Church on the Edge of Somewhere

Church on the Edge of Somewhere PDF Author: George B. Thompson
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1566994853
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 149

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Book Description
Most congregations today exist in what George Thompson calls the "middle of anywhere." They live comfortably with their surrounding culture, focusing their energies on serving the needs of their current members. These congregations have many strengths and gifts that they can exercise without changing a thing. But Thompson envisions a deeper, more prophetic call for congregations to explore the meaning of being in the world but not of it--a church on the "edge of somewhere." Thompson sees a church that is deeply engaged in ministering to the community while calling on others to commit to doing the same. By analyzing the interaction between a congregation's focus of identity and their stance with the world, Thompson has created a helpful grid for congregations to place themselves on today's cultural map. A congregation that sees itself as existing on the margins of society will look different than one that sees itself as embedded in society. A congregation that hears a call to serve the surrounding community will look different from one that focuses on its internal needs. Knowing where they stand now is the key for congregations to discover where they must go in the future to fully live out their call to be God's people in the world.

Church on the Edge of Somewhere

Church on the Edge of Somewhere PDF Author: George B. Thompson
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1566994853
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 149

Get Book Here

Book Description
Most congregations today exist in what George Thompson calls the "middle of anywhere." They live comfortably with their surrounding culture, focusing their energies on serving the needs of their current members. These congregations have many strengths and gifts that they can exercise without changing a thing. But Thompson envisions a deeper, more prophetic call for congregations to explore the meaning of being in the world but not of it--a church on the "edge of somewhere." Thompson sees a church that is deeply engaged in ministering to the community while calling on others to commit to doing the same. By analyzing the interaction between a congregation's focus of identity and their stance with the world, Thompson has created a helpful grid for congregations to place themselves on today's cultural map. A congregation that sees itself as existing on the margins of society will look different than one that sees itself as embedded in society. A congregation that hears a call to serve the surrounding community will look different from one that focuses on its internal needs. Knowing where they stand now is the key for congregations to discover where they must go in the future to fully live out their call to be God's people in the world.

Church of the Wild

Church of the Wild PDF Author: Victoria Loorz
Publisher: Broadleaf Books
ISBN: 1506469655
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 262

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Book Description
2024 Nautilus Book Awards Silver Winner in "Religion / Spirituality of Western Thought" CategoryWinner of the Living Now Book Award, Church of the Wild reminds us that once upon a time, humans lived in an intimate relationship with nature. Whether disillusioned by the dominant church or unfulfilled by traditional expressions of faith, many of us long for a deeper spirituality. Victoria Loorz certainly did. Coping with an unraveling vocation, identity, and planet, Loorz turned to the wanderings of spiritual leaders and the sanctuary of the natural world, eventually cofounding the Wild Church Network and Seminary of the Wild. With an ecospiritual lens on biblical narratives and a fresh look at a community larger than our own species, Church of the Wild uncovers the wild roots of faith and helps us deepen our commitment to a suffering earth by falling in love with it--and calling it church. Through mystical encounters with wild deer, whispers from a scrubby oak tree, wordless conversation with a cougar, and more, Loorz helps us connect to a love that literally holds the world together--a love that calls us into communion with all creatures.

Discipleship on the Edge

Discipleship on the Edge PDF Author: Darrell W. Johnson
Publisher: Regent College Publishing
ISBN: 9781573832120
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 420

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Book Description
Revelation is probably the most read, but least understood book of the Bible. History is replete with examples of how not to interpret it, and books featuring end-of-world prophecy claims based on Revelation consistently top the bestseller lists. But how can the message of such an enigmatic book be applied to our lives today? In Discipleship on the Edge, Darrell W. Johnson drives home the challenging and practical message of Revelation in thirty carefully crafted sermons. Paying careful attention to the original context of Revelation and the circumstances surrounding its composition, Johnson shows that the book is not a "crystal ball" but rather a "discipleship manual." Thoroughly researched and yet accessible, this collection of sermons is a helpful resource for pastors and small group leaders who are looking for models to help them preach and teach the message of Revelation in a time when there is much confusion about the end times. Darrell W. Johnson serves as Scholar-in-Residence at The Way Church and Canadian Church Leaders Network in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. A popular conference and retreat speaker, he has also served as the preaching pastor for a number of congregations in North America and the Philippines, as well as serving as Adjunct Professor of Preaching for the Doctor of Ministry program at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and a Teaching Fellow at Regent College. His other books include Experiencing the Trinity and Fifty-Seven Words That Change The World.

The Church Playbook

The Church Playbook PDF Author: Todd Tolson
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781725107199
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 68

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Book Description
An all-in-one notebook created to coach Pastors on how to jumpstart growth in their Church & break the toughest barriers they face!

