The Scattering: Imagining a Church that Connects Faith and Life

by Dwight Lee DuBois, Craig L. Nessan (Foreword by)

Overview

Imagine being able to connect everything you do in life with God's dream of shalom. Imagine all God's people seeing their family responsibilities, work, and community involvement as ministry. Imagine congregations that equip and empower people for ministry--not just in the church, but in all they do. Imagine leaders and members finding a renewed sense of joy, purpose, and vitality as they give themselves away for the sake of the Gospel. Dwight DuBois not only imagines these life-giving outcomes in fresh and powerful ways, he shows readers how to create an environment that equips everyday saints to connect their faith with all of life. Based on the real life struggles of pastors and members, The Scattering lays bare our preoccupation with the health of the institution and offers powerful new language for the church as being both gathered and scattered. This language breaks down unhelpful stereotypes, and provides readers with hopeful and rewarding ways to interpret who we are and what we do as the church of Jesus Christ.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498229791
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	11/05/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	186
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Dwight L. DuBois is a parish pastor, congregational renewal professional, and instructor at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. In recent years he has worked extensively on making the connection between faith and life, in congregations, with college students, and at the seminary level.
For more information visit http://TheScattering.org
Craig L. Nessan is William D. Streng Professor for the Education and Renewal of the Church and professor of contextual theology and ethics at Wartburg Theological Seminary. He is the author of several books, including Wilhelm Loehe and North America (2020).

Table of Contents

Foreword Craig L. Nessan ix

A Word of Thanks xiii

Introduction xv

Abbreviations xxi

1 Imagining a New/old Church-Gathered and Sent 1

2 A Gap in Imagination 21

Interlude: Keeping God in the Box 47

3 Reimagining Our Roles the New Testament Way 49

4 Building on the Imagination of Predecessors 69

5 Imagining a Better Way 82

6 Living out the Biblical Imagination 92

Interlude: Connecting the Blessing and the Purpose Forrest Walden 105

7 Imagining an Equipping Community 110

8 From Imagination to Reality 123

Conclusion 145

Appendix: Resources to Feed Your Imagination 149

Bibliography 155

Index of Subjects 155

Index of Scripture References 155