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Аннотация
"If only we were a Christian country again!" Christians, particularly those in the West, often lament their loss of influence in modern politics and culture. It seems that everywhere one turns, Christendom in the West is dealt another blow, with Christian reactions ranging from withdrawal and entrenchment, to cries of persecution and talks of organized resistance.
Pentecostalism, Secularism, and Post Christendom seeks to address these concerns via an examination of Classical North American Pentecostalism as it wrestles with the very real challenges posed by the increasing post-Christian ethos of Western culture. In addition to providing a number of concrete steps, Pentecostals may take in their efforts to better understand and connect with modern culture, this work will argue that counter-intuitively, the death of Christendom (if properly addressed), may in fact herald the arrival of the Church's finest hour.
Pentecostalism, Secularism, and Post Christendom seeks to address these concerns via an examination of Classical North American Pentecostalism as it wrestles with the very real challenges posed by the increasing post-Christian ethos of Western culture. In addition to providing a number of concrete steps, Pentecostals may take in their efforts to better understand and connect with modern culture, this work will argue that counter-intuitively, the death of Christendom (if properly addressed), may in fact herald the arrival of the Church's finest hour.
Аннотация
Stewards of Grace tells several stories in one. It is a story of two faithful stewards of God's grace called to serve the poor, despised, and marginalized in apartheid South Africa. It is a story that captures how cross-cultural missions from the west at the end of the colonial era led to a thriving church in the southern hemisphere. It is a story of God's power to redeem and transform the lost, heal the sick, and build the church of Jesus Christ. It is a story of the positives and negatives of Pentecostal missions in its third generation in the mid-twentieth century. And it is a story of radical Christian discipleship.
Written first for those who would like to know the story of the first of six decades of ministry for Eugene and Phyllis Grams, this book also reflects on mission theology and practice. The very personal story is full of painful struggles and amazing miracles, human opposition and divine triumph, and examples of how God's plan works through and despite human weaknesses for the praise of his glory and grace. Reflection on ministry, missions, theology, and the Christian life are based on Scripture, history, and the Grams' personal experiences. The biographical narrative explores such things as the call to Christian service, evangelism, church planting, justice, compassion, cross-cultural ministry, partnerships, and spiritual power. The result is both a riveting biography and a narrative theology of mission practice to challenge and encourage every believer.
Written first for those who would like to know the story of the first of six decades of ministry for Eugene and Phyllis Grams, this book also reflects on mission theology and practice. The very personal story is full of painful struggles and amazing miracles, human opposition and divine triumph, and examples of how God's plan works through and despite human weaknesses for the praise of his glory and grace. Reflection on ministry, missions, theology, and the Christian life are based on Scripture, history, and the Grams' personal experiences. The biographical narrative explores such things as the call to Christian service, evangelism, church planting, justice, compassion, cross-cultural ministry, partnerships, and spiritual power. The result is both a riveting biography and a narrative theology of mission practice to challenge and encourage every believer.
Аннотация
The Wedding of the Lamb does not fit into any of the traditional categories of interpretation for the book of Revelation. The author uses historical sources to combine New Testament interpretation with the history of the Roman/early Christian period to present an interpretation that is meant to approximate the way the early Christians would have understood the text. Far from a doomsday message, the message of Revelation is one of hope for a Church in the midst of persecution. The result is an interpretation which, unlike the proliferation of fictionalized accounts of the «end-times,» recognizes that most of the images in the book of Revelation are references to events in the history of the Church.
Аннотация
In this third volume of his «Adventures in Spirituality» trilogy, Dr. Robert Vande Kappelle travels from Amsterdam to Cairo in search of his cultural and spiritual roots, inviting readers to join him in exploring fabled places across the Mediterranean World. Despite the grave problems centered in this region, it is the birthplace of Western civilization and the source of the world's three guiding religions. Readers unfamiliar with the emergence and development of Western civilization will find Into Thin Places a compelling introduction; others will discover here a new perspective.
