Why are so many 20- and 30-something Christians disappearing from the church?They are told how much the church wants young people, yet there is growing suspicion among young believers about who is in and who is out of the scope of Christian orthodoxy. Through this suspicion, a rift between the generations has emerged. In the face of frustration, of being cut out because they don't seem to fit, young believers often take their gifts and leave the church.This book helps those who feel displaced by this generational collision to find a sense of place and welcome with a church that is still becoming all that God wants it to be. If you are a young person who wonders if there is a place in the church for someone like you, or if you want to know if your own church can be the kind of body in which young people are welcome, A Seat at the Table will give you a new personal and kingdom perspective. Embrace the challenge to re-imagine your relationship with the church in light of this generational collision, not seeing it as an unredeemable rift, but as an opportunity to give and receive hospitality.

A "Be-It-Yourself" Guide to Anti-racism for Churches and Church Leaders Whether you have been an ally for years or just recently opened your eyes to racial injustice, guiding your predominantly white church toward anti-racism is a daunting task. Where do you even begin? White churches especially feel an urgency to respond but at the same time suffer a sense of overwhelmingness and futility, as if no one action, sermon series, or service project will solve the problem of racism in America. And they're right. Instead, we must begin to look deeply at our organizations-our traditions, our ministries, our leadership, our ways of making decisions, our ways of interacting with the world beyond the church-to identify and address implicit biases and to discover how white pseudo-supremacy has been encoded into our way of "doing church." Wait-Is This Racist? is here to guide you and your church through this challenging and uncomfortable work. Intentionally interactive, practical, and biblically based, Wait-Is This Racist? guides church leaders and staff through an examination of all aspects of church life, including leadership, preaching and liturgy, music, small groups, buildings and grounds, and more, to help churches create an action plan that will take them toward not only becoming anti-racist but also actually doing anti-racist work. Offering educational tips, powerful stories, and insightful questions, anti-racism consultants Kerry, Bryana, and Josh will accompany you through this necessary work so that your church can truly become a justice-oriented organization that leans more fully into the kin-dom of God. Features: A clear audit of church operations and reasons why this work is so important Workbook-style questions at the end of each chapter A workable action plan for churches to implement what they have learned Tips, encouragement, and questions for BIPOC leaders in primarily white churches Helpful glossary of terms to aid general understanding

A quiet reformation is gathering momentum across the UK and the world...Church leaders from across the denominational spectrum are coming together in friendship and prayer to seek God's will for their towns and cities - and transformation is occurring! Beyond the church, Christians in business, health and education, sports, charities and the arts, are strategically collaborating to impact their communities. Sharing common purpose and relational unity, they are discovering the power of working together as one. This inspirational collection of stories, of Christians bringing cultural, social and spiritual transformation to the places they love, will encourage and amaze. And this is only the beginning - imagine what our communities could be like in 30 years! A Gathering Momentum invites you to become part of the movement and join with others to fulfil the mission of God for your city or town.

What does it mean to make Christlike disciples? Discipleship is a common word in churches today. Pastors and leaders are continually looking for resources to help their members develop a deeper understanding of the Christian faith and a closer relationship with Christ. But there's more to discipleship than studying and following Christ's teachings. True discipleship is an invitation to become like Christ; to absorb His passions, behaviors, and wisdom by spending significant time with Him; to engage in a relationship with Him that shapes you into His likeness and in turn, inspires others to do the same. Walk with Me calls pastors, church leaders, teachers, and parents to go beyond basic discipleship and begin to intentionally teach others to be disciplemakers. It explores the importance of teaching mature disciples how their Christ-influenced responses to everyday situations can be used to show others who Jesus is and what it means to be His disciple. With biblical insight, author Hal Perkins explores the call to 'go and make disciples of all nations' and demonstrates how changing the way we act, think, and serve will not only help us fulfill the Great Commission, but also answer the call to love God with all our hearts and minds, and our neighbor as ourselves.

