|
Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Christianity > Christian institutions & organizations
In this groundbreaking book exploring Christianity and contemporary
culture, internationally-renowned scholars (including David Martin,
Alister McGrath, Billy Abraham, Billy Kay and Pete Ward), interface
with the legacy of Andrew Walker's work and look forward in their
own predictions of trends. Following Walker's special interests in
house churches, charismatic renewal, culture and faith, this book
picks up on these themes and also looks more broadly at topics such
as Pentecostalism, Alpha and post-Evangelicalism.
Examining the recent radical re-invention of monastic tradition in
the everyday life of New Monastic Communities, Exploring New
Monastic Communities considers how, growing up in the wake of
Vatican II, new Catholic communities are renewing monastic life by
emphasizing the most innovative and disruptive theological aspects
which they identify in the Council. Despite freely adopting and
adapting their Rule of Life, the new communities do not belong to
pre-existing orders or congregations: they are gender-mixed with
monks and nuns living under the same roof; they accept lay members
whether single, married or as families; they reject enclosure; they
often limit collective prayer time in order to increase time for
labour, evangelization and voluntary social work; and are actively
involved in oecumenical and interreligious dialogue, harbouring
thinly-veiled sympathy with oriental religions, from which they
sometimes adopt beliefs and practices. Offering unique sociological
insights into New Monastic Communities, and shedding light on
questions surrounding New Religious Movements more generally, the
book asks what 'monastic' means today and whether these communities
can still be described as 'monastic'.
The study is an intellectual and comparative history of French,
Spanish, and English missions to the native peoples of America in
the seventeenth century, c. 1610-1690. It shows that missions are
ideal case studies to properly understand the relationship between
religion and politics in early modern Catholic and Calvinist
thought. The book aims to analyse the intellectual roots of
fundamental ideas in Catholic and Calvinist missionary
writings-among others idolatry, conversion, civility, and police-by
examining the classical, Augustinian, neo-thomist, reformed
Protestant, and contemporary European influences on their writings.
Missionaries' insistence on the necessity of reform, emphasising an
experiential, practical vision of Christianity, led them to
elaborate conversion strategies that encompassed not only
religious, but also political and social changes. It was at the
margins of empire that the essentials of Calvinist and Catholic
soteriologies and political thought could be enacted and
crystallised. By a careful analysis of these missiologies, the
study thus argues that missionaries' common strategies-habituation,
segregation, social and political regulations-stem from a shared
intellectual heritage, classical, humanist, and above all concerned
with the Erasmian ideal of a reformation of manners.
Pierre-Andre Liege, one of the foremost French theologians of the
20th century, influenced John XXIII and Paul VI, and sat on Vatican
II committees with both the future John Paul II and Benedict VI.
Fifty years on from Vatican II is a good time to remember the
decade of dramatic struggle and pioneering work that preceded it,
and review what it accomplished. This book explores the life and
work of Pierre-Andre Liege, presenting it to an English speaking
readership for the first time. Discussing the impact and profound
challenges Liege's work raises for spirituality and church life
today, Bradbury tackles issues including: the organisation of
parish life rooted in theological criteria; cradle to grave
corporate Christian formation; a compelling vision of what the
church is for and why, and how should this be expressed in
practice. Bradbury argues that for faith to match real life, the
church today needs to let go of much baggage, align its talk to its
action, and radically re-examine the question of what the church
needs to do to conform to the Gospel. This book takes critical
issues confronting practical theology and the church, breaking them
open in a lively and accessible style.
52 easy-to-use all-age talks for church services: minimum
preparation, maximum effect! This resource offers material that is
thoroughly enjoyable for adults and children alike. The talks are
easy to use, all-age in presentation, and ensure that the theme
will be communicated effectively. Covers key occasions in the
church year plus more general themes Provides fresh material for a
whole year Easy to adapt, with suggestions given
With over forty years combined global church-planting experience,
Craig Ott and Gene Wilson are well qualified to write a
comprehensive, up-to-date guide for cross-cultural church planting.
Combining substantive biblical principles and missiological
understanding with practical insights, this book walks readers
through the various models and development phases of church
planting. Advocating methods that lead to church multiplication,
the authors emphasize the role of the missionary church planter.