Affirming the human quest for adventure, meaning, and wholeness, Professor Vande Kappelle beckons adventurers to enjoy the wonderful experiences described in the book's «travel entries.» Those seeking historical and cultural perspective will want to examine the numerous «explanatory entries» scattered throughout the narrative. These vignettes expand and deepen the storyline, piquing curiosity about seminal events, persons, and places that helped shape Western sensibility.
As Dr. Vande Kappelle points out in his closing chapter, our world is in a state of crisis, precipitated by numerous factors but primarily by the loss of the sacred. «Whether the current crisis is curable is debatable, but it will clearly require massive cultural reorientation. More importantly, it will require a transformation of the human spirit and a commitment of will.» Into Thin Places encourages readers to find «thin places»–places transparent to the divine–in their own transformative journeys of discovery.
Affirming the human quest for adventure, meaning, and wholeness, Professor Vande Kappelle beckons adventurers to enjoy the wonderful experiences described in the book's «travel entries.» Those seeking historical and cultural perspective will want to examine the numerous «explanatory entries» scattered throughout the narrative. These vignettes expand and deepen the storyline, piquing curiosity about seminal events, persons, and places that helped shape Western sensibility.
As Dr. Vande Kappelle points out in his closing chapter, our world is in a state of crisis, precipitated by numerous factors but primarily by the loss of the sacred. «Whether the current crisis is curable is debatable, but it will clearly require massive cultural reorientation. More importantly, it will require a transformation of the human spirit and a commitment of will.» Into Thin Places encourages readers to find «thin places»–places transparent to the divine–in their own transformative journeys of discovery.
Аннотация
Children know God. They encounter God in diverse ways as they walk along the spiritual journey. Amidst this diversity, four distinct avenues for connecting with God emerge in the lives of children: word, emotion, symbol, and action. These are the four spiritual styles, broad approaches to spirituality and faith through which children experience God and make sense of their lives in the world around them. Children's Ministry that Fits blends insightful research, relevant theory, and practical ministry into a guidebook for discovering and understanding children's spiritual styles. Drawing from theology, personal experience, and the spiritual lives of children, David M. Csinos offers practical wisdom that will help pastors, parents, and teachers to move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches to children's ministry and begin nurturing the spiritual lives of children in welcoming and inclusive environments.
Аннотация
What is Anglo-Catholicism? What are its origins? Are Anglo-Catholics real Anglicans/Episcopalians? What is their relationship with Roman Catholics? Has Anglo-Catholicism betrayed Anglicanism's Protestant roots? The Sacramental Church answers these and many other questions. Addressed to the general reader, it explores the history, practices, beliefs, and attitudes of Anglo-Catholicism. While Anglo-Catholicism has deep roots in English Christianity, it attained its modern form through the nineteenth-century Catholic Revival–a movement that aroused strong passions among proponents and opponents alike. The revival, its proponents declared, reclaimed for the Anglican faith its heritage as an authentic branch of the «one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.» Anglo-Catholicism gave Anglicans/Episcopalians options to embrace ceremonial forms of worship, affirm the objective real presence and sacrificial nature of the Eucharist, venerate Mary the Mother of God, or join a monastery without abandoning their Anglican tradition. With an extensive bibliography and numerous direct quotes, The Sacramental Church provides a valuable reference source as well as a very readable story of Anglo-Catholicism–the expression of sacramental Christianity with special relevance to the English-speaking people.