Cultivating a Cutting-Edge Children's Church

Cultivating a Cutting-Edge Children's Church PDF Author: Dick Gruber
Publisher: Morning Joy Media
ISBN: 1937107167
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 132

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Book Description
In 1992 Dick Gruber's Children's Church: Turning Your Circus into a Service hit the market, challenging children's leaders worldwide. Gruber's experience and insight have provided godly direction for the children's church service to generations of children's leaders. The practical application of that work is still being realized in churches today. In Cultivating a Cutting-Edge Children's Church, Gruber has reviewed and updated the core of his first book, adding more insights, more information, and more inspiration for children's leaders of today and for those of the future. This book will help the children's church leader develop a life-changing service in which boys and girls will be inspired to worship, develop ministry gifts, and respond to the work of God's Holy Spirit. Gruber's heart for children and those who serve them is evident on every page of this writing.

Indescribable

Indescribable PDF Author: Louie Giglio
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 1400216729
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 209

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Book Description
Discover the wonders of the universe with the Creator. Based on Louie Giglio's popular messages "Indescribable" and "How Great Is Our God," Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God and Science will help kids discover the incredible creation of our indescribable God. Indescribable displays the majesty of creation with scientific findings, photography, and original illustrations. Children who are fascinated with the world around them, nature, and the earth will deepen their faith as they explore God's Word. These 100 devotions encourage awe and appreciation for God's creativity with an in-depth look at these categories: space, galaxies, planets, and stars Earth, geology, oceans, and weather animals, from hummingbirds to dinosaurs our minds, bodies, and imaginations This book is perfect for children, ages 6–10 years old, each devotion features a "Be Amazed" section with fascinating scientific facts hands-on, easy-to-follow STEM activity closing prayer Psalm 19:1 says, "The heavens tell the glory of God. And the skies announce what his hands have made." It's impossible to out-imagine God. He orchestrates time, creates light, and speaks things into existence—from the largest stars to the smallest starfish. God is the powerful, purposeful, personal, and unparalleled Creator. Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God and Science has sold over 500,000 copies! Check out Louie Giglio's other bestselling science devotionals for kids: Indescribable for Little Ones How Great Is Our God The Wonder of Creation

Unceasing Worship

Unceasing Worship PDF Author: Harold M. Best
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
ISBN: 9780830832293
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 236

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Book Description
Harold M. Best casts a holistic vision for worship that transcends narrow discussions of musical style or congregational preference, corrects errors in how Christians have viewed the arts and misunderstandings about the use of music, and offers instead a more biblically consistent approach to artistic action.

Tribal Church

Tribal Church PDF Author: Carol Howard Merritt
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1566996856
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 179

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Book Description
Carol Howard Merritt, a pastor in her mid-thirties, suggests a different way for churches to be able to approach young adults on their own terms. Outlining the financial, social, and familial situations that affect many young adults today, she describes how churches can provide a safe, supportive place for young adults to nurture relationships and foster spiritual growth. There are few places left in society that allow for real intergenerational connections to be made, yet these connections are vital for any church that seeks to reflect the fullness of the body of Christ. Carol Howard Merritt, a pastor in her mid-thirties, suggests a different way for churches to be able to approach young adults on their own terms. Outlining the financial, social, and familial situations that affect many young adults today, she describes how churches can provide a safe, supportive place for young adults to nurture relationships and foster spiritual growth. There are few places left in society that allow for real intergenerational connections to be made, yet these connections are vital for any church that seeks to reflect the fullness of the body of Christ. Using the metaphor of a tribe to describe the close bonds that form when people of all ages decide to walk together on their spiritual journeys, Merritt casts a vision of the church that embraces the gifts of all members while reaching out to those who might otherwise feel unwelcome or unneeded. Mainline churches have much to offer young adults, as well as much to learn from them. By breaking down artificial age barriers and building up intentional relationships, congregations can provide a space for all people to connect with God, each other, and the world.

A Serrated Edge

A Serrated Edge PDF Author: Douglas Wilson
Publisher: Canon Press & Book Service
ISBN: 1591280109
Category : Humor
Languages : en
Pages : 130

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Book Description
Satire is a kind of preaching. Satire pervades Scripture. Satire treats the foibles of sinners with a less than perfect tenderness. But, if a Christian employs satire today, he is almost immediately called to account for his "unbiblical" behavior. Yet Scripture shows that the central point of some religious controversies is to give offense. When Christ was confronted with ecclesiastical obstinacy and other forms of arrogance, he showed us a godly pattern for giving offense. In every controversy, godliness and wisdom (or the lack of them) are to be determined by careful appeal to the Scriptures and not to the fact of someone having taken offense. Perhaps they ought to have taken offense, and perhaps someone ought to have endeavored to give it.

Life on the Edge

Life on the Edge PDF Author: Brother John of Taize
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1532617933
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 225

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Book Description
Is the Christian faith something that can peacefully exist alongside all the other aspects of an ordinary human life, or does it by its very nature turn that life into something else? The author of this book, a member of a monastic community for over forty years, obviously has a vested interest in the answer. But even for believers caught up in the day-to-day life of society, work, and family, the question is an important one, at least if they are seeking a measure of consistency in the life they are living. And does not the very fact that the question of the importance and urgency of faith needs to be asked witness to the eclipse of an eschatological outlook among Christians, at any rate in the mainstream Churches? Could this oversight not explain why an eschatological understanding of faith, one which sees it as a radical, world-changing reality, has been forced to take refuge, often deformed to the point of being unrecognizable, in small “fanatical” groups on the margins of the Christian world?