They offer helpful reflection on current trends and provide best
practices gathered from research and empirical findings around the
globe. The book takes up a number of special issues not addressed
in most church planting books, such as use of short-term teams,
partnerships, and wise use of resources. Full of case studies and
real examples from around the world, this practical text will
benefit students, church planters, missionaries, and missional
church readers.
When Hindus and Sikhs become followers of Christ, what happens
next? Should they join Christian churches that often look and feel
very unfamiliar to them? Or to what degree can or should they
remain a part of their Hindu/Sikh communities and practices?
Uncomfortable with the answers that were provided to them by
Christian leaders in northwest India, six followers of Christ began
Yeshu satsangs that sought to follow Christ and the teachings of
the Bible while remaining connected to their Hindu and/or Sikh
communities. 'Ecclesial Identities in a Multi-Faith Context'
contextualises the practices and identities of these leaders and
their gatherings, situating these in the religious history of the
region and the personal histories of the leaders themselves.
Whereas some Christians worry that the Yeshu satsangs and related
'insider movements' are syncretising their beliefs and are not
properly identifiable as 'churches', Darren Todd Duerksen analyses
the Yeshu satsang's narratives and practices to find vibrant
expressions of local church that are grappling with questions and
tensions of social and religious identity. In addition to his
ethnographic approach, Duerksen also uses recent sociological and
anthropological theory in identity formation and critical realism,
as well as discussions of biblical ecclesiology from the Book of
Acts. This study will be a helpful resource for those interested in
global Christianity, the practices and identities of churches in
religiously plural environments, and the creative ways in which
Christfollowers can engage people of other faiths.
If you never have enough room for notes in your Bible, this is your
answer. The NKJV Interleaved Bible, Journal Edition is the ultimate
scripture journaling experience. Following a historic practice of
placing blank pages throughout the entire Bible, it allows you to
record study notes, prayers, observations from the Bible, sermon
notes, and the story of your spiritual growth. Trusted by millions
of believers around the world, the New King James Version (NKJV)
remains a bestselling modern "word-for-word" translation. It
balances the literary beauty and familiarity of the King James
tradition with an extraordinary commitment to preserving the
grammar and structure of the underlying biblical languages. And
while the NKJV translators relied on the traditional Greek, Hebrew,
and Aramaic text used for the 1611 KJV, the comprehensive
translator notes offer important insights about the latest
developments in biblical manuscript studies. The result is a Bible
translation that is both beautiful and uncompromising-perfect for
serious study, devotional use, and reading aloud. Features include:
Presentation page allows you to personalize this special gift by
recording a memory or note Traditional double column Scripture text
for a clean reading experience A blank page inserted between each
page of Scripture provides space to reflect, journal or create art
next to your favorite verses 2 double-faced satin ribbons allow you
to easily navigate and keep track of where you were reading Words
of Christ in red quickly identify verses spoken by Jesus Sturdy
45gsm paper limits bleed through ideal for taking notes in your
Bible Clear and readable 9-point NKJV Comfort Print
The Gospel Coalition 2022 Award of Distinction (Missions & The
Global Church) A leading expert in the field of Christian missions
encourages the church to recover the apostolic imagination that
fueled the multiplication of disciples in the first century. J. D.
Payne examines the contemporary practice of Western missions and
advocates a more central place for Scripture in defining missionary
language, identity, purpose, function, and strategy. He shows that
an apostolic understanding of the church's disciple-making
commission requires rethinking every aspect of missionary
engagement. The book includes end-of-chapter discussion questions
and action steps to help pastors and church leaders develop an
apostolic imagination.
This companion study to Confronting Jesus is perfect for
individuals, small groups, and churches, and helps readers go
deeper into the Gospels to learn more about the person and work of
Christ.
The first account of the dissolution of the monasteries for fifty
years-exploring its profound impact on the people of Tudor England
"This is a book about people, though, not ideas, and as a detailed
account of an extraordinary human drama with a cast of thousands,
it is an exceptional piece of historical writing."-Lucy Wooding,
Times Literary Supplement Shortly before Easter, 1540 saw the end
of almost a millennium of monastic life in England. Until then
religious houses had acted as a focus for education, literary, and
artistic expression and even the creation of regional and national
identity. Their closure, carried out in just four years between
1536 and 1540, caused a dislocation of people and a disruption of
life not seen in England since the Norman Conquest. Drawing on the
records of national and regional archives as well as archaeological
remains, James Clark explores the little-known lives of the last
men and women who lived in England's monasteries before the
Reformation. Clark challenges received wisdom, showing that
buildings were not immediately demolished and Henry VIII's subjects
were so attached to the religious houses that they kept fixtures
and fittings as souvenirs. This rich, vivid history brings back
into focus the prominent place of abbeys, priories, and friaries in
the lives of the English people.