In our world, stories matter. Methods and systems are beneficial because they provide structure and help keep us on the right road; but the motivation and courage to keep walking the road, come from the stories we hear and see and experience-stories that inspire hope and bring us face-to-face with God. For ministers, the call to preach is a call into a story that forms and shapes us. It's about stumbling into revelation as life unwinds and scripture unfolds. It's about listening to God's voice and then sharing it with others. It's about recognizing that when people gather to hear a sermon, God speaks. And it's about understanding that when He speaks, He speaks through you. Preaching the Story That Shapes Us is more than a textbook on preaching. It's an empowering call for preachers to present a picture of the kingdom of God already at work among us, recognizing that the work of preaching is not just about arranging words--it's about people. With elegant prose and crafted reason, Dan Boone weaves together scripture, personal narrative, structure, and theological reflection to provide a satisfying, efficient guide to narrative preaching. From exploring the importance of biography to walking readers through creative processes that shape the sermon, Boone shows preachers how to awaken lives and share the stories of God that reveal who we are and lead us to who we will be.

The "New York Times"-bestselling author of "God's Politics" reinvigorates America's hope for the future, offering a roadmap to rediscover the nation's moral center and providing the inspiration and a concrete plan to change today's politics.

More than twenty-five years have passed since the publication in 1979 of "Brothers and Sisters to Us," the U.S. Bishops' statement against racism, and during this time white Catholic theologians have remained relatively silent on this topic. In this hard-hitting study, prominent Roman Catholic theologians address white priviletge and the way it contributes to racism. They maintain that systems of white privilege are a significant factor in maintaining evil systems of racism in our country and that most white theologians and ethicists remain ignorant of their negative impact.

One of the most powerful forces in the twenty-first century is the increasing phenomenon of globalization. In nearly every realm of human activity, traditional boundaries are disappearing and people worldwide are more interconnected than ever. Christianity has also become more aware of global realities and the important role of the church in non-Western countries. Church leaders must grapple with the implications for theology and ministry in an ever-shrinking world.
"Globalizing Theology" is a groundbreaking book that addresses these issues of vital importance to the church. It contains articles from leading scholars, including Tite Tienou, Kevin Vanhoozer, Charles Van Engen, M. Daniel Carroll R., Andrew Walls, Vinoth Ramachandra, and Paul Hiebert. Topics covered include the challenges that globalization brings to theology, how we can incorporate global perspectives into our thinking, and the effect a more global theology has on a variety of important issues.

*With a foreword from Tim Keller* A bold vision for Christians who want to engage the world in a way that is biblically faithful and culturally sensitive. In Biblical Critical Theory, Christopher Watkin shows how the Bible and its unfolding story help us make sense of modern life and culture. Critical theories exist to critique what we think we know about reality and the social, political, and cultural structures in which we live. In doing so, they make visible the values and beliefs of a culture in order to scrutinize and change them. Biblical Critical Theory exposes and evaluates the often-hidden assumptions and concepts that shape late-modern society, examining them through the lens of the biblical story running from Genesis to Revelation, and asking urgent questions like: How does the Bible's storyline help us understand our society, our culture, and ourselves? How do specific doctrines help us engage thoughtfully in the philosophical, political, and social questions of our day? How can we analyze and critique culture and its alternative critical theories through Scripture? Informed by the biblical-theological structure of Saint Augustine's magisterial work The City of God (and with extensive diagrams and practical tools), Biblical Critical Theory shows how the patterns of the Bible's storyline can provide incisive, fresh, and nuanced ways of intervening in today's debates on everything from science, the arts, and politics to dignity, multiculturalism, and equality. You'll learn the moves to make and the tools to use in analyzing and engaging with all sorts of cultural artifacts and events in a way that is both biblically faithful and culturally relevant. It is not enough for Christians to explain the Bible to the culture or cultures in which we live. We must also explain the culture in which we live within the framework and categories of the Bible, revealing how the whole of the Bible sheds light on the whole of life. If Christians want to speak with a fresh, engaging, and dynamic voice in the marketplace of ideas today, we need to mine the unique treasures of the distinctive biblical storyline.

Does America, as George W. Bush has proclaimed, have a special mission, derived from God, to bring liberty and democracy to the world? How much influence does the Christian right have over U.S. foreign policy? And how should America deal with violent Islamist extremists? Traditionally, politicians have sought to downplay the impact of religious beliefs in international affairs. In this illuminating first-hand account, one of the most renowned figures in American politics argues that understanding the place and power of religion - and knowing how best to respond to it - is essential if America is to lead successfully around the world. Madeleine Albright examines religion and foreign affairs through the lens of American history as well as her own personal experiences in public office. She offers a sharp critique of U.S. policy, condemnation for those who exploit religious fervor for violent ends, and praise for political, cultural, and spiritual leaders who seek to harness the values of faith to bring people together. Often using new and telling examples from her own years in power, Albright has written a thought-provoking work that calls for bold leadership to rein in the many religious rivalries around the globe and lay the groundwork for a new moral consensus.

