Download or read book Sacred Space for the Missional Church written by William R. McAlpine and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2011-02-14 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book Sacred Space for the Missional Church written by William R. McAlpine and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2011-02-14 with total page 223 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book The Role of the Built Environment in Fulfilling the Mission of the Church written by William R. McAlpine and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Holy Currencies written by Eric H F Law and published by Chalice Press. This book was released on 2013-03-31 with total page 185 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book The Hospitality of God written by Mary Gray-Reeves and published by Church Publishing, Inc.. This book was released on 2011-03-01 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What happens when two bishops known for their liturgical sensibilities travel to study alternative Christian communities on two continents? Bishops Mary Gray-Reeves and Michael Perham traveled throughout the U.S. and U.K. to study fresh expressions of church and identify the principles that link these new forms of worship and community. The Hospitality of God captures their practical and inspiring findings and builds a bridge between fresh new voices and the institutional church.

Download or read book House Churches in Post Communist Europe written by Randy Hacker and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2023-02-10 with total page 203 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book Missional Conversations written by Cathy Ross and published by SCM Press. This book was released on 2018-10-30 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Missional Conversations introduces the reader to key themes in contemporary mission through global conversations between theory and praxis. Exploring emergent themes in missiology, the book takes the form of a conversation between reflective practitioners – both those in academia and with those who are practically engaged. With contributions from: Dave Bookless, Amy Ross, Daniel G. Groody CSC, Amy Roche, Mark Poulson, Richard Sudworth, David Barclay, Ash Barker, Stephan de Beer, Elisa Padilla, Berdine van den Toren-Lekkerkerker, Andrea Campanale, Michael Moynagh, Kyama Mugambi, Harvey Kwiyani, Dennis Tongoi, Paul Bickley, Jonny Baker, Ric Stott, Ian Adams

Download or read book Gardens in the Wasteland written by Björn Asserhed and published by BoD - Books on Demand. This book was released on 2024-01-08 with total page 291 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book View from the Urban Loft written by Sean Benesh and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2011-10-12 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book Sacred Senses in Sacred Space written by John Lawrence Darretta, Ph.D. and published by Gatekeeper Press. This book was released on 2022-09-12 with total page 114 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Entering a church, our senses are sparked. We see candlelight, the colorful windows, and statues. We smell the faint burning wax and incense. We touch our foreheads with holy water and our knees to the floor. During Mass, we hear bells and the choir singing, and taste the sacrament. Some would say we are overwhelmed with physical objects but not spiritual essence. However, how does one know the spiritual essence if not through the physical objects? Knowledge comes through the senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. We achieve understanding and move further into spiritual awareness. Our senses communicate symbols that are physical signs of the abstract, the spiritual, and the metaphysical. SACRED SENSES IN SACRED SPACE contributes to a greater understanding and reverence for sacred objects as perceived through the senses designed for the layman rather than an academic study of the historical or liturgical origins of sacred objects and images. Sacred Senses guides the reader through a church on a meditative journey down the sanctuary’s central aisle. Along the way, it reveals what we see, hear, smell, taste, and touch, which moves us from the physical to the spiritual. It begins with an introductory chapter on using your senses and recognizing signs in a sacred space. The book is organized according to the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Listed under each specific sense are various objects and practices that we experience in church with a page of description, definition, background, and meditative comments, and a scriptural reference. Each chapter showcases a relevant photograph and ends with a pertinent quote or poetic verse, so that the sacred objects are revealed and revered. Together, the pages quickly explain and show each object with its beauty, meaning, and purpose within the sacred space. Teaching the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) and Religious Education programs for adults and youths, I discovered students of the Catholic faith must know the truth about the “smells and bells” of the Catholic Church and their spiritual significance. Yet, I have known Catholics who do not fully understand why we have statues, fonts, tabernacle, ringing bells, burning candles, swirling incense, and more. Sacred Senses in Sacred Space is an excellent devotional and educational experience for use in RCIA and Religious Education programs, book clubs, and for inquisitive audiences.