Resourcing Rural Ministry offers an in-depth exploration of the key
aspects, challenges and opportunities of mission in a rural church.
Relevant for ordained and lay leaders alike, the book covers
subjects ranging from encouraging evangelism in a multi-church
group to making best use of church buildings. Containing a wealth
of real-life case studies and suggestions for follow-up, this
ecumenical publication draws on the expertise and resources of the
Arthur Rank Centre (ARC), which has served the spiritual and
practical needs of the rural Christian community for over 40 years.
This book contributes to ARC's Germinate programme of training,
development and support for rural multi-church groups of all
denominations. Resourcing Rural Ministry was first developed by
Simon Martin as Training and Resources Officer at the ARC.
Additional chapters have been contributed by the Revd Caroline
Hewlett, Rona Orme and Becky Payne and the final text has been
prepared and edited by Jill Hopkinson. 'This book is packed with
helpful resources and background theology that will aid the rural
church to be a vibrant and relevant presence in today's society.'
Revd Peter Ball, Mission and Training Officer, Eastern Synod of the
URC 'Read these contributions and you'll be excited by a wealth of
experience, insight and resource.' Rt Revd James Bell, Bishop of
Ripon
Use your personal faith to spread the health! Health Through Faith
and Community is a unique study guide that encourages Christian
congregations to enhance the well-being of individual church
members as well as society as a whole. Presented as eight study
sessions that can be used independently or combined for an in-depth
learning process, this notebook-size guide includes unique insights
and learning activities from an ecumenical Christian perspective
about the physical, mental, social, and environmental aspects of
health. This well-referenced book includes more than 50
illustrations, handouts, and figures, as well as numerous resources
for prayer, activity, discussion, self-reflection, Bible study, and
practical applications that will help connect personal faith with
congregations and communities. The study sessions presented in
Health Through Faith and Community are arranged in a series that
can be easily adapted to adult Sunday school classes, workshops,
retreats, and independent study. Sessions focus on individual
themes and each builds on the previous one, blending together
various learning approaches, including factual information,
self-assessment and reflection exercises, small group discussion,
and interaction exercises. The book also provides notes and
guidelines for a study leader, handouts, overhead projection
materials, suggested prayers, and Bible passages, materials for
group discussions and exercises, Internet resources, and
supplemental activities. Each study session presented in Health
Through Faith and Community includes: an opening prayer to
reinforce the group's intention to learn together a review of
working definitions, concepts, and content, all presented in
layperson's terms material from relevant Christian
sources-scriptures, personal stories, images, literature, poetry,
art introspective activities that can be done in-group settings or
privately group interaction-stories, spontaneous dialogue, and
interactive exercises a holistic Christian perspective on faith and
healing reflections by the session leader on ways to learn more
about nurturing well-being in individuals, relationships, and the
community The study sessions build to a final session that helps
congregations create goals to promote personal and social health in
the church community, the local community, and beyond. Health
Through Faith and Community is an invaluable resource for pastoral
counselors, chaplains, retreat leaders, parish nurses, and
faith-based social workers.
Contributes simultaneously to both British imperial and Indian
history. This work demonstrates that missionary understandings and
interactions with India, rather than being party to imperial
ideologies, often diverged from metropolitan and imperial norms.
The global crisis of forced displacement is growing every year. At
the same time, Western Christians' sympathy toward refugees is
increasingly overshadowed by concerns about personal and national
security, economics, and culture. We urgently need a perspective
that understands both Scripture and current political realities and
that can be applied at the levels of the church, the nation, and
the globe. In Refuge Reimagined, Mark R. Glanville and Luke
Glanville offer a new approach to compassion for displaced people:
a biblical ethic of kinship. God's people, they argue, are
consistently called to extend kinship-a mutual responsibility and
solidarity-to those who are marginalized and without a home.