The poor will always be with you, Jesus said - but that doesn't mean Christians have ever figured out how to be with the poor. Pope Francis has emphasized a vision of a "Church that is poor and for the poor." But growing economic inequality continues to spread across the globe. This book takes a fresh look at the role of churches, and individual Christians, in relating to poverty and the poor among them. A strong focus is placed on the biblical and theological roots of the Church's commitment to care for the poor. At times praised as a virtue and blessed as a condition, poverty easily confuses us, and we are often left doing little to nothing to make a difference with and for the poor. As a social evil and a burden, poverty has elicited many kinds of reactions among the followers of Christ. It is time for Christians to figure out what to do about it. Contributors include Pope Francis, Pheme Perkins, Sandra M. Schneider, and Thomas Massaro SJ.

A cry that touches our hearts and awakens our desire to help - in some way - the hundreds of thousands of children around the world who are at risk. Overwhelmed by poverty, war, hunger and separation from family, they are not allowed to be children. They carry guns, they sell themselves to buy food, they live on the streets. Donald Dunson tells the stories of our children from New Orleans to the Sudan. Each chapter profiles three or four individuals as it probes an issue affecting children children including hunger and poverty, was and sexual exploitation, homelessness and the need for love. No Room at the table concludes with a list of resources for involvement and action. It is an eye - and heart - opening work.

Forces are rapidly reshaping America's morals, social policies, and culture-but how do we stop it? Learn how to make your voice heard and reclaim America's faith and values by reshaping our country's current trajectory. Cultural elites in the media, academia, and politics are daily deceiving millions of Americans into passively supporting policies that are harmful to the nation and their own best interest. Although some Americans can see through the smokescreen, they feel powerless to stop the forces inside and outside government that radically threaten their values and principles. Drawing on her training in political science and law, Dr. Swain thoughtfully examines the religious significance of the founding of our nation and the deceptions that have crept into our daily lives and now threaten traditional families, unborn children, and members of various racial and ethnic groups-as well as national sovereignty itself. Dr. Swain provides encouraging action items for the people of our country to make the political system more responsive. The book is divided into two sections: forsaking what we once knew and re-embracing truth and justice in policy choices. Be the People covers key topics including: The damage caused political correctness and its censoring of traditional Christian expression of thought America's shift to moral relativism and its religious roots Erosion of rule of law, national security, and immigration Abortion's fragile facade and the true toll it takes Racial and ethnic challenges How we can reclaim the future In Be the People, Carol takes a candid look at the problems our country faces but that we're often uncomfortable speaking honestly about, providing hope and actionable solutions to change the direction of America while we still can. "Be the People is a courageous analysis of today's most pressing issues, exposing the deceptions by the cultural elite and urging 'We the People' to restore America's faith and values." -Sean Hannity

Billy Graham, Eugene Peterson, William Willimon and other well-known church leaders teach you how to connect with the congregation through your preaching. Beyond the 'how-to's' of preaching, The Pastor's Guide provides a foundation for embodying God's grace and holiness as a means of communicating His message. Great preachers of our time will teach you how to: Plan an extended preaching schedule Keep your congregation engaged in what you're saying Improve your delivery Develop ideas for content And much more!

What meaning does my life have? What hope is there for the Church? How can I see beyond the media hype and false images I am bombarded with every day? Where can I find God in all this noise and turmoil? Combining moving stories from the inner city with a fresh approach to the Gospel, Faith in Dark Places explores the revolutionary idea that the good news of God's love is being spoken to a tired and damaged world by those rejected as worthless: the homeless and the poor. This radically revised edition, incorporating powerful new insights and reflections, draws on recent theological research and the author's own experience of urban poverty. It examines key biblical texts, such as the Lord's Prayer as a prayer for the poor (in particular the implications of kingdom, bread and trespasses); the Magnificat; and the causes of the crucifixion.