Organizing Love in Church


Book Description

Most of us have the instinct that a church won't automatically develop a culture of love for God, his people, and his world. This book puts words to that instinct.Chapter 1 outlines the kinds of loving fellowship, discipleship, and mission we hope for in a church. Chapter 2 explores why these expressions of love generally don't 'just happen', and why some common approaches to church -- including Sunday gatherings and Bible studies -- don't necessarily foster a loving community. And chapter 3 makes some concrete suggestions for how better to promote love in church.




Organizing Love in Church


Book Description

Most of us have the instinct that a church won't automatically develop a culture of love for God, his people, and his world. This book puts words to that instinct.Chapter 1 outlines the kinds of loving fellowship, discipleship, and mission we hope for in a church. Chapter 2 explores why these expressions of love generally don't 'just happen', and why some common approaches to church -- including Sunday gatherings and Bible studies -- don't necessarily foster a loving community. And chapter 3 makes some concrete suggestions for how better to promote love in church.




Love Jesus, Hate Church


Book Description

Love Jesus, Hate Church is the first book that examines the senseless and hurtful experiences often endure within our current church structure. It is a book about emerging faith, absolute truths, and offers hope to those who have taken an honest look at the church, scratched their head, and said, 'You know, this ain't the way church is suppose to be. Something must be wrong. Bad wrong.'




Faith-Rooted Organizing


Book Description

Since the 1930s, organizing movements for social justice in the U.S. have largely been built on secular assumptions. But what if Christians were to shape their organizing around the implications of the truth that God is real and Jesus is risen? Reverend Alexia Salvatierra and theologian Peter Heltzel propose a model of organizing that arises from their Christian convictions, with implications for all faiths.




The Power of Love


Book Description

"Love is the way. Love is the only way. Those who follow in my way follow in the way of unconditional, unselfish, sacrificial love. And that kind of love can change the world." --Bishop Michael Curry Two billion people watched Bishop Michael Curry deliver his sermon on the redemptive power of love at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex) at Windsor Castle. Here, he shares the full text of the sermon, plus an introduction and four of his favorite sermons on the themes of love and social justice. The world has met Bishop Curry and has been moved by his riveting, hopeful, and deceptively simple message: love and acceptance are what we need in these strange times.




Love One Another


Book Description

Jesus commanded his disciples to love one another. It's a simple command to understand, but very difficult to obey. And in the local church, it sometimes seems impossible. Many of us belong to highly diverse Christian communities, where we encounter people radically different from ourselves. At the same time, controversies and difficulties often threaten to tear us apart. So how can we achieve unity within the body of Christ? Gerald Sittser examines the 'one another' statements from the New Testament, distilling much-needed biblical wisdom to help us love one another. Drawing on his own pastoral experience of the best and worst of church life, he shows us what the love Jesus commanded actually requires of us, and how to live it out in struggle and servanthood, compromise and sacrifice. This enjoyable book by a best-selling author will guide us in putting one of the most important biblical principles into practice, for the good of our local churches.




Organizing Church


Book Description

The 21st century is the age of community organizing, from rallies in the streets to online movements for change. What if congregations embraced community organizing? Organizing Church offers a unique perspective that blends proven principles of community organizing and research on socially active congregations into a formula that will revitalize and empower churches as change-agents. Seasoned pastors and community activists Tim Conder and Dan Rhodes will help pastors and other church leaders build healthier congregations, create a deep culture of discipleship in their community, and respond to the challenges presented by the global culture of the 21st century. Organizing Church is the essential field guide for joining the social justice movement today.




So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore


Book Description

Jake Colsen, an overworked and disillusioned pastor, happens into a stranger who bears an uncanny resemblance (in manner) to the apostle John. A number of encounters with John as well as a family crisis lead Jake to a new understanding of what his life should be like: one filled with faith bolstered by a steady, close relationship with the God of the universe. Facing his own disappointment with Christianity, Jake must forsake the habits that have made his faith rote and rediscover the love that captured his heart when he first believed. Compelling and intensely personal, So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anything relates a man's rebirth from performance-based Christianity to a loving friendship with Christ that affects all he does, thinks, and says. As John tells Jake, "There is nothing the Father desires for you more than that you fall squarely in the lap of his love and never move from that place for the rest of your life."




Staying in Love Bible Study Participant's Guide


Book Description

In this participant's guide, to be used with the "Staying in Love" video, pastor Stanley discusses how to stay in love. (Relationships)




How to Be a Christian without Going to Church


Book Description

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.