Download or read book The Church Cracked Open written by Stephanie Spellers and published by Church Publishing, Inc.. This book was released on 2021-03-17 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This book will make a profound difference for the church in this moment in history." — The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry Sometimes it takes disruption and loss to break us open and call us home to God. It’s not surprising that a global pandemic and once-in-a-generation reckoning with white supremacy—on top of decades of systemic decline—have spurred Christians everywhere to ask who we are, why God placed us here and what difference that makes to the world. In this critical yet loving book, the author explores the American story and the Episcopal story in order to find out how communities steeped in racism, establishment, and privilege can at last fall in love with Jesus, walk humbly with the most vulnerable and embody beloved community in our own broken but beautiful way. The Church Cracked Open invites us to surrender privilege and redefine church, not just for the sake of others, but for our own salvation and liberation.
Download or read book The Open Church written by Michael Novak and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-07-05 with total page 415 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Michael Novak's eyewitness report on the second and pivotal session of Vatican II in 1964 vividly inter weaves pageantry, politics, and theology. An unusually well-informed lay intellectual, who had earned a theological degree just before the Council, Novak applauded the purposes of Pope John XXIII and his successor Paul VI-"to throw open the windows of the church." In this report, he coined the classic description of the foes of the reforms at Vatican II as the party of "nonhistorical orthodoxy," emphasizing the eternal and unchanging, neglecting history and contingency. The author recounts many moments of high drama-Pope Paul VI's opening speech, the vote on the collegiality of bishops, the plea of Cardinal Bea on behalf of the chapter on Jews, and Bishop De Smedt's defense of religious freedom. His colorful chapter on the American bishops in 1964 serves as a fascinating benchmark, as do his many insights into the new role of the laity. His final chapter is a moving tribute to the Open Church engaging the contemporary world, and his new introduction brings this report up to date. This work will be of compelling interest to those interested in the post-conciliar fall of Communism, under the great John Paul II-who took his name from his two predecessors at Vatican II. The winner of the million-dollar Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion (1994), Michael Novak is a theologian, author, and former U.S. ambassador. He currently holds the George Frederick Jewett Chair in Religion and Public Policy at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. where he is director of social and political studies. His writings have appeared in every major Western language, and in Chinese, Bengali, Korean, and Japanese. Also available from Transaction are his Catholic Social Thought and Liberal Institutions, The Experience of Nothingness, The Guns of Lattimer, Unmeltable Ethnics, Belief and Unbelief, and Choosing Presidents.
Download or read book Church of the Open Sky written by Nat Young and published by Random House Australia. This book was released on 2019-08-20 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What makes for a surfing life? With a blaze of groundbreaking performances and a swag of titles claimed from all over the world to his name, Australian world champion surfer Nat Young might know. His seventieth birthday inspired some reflection on exactly that, and on the waves and characters that have marked his remarkable life – Miki Dora and Midget Farrelly to name a few. But surfing for Nat Young – and so many like-minded surfers – has never been about winning, never been about the sport. It’s a calling, an endless quest, a philosophy, a religion. Most of all, surfing is a way of life that has underpinned his other identities as board shaper, film producer, writer, raconteur, conservationist, activist, pilot, husband, father. Candid and wryly observed, Church of the Open Sky explores what it means to be a surfer, with a collection of true stories of Nat’s surfing life – and the friends, foes and heroes he’s met along the way.
Download or read book The Open Church written by Jürgen Moltmann and published by . This book was released on 1978-01-01 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: His main contention is that we need a much greater emphasis on the place of the congregation in church life and worship. The church should be of rather than for the people; its true life coming from below' rather than from above' through bishop. priest, pastor or theologian. The local church must be a caring, accepting, open community, encouraging full participation by its people in every part of its worship. A short notice cannot do justice to this stimulating and thought-provoking book, which should be read by anyone concerned to see some way of breaking through what Moltmann sees as the lapse of modern society -- including the church -- into apathy' (Expository Times). 'I would like to see The Open Church used as a basis for discussions in parish and student groups. Clearly and simply written and yet with deep biblical insights, it could do much to help us to see the shortcomings of our congregational life and also to appreciate the immense riches which are already to be found there' (The Bishop of Manchester in The Christian Statesman).
