an understanding of the missional character and purposes of God. Franke also explores the implications of missional theology, such as plurality and multiplicity.

Practicing Witness

Practicing Witness
Author: Benjamin T. Conner
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Total Pages: 136
Release: 2011-07-06
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0802866115

How might a church infused with missional theology change the way it approaches Christian practices? Interacting both with the missional theology of George Hunsberger and Darrell Guder and with the theology of Christian practices laid out by Craig Dykstra and Dorothy Bass, Benjamin T. Conner argues that allowing these two disciplines to inform one another can enhance the nature of the church s witness, its congregational discipleship, and its theological education. Framing his work with real-world narratives and applications inspired by his work as a minister to adolescents with special needs, Conner shows how a practical missional mindset can redefine and reinvigorate the spirit and purpose of a congregation.

Discipleship in Community

Discipleship in Community
Author: Mark E. Powell
Publisher: ACU Press
Total Pages: 205
Release: 2020-06-16
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1684269539

Jesus said, “Go and make disciples.” So, what exactly are we doing? Western churches face a difficult future marked by numerical decline and evident signs of shrinking cultural influence. But Discipleship in Community wisely asks the church to go back to basics. What does it mean to follow Jesus? What does a life of discipleship look like? Trusted scholars Mark Powell, John Mark Hicks, and Greg McKinzie invite you to consider how good theology can lead to better, more intentional discipleship. In Discipleship in Community you will learn • how the language of Trinity matters to everyday disciples; • how God’s plan and mission is unfolding and how, as disciples, we can participate in that mission; • how the Bible is more than a book of facts and how it guides us into a relationship with God; • how baptism and the Lord’s Supper allow us to experience God’s saving power; and • how local churches can encourage intentional discipleship.

How to Be a Christian without Going to Church

How to Be a Christian without Going to Church
Author: Kelly Bean
Publisher: Baker Books
Total Pages: 249
Release: 2014-06-24
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1441246533

As many--young people especially--leave the traditional church in droves, they often still long for a genuine Christian community in which to practice their faith and share their spiritual journeys with others. They want to be faithful but struggle to find a place where they flourish. Whether they've already left the church behind or are merely considering it, readers will find here both heartfelt encouragement and practical steps for finding or creating a community of faith that honors God and offers rest, love, and communion with other believers. Author Kelly Bean broadens our definition of church to include many alternative forms of Christian community. With true stories of those who have given up on church and what they're doing now, this book is also helpful for pastors and churchgoers to help them understand why people leave the church--and what might be done to help them stay.

The Church Between Gospel and Culture

The Church Between Gospel and Culture
Author: George R. Hunsberger
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Total Pages: 392
Release: 1996
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780802841094

This excellent collection of essays, written by a diverse group of Christian leaders working on the frontier of mission within the present North American context, lays the groundwork for the newly emerging missionary encounter of the gospel with North American culture. Demonstrating that the missionary identity of the church is to be found at the intersection of culture-gospel-church, these essays outline the missionary agenda now before the church as it confronts North American assumptions, perspectives, preferences, and practices.

A Royal Waste of Time

A Royal Waste of Time
Author: Marva J. Dawn
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Total Pages: 390
Release: 1999
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780802845863

In this book, Marva Dawn insists that churches need to engage in a serious process of community discernment concerning worship in order to employ the best tools and forms, and she offers reflections to further the discussion. Each part of A Royal "Waste" of Time begins with a sample Scripture-based sermon since Dawn emphasizes that the church's worship must follow biblical guidelines and form a biblical people.--From publisher's description.