Аннотация
As popular advocates for new atheism clash with intellectually gifted Christian apologists, the debates rage on. At the end of the day, after the lecture halls clear and the thumb-worn books are put back on the shelves, the participants in these battles of ideas remain firmly entrenched in their positions. Yet, there are many sincere seekers and committed Christians going about their workaday lives wondering how all of these discussions relate to their own questions and struggles with faith. E-mails to a Young Seeker: Exchanges in Mere Christianity offers a glimpse into how everyday individuals struggle with these heady and relevant questions and debates. Based upon actual e-mail exchanges with sincere seekers, David Hogsette illustrates the importance of grappling with penetrating questions from sincere hearts and thoughtful minds. The questions are real, the concerns run deep, and the desire for reasonable and meaningful answers is clear. This book offers succinct yet comprehensive answers to real-life questions, and it demonstrates that true apologetic evangelism requires a commitment of time and a devotion to relationship. Drawing from such disciplines as science, philosophy, literature, and biblical studies, E-mails to a Young Seeker provides detailed discussions of many important questions about the existence of God, the reliability of the Bible, and key Christian doctrines such as sin, heaven, hell, the Trinity, Christ's sacrificial and atoning death, the resurrection, and salvation through faith in Christ alone. Readers, be they seekers in search of answers or Christians wanting to strengthen their faith or develop strategies for sharing their faith with others, will greatly benefit from these discussions and the extensive reading lists provided at the end of the exchanges.
Аннотация
In this collection of inspirational and challenging essays, Methodists from around the globe reflect on the practice of disciple-making in their own contexts. From their own perspectives, they address questions like: What are the challenges you face? What biblical images shape your missional practice? What examples of Christian authenticity inspire your communities? What gifts related to mission and evangelism do you offer the global community of faith?
Churches on every continent have their own stories of struggle and faithfulness. Indeed, each distinct community within any given region has a voice of its own that deserves to be heard. The voices included in this volume belong to women and men alike. Likewise, they resound with the accents of Africa and Asia, Latin and North America, Europe, and Oceania. Each voice is distinct, but all articulate a vision of faith made effective through love.
In a world characterized variously by poverty and violence as well as prosperity and peace, the church must reclaim its central mission «to make disciples of Jesus Christ.» In their effort to articulate a vision of mission and evangelism, the contributors to this volume bear witness to the fact that we can no longer do this work in isolation from one another. To be the ambassadors of the gospel, we need each other and we need to pay attention to the voices that sound different from our own. This volume takes a large step in that vital direction.
Churches on every continent have their own stories of struggle and faithfulness. Indeed, each distinct community within any given region has a voice of its own that deserves to be heard. The voices included in this volume belong to women and men alike. Likewise, they resound with the accents of Africa and Asia, Latin and North America, Europe, and Oceania. Each voice is distinct, but all articulate a vision of faith made effective through love.
In a world characterized variously by poverty and violence as well as prosperity and peace, the church must reclaim its central mission «to make disciples of Jesus Christ.» In their effort to articulate a vision of mission and evangelism, the contributors to this volume bear witness to the fact that we can no longer do this work in isolation from one another. To be the ambassadors of the gospel, we need each other and we need to pay attention to the voices that sound different from our own. This volume takes a large step in that vital direction.
Аннотация
The purpose of this book is to help postmodern Westerners understand what the Bible has to say about wealth and possessions, basing itself on the presumption that (a) nobody can understand themselves apart from some recognition of their spiritual roots, and (b) that these roots sink deeper into the pages of the Bible than most Westerners realize. Focusing upon that part of the Bible most widely recognized to be its ideological core–that which is called Torah by some, Pentateuch by others–it interprets this «great text» against other «great texts» in its literary-historical environment, including (a) some epic poems from Mesopotamia, (b) some Jewish texts from Syria-Palestine, and (c) some Nazarene parables from the Greek New Testament.
Аннотация
Calvin@500 is an exercise in appreciative criticism and appropriation of the Reformer's work for church and society. The collection serves as an introduction to the life and thought of this sixteenth-century Reformer in his context. The book also traces Calvin's continuing legacy for political, economic, theological, spiritual, and inter-religious practices of our own time. The essays reflect the depth and breadth of Calvin scholarship from the sixteenth century to the present. They also reflect Calvin's own wide-ranging ministry: the authors are pastors, teachers, social justice workers, and theologians. Calvin@500 arose from two Canadian conferences on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.