Download or read book Evaluating the Church Growth Movement written by Zondervan, and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2010-06-01 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What exactly is the Church Growth movement? This timely volume in the Counterpoints series addresses the history of the movement that has become such an enormous shaping force on the Western church today, and it explores--in a roundtable forum of leading voices--five main perspectives on the classic Church Growth movement: Effective Evangelism View - presented by Elmer Towns Gospel in Our Culture View - presented by Craig Van Gelder Centrist View - presented by Charles Van Engen Reformist View - presented by Gailyn Van Rheenan Renewal View - presented by Howard Snyder Each view is first presented by its proponent, then critiqued by the co-contributors. The interactive and fair-minded format allows the reader to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each view and draw informed, personal conclusions. Evaluating the Church Growth Movement concludes with reflections by three seasoned pastors who have grappled with the practical implications of Church Growth. The Counterpoints series presents a comparison and critique of scholarly views on topics important to Christians that are both fair-minded and respectful of the biblical text. Each volume is a one-stop reference that allows readers to evaluate the different positions on a specific issue and form their own, educated opinion.
Download or read book Quit Church written by Chris Sonksen and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2018-06-05 with total page 126 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Let's face it. Church isn't working. We hear sermons about the abundant life Jesus promised, but how many of us are actually living it? How many of our churches are thriving? How many people in our congregations are experiencing God's blessings? Maybe it's time to call it quits. Quit church? Well, not exactly. Drawing from his experience coaching hundreds of churches toward true growth, Chris Sonksen calls on us to quit our casual, cultural commitment to church as we know it. No more half-hearted attempts to win the favor of God and other people by doing the right thing. No more doing things out of a sense of duty. Instead, Sonksen reveals the spiritual habits that release the blessings of God, both on each individual and on the church. He explains why we struggle to put these practices into action and gives practical solutions to move us forward into health, growth, and maturity.
Download or read book This Is the Church written by Sarah Raymond Cunningham and published by Beaming Books. This book was released on 2020-06-02 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Here is the church, here is the steeple . . . This update to the classic children's rhyme is an introduction to church for a new era, a whirlwind tour through all the wonderful things church can be and do and mean. From megachurches to little chapels to underground meetings, from welcoming to helping to feeding the hungry, church can be and do a lot of things. But ultimately that old rhyme said it best: the church is the people! With gently rhyming text by Sarah Raymond Cunningham and the vibrant and diverse illustrations of Ariel Landy, This Is the Church is an ideal gift for baptisms, confirmations, or any occasion in which children are welcomed into the life of the body of Christ.
Download or read book Open the Church Door written by and published by Random House Books for Young Readers. This book was released on 2020-02-11 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A lift-the-flap board book all about church from the creator of Open the Preschool Door, Open the Barn Door, and Open the Garage Door! Little ones will love lifting 11 fun flaps to find a smiling Sunday school teacher, their friends and family, arts and crafts, and much, much more in this bright and engaging board book. With a simple story and colorful and inviting illustrations, this is the perfect way to introduce children to what a day at church can be like.
Download or read book Called to Be Church written by Anthony B. Robinson and published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. This book was released on 2006-02-15 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Biblical scholar Robert Wall and pastoral leader Anthony Robinson here join forces to bring the Acts of the Apostles forward to our time as a resource for congregational renewal and transformation.Featuring both careful exegetical study and exciting contemporary exposition, the fifteen chapters of Called to Be Church each first interpret the text of Acts as Scripture and then engage Acts for today's church. The book dives into many of the most vexing issues faced by the church then and now -- such issues as conflict resolution, pluralism and multiculturalism, sexuality, money, church and state, the role of the Holy Spirit, and more.Enhanced by study questions at the end of each chapter, Called to Be Church will lend itself especially well to small-group study within congregations. Pastors, lay readers, students, and ordinary believers alike will find the book helpful and inspiring.
Download or read book The New Testament Order for Church and Missionary written by Alex Rattray Hay and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2010-09-01 with total page 542 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Megashift written by James Rutz and published by Wnd Books. This book was released on 2011-01-13 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The 1,700-year nightmare is over. A megashift of spiritual power in the hands of ordinary people is about to overwhelm the world. Prepare yourself to take part in a total makeover of planet earth! It's a shocker! Rutz's research has found fifty-two countries where God has raised people from the dead, mostly in the last fifteen years. These are not near-death experiences, but bona fide resurrections - by regular people. China already has over 110 million Christians who are taking power roles in the church. Since 2001, Rutz has taught former Hindus across India who now have planted thousands of house churches. The revolution is headed this way. Discover a new world where . . . · Over a billion non-Christians may become highly active Christians in the next dozen years. · A whole new form of Christianity promises to bring a far greater impact than the Protestant Reformation. · Millions of ordinary people are doing miracles. · A vast cleansing storm is roaring toward us from abroad. Megashift is a startling introduction to that surge of grass roots power and love that will lay a whole new basis for civilization. Thousands of committed teams around the globe are producing a neo-culture of responsible freedom. This is the next step up from Protestantism, though the beliefs remain the same. It is a joyful megashift away from pastor-centered, spectator religion toward a more biblical church where God works directly through you--and you are freed from your problems and empowered to do wonders. This book can turn you into a genuine priest with full authority to transform people and start your own network: small, sermon-free, life-changing circles of power where people are allowed to speak and interact and form the deepest friendships of their lives. Your adventure is here.
Download or read book The Life of the Church written by Joe Thorn and published by Moody Publishers. This book was released on 2017-03-07 with total page 102 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What should a church do? Look at your church’s calendar and you will learn something of its mission. But how do you know it’s the mission Jesus gave? In The Life of the Church, Joe Thorn explains the mission of the church and the three rhythms for fulfilling it. The result is a simple, memorable model for church life and ministry, grounded in Scripture and aligned with historic practices. Useful for training in membership class, discipleship groups, and elder boards—and even for devotional reading—The Life of the Church is at once theological, practical, and experiential. Readers will not simply be informed, but led to a deeper conviction about their role in the body of Christ. Pastors will be equipped to refocus their ministries, and Christians to fulfill their purpose: be and make disciples. If you wonder what it means to be saved into a body of believers, why the various parts of a worship service matter, and how to engage in the world as a citizen of heaven, then The Life of the Church is for you. It answers this critical question: “Why does the church exist, and how does it shape my life?”
Download or read book Organic Church written by Neil Cole and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2007-06-15 with total page 275 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Churches have tried all kinds of ways to attract new and younger members - revised vision statements, hipper worship, contemporary music, livelier sermons, bigger and better auditoriums. But there are still so many people who aren't being reached, who don't want to come to church. And the truth is that attendance at church on Sundays does not necessarily transform lives; God's presence in our hearts is what changes us. Leaders and laypeople everywhere are realizing that they need new and more powerful ways to help them spread God's Word. According to international church starter and pastor Neil Cole, if we want to connect with young people and those who are not coming to church, we must go where people congregate. Cole shows readers how to plant the seeds of the Kingdom of God in the places where life happens and where culture is formed - restaurants, bars, coffeehouses, parks, locker rooms,and neighborhoods. Organic Church offers a hands-on guide for demystifying this new model of church and shows the practical aspects of implementing it.
Download or read book Catechism of the Catholic Church written by U.S. Catholic Church and published by Image. This book was released on 2012-11-28 with total page 849 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over 3 million copies sold! Essential reading for Catholics of all walks of life. Here it is - the first new Catechism of the Catholic Church in more than 400 years, a complete summary of what Catholics around the world commonly believe. The Catechism draws on the Bible, the Mass, the Sacraments, Church tradition and teaching, and the lives of saints. It comes with a complete index, footnotes and cross-references for a fuller understanding of every subject. The word catechism means "instruction" - this book will serve as the standard for all future catechisms. Using the tradition of explaining what the Church believes (the Creed), what she celebrates (the Sacraments), what she lives (the Commandments), and what she prays (the Lord's Prayer), the Catechism of the Catholic Church offers challenges for believers and answers for all those interested in learning about the mystery of the Catholic faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a positive, coherent and contemporary map for our spiritual journey toward transformation.
Download or read book Taking Your Church to the Next Level written by Gary L. McIntosh and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2009-09-01 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: All local churches experience a predictable life cycle of growth and decline. But if a church is on a downward trend, how can it turn around? Taking Your Church to the Next Level explains the impact of age and size on churches and outlines the improvements that must be made at each point for a church to remain fruitful and faithful to its mission. McIntosh deftly describes the cycles of fruitfulness and the importance of continual improvement to diminish destructive forces that keep a congregation from its mission. Church leaders, pastors, and all who care about the church and desire to see it experience biblical growth will benefit from the sage wisdom offered in these pages.
Download or read book Outgrowing the Ingrown Church written by C. John Miller and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 1986 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is a book for pacesetters -- church leaders who desire to help their churches break free of the things that turn them in on themselves. It is a masterly mix of biblical principle, objective analysis, and personal experience.
Download or read book The Church of the Open Door written by Warren W. Wiersbe and published by CLC Publications. This book was released on 2012-07-01 with total page 107 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jesus said He would build His church; our job is to follow. The Church of the Open Door calls us to a dynamic, Spirit-filled life as the body of Christ. Warren Wiersbe’s study of Acts, the Epistles and Revelation paints a picture of what the church should do and be.
