They Like Jesus but Not the Church

They Like Jesus but Not the Church
Author: Dan Kimball
Publisher: Zondervan
Total Pages: 274
Release: 2009-05-26
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0310298547

Many people today, especially among emerging generations, don’t resonate with the church and organized Christianity. Some are leaving the church and others were never part of the church in the first place. Sometimes it’s because of misperceptions about the church. Yet often they are still spiritually open and fascinated with Jesus. This is a ministry resource book exploring six of the most common objects and misunderstandings emerging generations have about the church and Christianity. The objections come from conversations and interviews the church has had with unchurched twenty and thirty-somethings at coffee houses. Each chapter raises the objection using a conversational approach, provides the biblical answers to that objection, gives examples of how churches are addressing this objection, and concludes with follow-through projection suggestions, discussion questions, and resource listings.

The Church

The Church
Author: Jeffrey Johnson
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2020
Genre:
ISBN: 9780988668195

This Is the Church

This Is the Church
Author: Sarah Raymond Cunningham
Publisher: Beaming Books
Total Pages: 32
Release: 2020-06-02
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 1506470548

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.

Models of the Church

Models of the Church
Author: Avery Dulles
Publisher: Image
Total Pages: 290
Release: 2002-05-14
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0385505450

There is today a dramatic reexamination of structure, authority, dogma -- indeed, every aspect of the life of the Church is held up to scrutiny. Welcoming this as a sign of vitality, Avery Dulles has carefully studied the writings of contemporary Protestant and Catholic ecclesiologists and sifted out six major approaches, or "models," through which the Church's character can be understood: as Institution, Mystical Communion, Sacrament, Herald, Servant, and, in a recent addition to the book, as Community of Disciples. A balanced theology, he concludes, must incorporate the major affirmations of each. "The method of models or types," observes Cardinal Dulles, "can have great value in helping people to get beyond the limitations of their own particular outlook and to enter into fruitful conversation with others... Such conversation is obviously essential if ecumenism is to get beyond its present impasses." This new edition includes a new Appendix and Preface by the author.

What Is the Mission of the Church?

What Is the Mission of the Church?
Author: Kevin DeYoung
Publisher: Crossway
Total Pages: 290
Release: 2011-09-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 143352693X

Social justice and mission are hot topics today: there's a wonderful resurgence of motivated Christians passionate about spreading the gospel and caring for the needs of others. But in our zeal to get sharing and serving, many are unclear on gospel and mission. Yes, we are called to spend ourselves for the sake of others, but what is the church's unique priority as it engages the world? DeYoung and Gilbert write to help Christians "articulate and live out their views on the mission of the church in ways that are theologically faithful, exegetically careful, and personally sustainable." Looking at the Bible's teaching on evangelism, social justice, and shalom, they explore the what, why, and how of the church's mission. From defining "mission", to examining key passages on social justice and their application, to setting our efforts in the context of God's rule, DeYoung and Gilbert bring a wise, studied perspective to the missional conversation. Readers in all spheres of ministry will grow in their understanding of the mission of the church and gain a renewed sense of urgency for Jesus' call to preach the Word and make disciples.

But What Is the Church For?

But What Is the Church For?
Author: Neil Darragh
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 205
Release: 2021-11-19
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1666727113

What is the church really for? Some people are members of the church because it’s part of their family tradition or their culture or their identity. Others have left the church because that’s all it is in fact. Is it the best way to salvation or a way of coming closer to God? In any case, the church is not just for us or the benefits we get out of it. Very few of us would say that this is what the church is really for. There is surely something more here, something more generous, life-giving, outgoing, and gracious than what we personally get out of it. This book is about the church’s outreach beyond itself—its purpose beyond any benefits for those already its members. This book is not about a church looking inwards and worrying about itself, but about a church looking outwards. The local Christian community that we belong to is part of that much bigger, much more exhilarating project of the evolving realm of God.

What Is the Church and Why Does It Exist?

What Is the Church and Why Does It Exist?
Author: David Fitch
Publisher: Herald Press
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2021-03-30
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9781513805702

What is the church? And why does it exist? These are essential questions for those who seek to follow Jesus in community. David Fitch delves into the origins of the church, exploring the identity and calling of the body of Christ in scripture and church history. Learn about the Christian practices that shape the church and how our understandings of church might change in light of the life of the church through the centuries. At a time when the church in the US is losing credibility and cultural privilege, Fitch calls us to embrace historic Anabaptism as a model for thriving as God’s people in our own time and place. The Jesus Way: Small Books of Radical Faith delve into big questions about God’s work in the world. These concise, practical books are deeply rooted in Anabaptist theology. Crafted by a diverse community of internationally renowned scholars, pastors, and practitioners, The Jesus Way series helps readers deepen their faith in Christ and enliven their witness.

Deliberate Simplicity

Deliberate Simplicity
Author: Dave Browning
Publisher: Zondervan
Total Pages: 210
Release: 2009
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0310285674

Learn how a "less is more" approach to church can equip believers for eternal influence. Church innovator Dave Browning unpacks the six elements of a new equation for church development. These concepts---minimality, intentionality, reality, multility, velocity, and scalability---provide a realistic plan for streamlining church while maximizing impact.

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.