Being Church: Reflections on How to Live as the People of God

by John F. Alexander, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove (Foreword by)

Overview

What modern church doesn't call itself a "community"? Yet for how many is it real? How many churches form disciples intimately connected enough to call themselves Christ's "body"? How many form disciples who know the relational arts that create a robust unity? How many form disciples practiced in the ways of sacrificial love? Pastor John Alexander, a thirty-year veteran of living in Christian communities, yearns for all the wonder and promise of the New Testament vision of church to come true. After struggling with Scripture in live-together church communities, he shares the Scriptural practices and wisdom that make for an authentic, sustainable, and joyful life together. For any person or church wanting to move beyond the cliche of "community" to the radical vision of the New Testament, this book is an invaluable guide

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781621894018
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	07/01/2012
Series:	New Monastic Library: Resources for Radical Discipleship , #10
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	266
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

John Alexander earned a degree in philosophy and psychology at Oxford University and a master's degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and pursued doctoral studies at Northwestern University. He taught at Wheaton College, edited The Other Side magazine, authored Your Money or Your Life and The Secular Squeeze, and was pastor of Church of the Sojourners (a live-together church community in San Francisco) before his death in 2001.
Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove lives with his wife, Leah, and other friends at the Rutba House, a new monastic community of hospitality, peacemaking, and discipleship in Durham, North Carolina. (www.newmonasticism.org)

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Part 1 The Nature and Purpose of Churches (What's the Problem Here?)

1 Growing into the Stature of Christ (Whatever Happened to the Kingdom of God?) 3

2 The Secret of the Christian Life (Whatever Happened to the Church?) 10

3 Something is Missing (How Did Churches Get Where They are Today?) 21

Part 2 Things that Make if Hard for Modern Christians to Do Church Well (Reflections on Getting Culturally Absorbed)

4 On Taking Attendance at Church (My Personal Relationship with Jesus) 37

5 Counterfeit Plans of Salvation (Personal Identity, Affinity Groups, and Nationalism) 59

6 Vocation (Why Your Job is Not Your Calling) 70

7 Ministry: Being the Church for the World (Ministry and Evangelism by Being United) 83

Part 3 Reflections on Doing Church in America (Church Structures)

8 From and Function (Different Tree, Same Monkeys) 103

9 Some Models for Doing Church (Smaller Groups) 116

10 Life Together (Religious Orders and Live-in Churches) 123

11 On Becoming on Apache (What it Means to Become the People of God) 135

Part 4 Foundational Christian Trusts and Life Together (Theological Practicalities)

12 On Not Devouring One Another (The Love of God and the Cost of Discipleship) 157

13 Death to Ego (Servanthood) 175

Part 5 Love and Reconciliation (Reclaiming Church, Revisioning Church)

14 The Mark of the Church (Love and Unity) 193

15 Straight Talk (Love and Unity Again) 205

16 Rebellion, Submission, and Cooperation (Love and Unity Yet Again) 222

17 Leadership (Final Thoughts on Love and Unity) 233

18 Sabbath (the Sovereignty of God) 245

Bibliography 257