A Field Guide for Genuine Community: 25 Days & 101 Ways to Move from Fa?ade to Family

I’m surrounded by people at church . . . so why do I feel so alone?

You show up at church every Sunday. You see people you know. You listen to a sermon together. And then you go home feeling just as isolated as you did before. What’s going on?

We all know that a church is supposed to be a community. The trick is to actually make it one. Communities don’t happen by chance—certainly not in our Lone Ranger culture that values independence and individualism. A truly Christian community must be built by intentional practices that allow for deeper connections, centered on the unity that can only be found in Christ.

In A Field Guide for Genuine Community, longtime pastor and discipleship trainer Ben Connelly shows you that the biblical model for community is the family of God. In twenty-five short, practical readings, he takes you beyond the surface and helps you learn to connect with your brothers and sisters as true family members. The church isn’t meant to be a collection of strangers. God intends for you to find a unified and purposeful household where you truly belong.

1138865406
A Field Guide for Genuine Community: 25 Days & 101 Ways to Move from Fa?ade to Family

I’m surrounded by people at church . . . so why do I feel so alone?

You show up at church every Sunday. You see people you know. You listen to a sermon together. And then you go home feeling just as isolated as you did before. What’s going on?

We all know that a church is supposed to be a community. The trick is to actually make it one. Communities don’t happen by chance—certainly not in our Lone Ranger culture that values independence and individualism. A truly Christian community must be built by intentional practices that allow for deeper connections, centered on the unity that can only be found in Christ.

In A Field Guide for Genuine Community, longtime pastor and discipleship trainer Ben Connelly shows you that the biblical model for community is the family of God. In twenty-five short, practical readings, he takes you beyond the surface and helps you learn to connect with your brothers and sisters as true family members. The church isn’t meant to be a collection of strangers. God intends for you to find a unified and purposeful household where you truly belong.

11.99 In Stock
A Field Guide for Genuine Community: 25 Days & 101 Ways to Move from Fa?ade to Family

A Field Guide for Genuine Community: 25 Days & 101 Ways to Move from Fa?ade to Family

A Field Guide for Genuine Community: 25 Days & 101 Ways to Move from Fa?ade to Family

A Field Guide for Genuine Community: 25 Days & 101 Ways to Move from Fa?ade to Family

eBookFirst Edition (First Edition)

$11.99 

Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
WANT A NOOK?  Explore Now

Related collections and offers

LEND ME® See Details

Overview

I’m surrounded by people at church . . . so why do I feel so alone?

You show up at church every Sunday. You see people you know. You listen to a sermon together. And then you go home feeling just as isolated as you did before. What’s going on?

We all know that a church is supposed to be a community. The trick is to actually make it one. Communities don’t happen by chance—certainly not in our Lone Ranger culture that values independence and individualism. A truly Christian community must be built by intentional practices that allow for deeper connections, centered on the unity that can only be found in Christ.

In A Field Guide for Genuine Community, longtime pastor and discipleship trainer Ben Connelly shows you that the biblical model for community is the family of God. In twenty-five short, practical readings, he takes you beyond the surface and helps you learn to connect with your brothers and sisters as true family members. The church isn’t meant to be a collection of strangers. God intends for you to find a unified and purposeful household where you truly belong.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780802499455
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Publication date: 07/06/2021
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 224
File size: 6 MB

About the Author

BEN CONNELLY is a pastor, author, equipper, and occasional professor. He is honored to serve everyday disciples, ministry leaders, and church planters across the world through The Equipping Group, and to help lead Salt+Light Community and Plant Fort Worth, TX. Ben has written or contributed to several books, workbooks, articles, and publications, has overseen church planting efforts for multiple organizations, and has also taught university and seminary classes. He and Jess have three children and at times host short-term foster kids too. Learn more at www.benconnelly.com, or @connellyben on various social media platforms.

Table of Contents

Foreword 9

Start Here: "Y'all" 11

Week 1 Why Should I Even Care? 23

Day 1 "Community" is Killing the Church 25

Day 2 My Body, Broken … 32

Day 3 Let the Church Be the Church 38

Day 4 A Good Father 45

Day 5 Week One in Action + Living as Family: Soma Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan 52

Week 2 Who Is My Spiritual Family? 56

Day 6 God's Family Tree 58

Day 7 No "I" in Team 65

Day 8 Same Kind of Different … 72

Day 9 Every Generation 79

Day 10 Week Two in Action + Living as Family: Inner West Church, Melbourne, Australia 87

Week 3 What Does a Spiritual Family Do? 91

Day 11 First Steps 93

Day 12 Growing Up Together 100

Day 13 Mi Casa Es Su Casa 108

Day 14 Good Shepherds 115

Day 15 Week Three in Action + Living as Family: Comunidad Mosaico, Leon, Mexico 122

Week 4 When and Where Does a Spiritual Family Interact? 126

Day 16 "Day by Day" 128

Day 17 Unfiltered Lives 135

Day 18 Highs, Lows, and Status Quos 141

Day 19 A Growing Family 147

Day 20 Week Four in Action + Living as Family: Trinity Minster, Naraguta, Nigeria 154

Week 5 How Do We Start? 158

Day 21 A Whole-Life Gospel 160

Day 22 "Welcome" Signs 167

Day 23 One Small Step for Man … 174

Day 24 Pray and Play 180

Day 25 Week Five in Action + Living as Family: Biresica Missio Dei, Bucharest, Romania 186

Afterword: To Church Leaders 190

Appendix A Sharing Your Story 197

Appendix B Asking Good Questions 199

Appendix C Applying Gospel Answers 202

Acknowledgments 207

Notes 209

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews