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Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian institutions & organizations > Christian social thought & activity
In a post-9/11 world, Christian. Muslim. Friend. lays out a path
toward authentic friendship between Christians and Muslims. Most
similar books either teach Christians to evangelize Muslims or else
downplay their Christian commitments. The author, who has lived and
worked among and befriended Muslims for more than fifty years,
offers readers a third way: holding onto the Christ-centered
commitments of their faith while cultivating peaceful friendship
with Muslims.
Reclaiming an Evangelical History of Activism In recent years,
there has been renewed interest by evangelicals in the topic of
biblical social justice. Younger evangelicals and millennials, in
particular, have shown increased concern for social issues. But
this is not a recent development. Following World War II, a new
movement of American evangelicals emerged who gradually increased
their efforts on behalf of justice. This work explains the
important historical context for evangelical reengagement with
social justice issues. The authors provide an overview of
post-World War II evangelical social justice and compassion
ministries, introducing key figures and seminal organizations that
propelled the rediscovery of biblical justice. They explore
historical and theological lessons learned and offer a way forward
for contemporary Christians.
What is the purpose of Christian ministry? Is it about upholding
traditional standards? Is it about meeting organizational goals? Or
is it a mixture of meanings and roles? With numerous ways of
understanding ministry, getting a grasp on it can
be a difficult task.
Discovering Christian Ministry not only gives a concise yet
comprehensive definition of ministry but it also offers a
ministerial vision that encompasses the personal, interpersonal and
social spheres of your life.
The tyranny of the urgent is a by-product of our fast-paced world.
It affects many people, but when it impacts pastors they are often
tempted to ignore the critical needs of the pastoral disciplines
that ensure the effectiveness of ministry.
In Thinking, Listening, and Being: Wesleyan Pastoral
Disciplines, Jeren Rowell offers theological reflections on what it
means to live and work as a pastor. He examines different aspects
of
pastoral thinking, practice, and work, and challenges pastors
to continually pursue prayer, the study of Scriptures, and
theological reflection. "Working in this way," he writes, "could
not only be a gift of love for the church but also an important
model for parish pastors who are tempted to surrender first things
to the urgencies and temptations of contemporary life."
What does God want to say and do in your worship service?As a
pastor or worship leader, planning a meaningful, relevant, and
theologically rich worship experience for your church is of the
upmost importance. How do you meet the demands of the modern
congregation without getting in the way of what God is doing
through worship?Created to Worship: God's Invitation to Become
Fully Human is a resource that provides a theology of worship in
the Wesleyan tradition. This book will help you plan for a worship
service in a discerning manner, while answering the question, 'What
does God want to say and do today?'
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.
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.
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.
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.
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