Download or read book Seven Sacred Spaces written by GEORGE. LINGS and published by . This book was released on 2020-09-18 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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

Download or read book Buildings for Mission written by Walter Nigel and published by Canterbury Press. This book was released on 2015-09-29 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book Doorways to the Sacred written by Ian Mobsby and published by Canterbury Press. This book was released on 2017-06-28 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fresh Expressions of Church are key aspect of mission strategy for many denominations in the UK and beyond. Here, a stellar line-up of writers explores the central question of how Fresh Expressions turn from mission projects into authentic forms of church, developing a sacramental life of their own. Chapters include: • Lucy Moore on Messy Church and Holy Communion • Graham Cray on the sacraments for the unchurched • Jonathan Clark on baptism and mission • John Drane on seeing the world as sacramental • Sue Wallace on the sacramentality of sacred space • Reagan Humber (pastor at Nadia-Bolz Weber’s church) on liturgy and evangelism • Adrian Chatfield on healing

Download or read book Creating a Missional Culture written by JR Woodward and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2013-09-20 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book Spiritus Loci written by Bert Daelemans, S.J. and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2015-01-08 with total page 418 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book Sacred Space written by Dan Kimball and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2010-01-05 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In a culture where teenagers are growing up inundated with images, experiences, and media that moves and changes at the speed of light, it's no wonder many of them learn better when they're doing something-not only listening to someone talk to them. So rather than stand up front and only use words to teach about Jesus calling the disciples to be 'fishers of men,o why not provide an experience that incorporates the idea of fishing? Using simple things like an inflatable boat and goldfish crackers can turn the 'old storyo into something new that your students think of every time they snack on a goldfish cracker or see a boat. It turns the lesson into an experience. Sacred Space provides dozens of ideas to help students engage in scripture and apply the lesson to their own lives. Whether you're looking to teach a biblical theme, the life of Christ, or a gospel passage, or even when celebrating holidays, you'll find step-by-step instructions to create the space and experience necessary to draw your students into the story. Through art, listening, writing, and multi-sensory prayer stations, your students will experience God's Word in a whole new way. This is more than a toolbox for your ministry-it's a holistic way to approach teaching and communicating God's Word. Authors Dan Kimball and Lilly Lewin bring their years of experience developing these kinds of experiences in youth group settings and churches. In addition to worship experiences on the life of Christ, you'll find ideas for teaching on: The life of David Women of the Bible The Sermon on the Mount Justice The Gospel of Luke Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter And more Use these ideas in your typical gathering to enhance the teaching and musical worship, or develop these experiences into a special event, or a new, unique service without singing or teaching. Inside you'll find everything you need (except the actual supplies!) to create experiences that can transform the way your students encounter God, and help them engage in and learn from the Bible in more meaningful ways.

Download or read book Life This Side of Heaven written by Richard Wenden and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2024-06-03 with total page 205 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Where else would you rather be?” For many people today, particularly in affluent, lifestyle-driven beachside suburbs, that is their mantra—and being at church and following Jesus is perhaps the furthest thing from their minds. As Christians grapple with how to bring the good news to an increasingly hedonistic and apathetic post-Christian culture, this book shows where we find ourselves culturally, discusses why that is, and suggests some ways forward including how we might reorder people’s disordered loves; fostering a faithful presence in our spheres of influence; and seeking ways to connect meaningfully. All this is a way of assisting churches in their particular cultural contexts to move from an attractional mode of thinking about ministry and church life to a mindset that enables them to carry out effective gospel ministry to their community and underlying subcultures. The author hopes it will be a help for churches that have historically struggled to be missionally focused, serving as an encouragement in reconsidering their approach to ministry planning, so they might have a significant, gospel-based, long-term impact on individual church members and the community life of the church to bring blessing to their suburbs, gospel growth to churches, and glory to God.