Drawing on their respective expertise in Old Testament studies and
international relations, the two brothers engage a range of
disciplines to demonstrate how this ethic is consistently conveyed
throughout the Bible and can be practically embodied today.
Glanville and Glanville apply the kinship ethic to issues such as
the current mission of the church, national identity and
sovereignty, and possibilities for a cooperative global response to
the refugee crisis. Challenging the fear-based ethic that often
motivates Christian approaches, they envision a more generous,
creative, and hopeful way forward. Refuge Reimagined will equip
students, activists, and anyone interested in refugee issues to
understand the biblical model for communities and how it can
transform our world.
The career of the French saint Vincent de Paul has attracted the
attention of hundreds of authors since his death in 1660, but the
fate of his legacy - entrusted to the body of priests called the
Congregation of the Mission (Lazarists) - remains vastly neglected.
De Paul spent a lifetime working for the reform of the clergy and
the evangelization of the rural poor. After his death, his ethos
was universally lauded as one of the most important elements in the
regeneration of the French church, but what happened to this ethos
after he died? This book provides a thorough examination of the
major activities of de Paul's immediate followers. It begins by
analysing the unique model of religious life designed by de Paul -
a model created in contradistinction to more worldly clerical
institutes, above all the Society of Jesus. Before he died, de Paul
made very clear that fidelity to this model demanded that his
disciples avoid the corridors of power. However, this book follows
the subsequent departures from this command to demonstrate that the
Congregation became one of the most powerful orders in France. The
book includes a study of the termination of the little-known
Madagascar mission, which was closed in 1671. This mission, replete
with colonial scandal and mismanagement, revealed the terrible
pressures on de Paul's followers in the decade after his demise.
The end of the mission occasioned the first major reassessment of
the Congregation's goals as a missionary institute, and involved
abandoning some of the goals the founder had nourished. The rest of
the book reveals how the Lazarists recovered from the setbacks of
Madagascar, famously becoming parish priests of Louis XIV at
Versailles in 1672. From then on, fealty to Louis XIV gradually
trumped fidelity to de Paul. The book also investigates the darker
side of the Congregation's novel alliance with the monarch, by
examining its treatment of Huguenot prisoners at Marseille later in
the century, and its involvement with the slave trade in the Indian
Ocean. This study is a wide-ranging investigation of the Lazarists'
activities in the French Empire, ultimately concluding that they
eclipsed the Society of Jesus. Finally, it contributes new
information to the literature on Louis XIV's prickly relationship
with religious agents that will surprise historians working in this
area.
In the past decades historians have interpreted early modern
Christian missions not simply as an adjunct to Western imperialism,
but a privileged field for cross-cultural encounters. Placing the
Jesuit missions into a global phenomenon that emphasizes economic
and cultural relations between Europe and the East, this book
analyzes the possibilities and limitations of the religious
conversion in the Micronesian islands of Guahan (or Guam) and the
Northern Marianas. Frontiers are not rigid spatial lines separating
culturally different groups of people, but rather active agents in
the transformation of cultures. By bringing this local dimension to
the fore, the book adheres to a process of missionary
"glocalization" which allowed Chamorros to enter the international
community as members of Spain's regional empire and the global
communion of the Roman Catholic Church.
Mosaic contains Bible-based resources especially designed for small
groups of children with a wide age range. It is ideal for
children's workers in small rural churches, small urban churches
and new church plants - or any church with small numbers of
children, few leaders, and limited space or resources! This Mosaic
book gives you: * 12 children's group session outlines * Activities
suitable for 2- to 14-year-olds, all meeting together * All the
photocopiable resources you need to run your sessions * Help and
information for you, as you prepare to lead * Advice, tips and
wisdom from expert practitioners
Mosaic contains Bible-based resources especially designed for small
groups of children with a wide age range. It is ideal for
children's workers in small rural churches, small urban churches
and new church plants - or any church with small numbers of
children, few leaders, and limited space or resources! This Mosaic
book gives you: * 12 children's group session outlines * Activities
suitable for 2- to 14-year-olds, all meeting together * All the
photocopiable resources you need to run your sessions * Help and
information for you, as you prepare to lead * Advice, tips and
wisdom from expert practitioners
|
|