Synopses & Reviews
According to a recent survey, of the nine in every ten Americans who identify themselves as Christian, only a third of these actually participate in a faith community with any regularity. Many faith seekers have tried different churches, methods, programs, leaders, teachers, and styles only to discover that nothing holds their interest.
Written for those who are trying to nurture authentic faith communities and for those who have struggled to retain their faith, The Tangible Kingdom offers theological answers and real-life stories that demonstrate how the best ancient church practices can re-emerge in today's culture, through any church of any size. In this remarkable book, Hugh Halter and Matt Smaytwo missional leaders and church plantersoutline an innovative model for creating thriving grass-roots faith communities.
Starting from nothing, Halter and Smay began meeting in homes, coffee shops, and anywhere they could. Their goal wasn't to attract people to worship services, but to be the faithful church in small pockets throughout their city. Based on their experiences, the authors offer some intentional activities and habits of life that can help a faith community make God's kingdom more tangible. Halter and Smay call for churches to take a leap from their safe environments of their buildings and truly enter into the real worldGod's reality.
The Tangible Kingdom offers new hope for church leaders, pastors, church planters, and churchgoers who are looking for practical new ways to re-orient their lives to fit God's mission today.
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Synopsis
This book is for those who have struggled to retain their faith amidst a dying church experience. It gives not only theological answers but real-life stories of how the best parts of the ancient habits of the church can re-emerge in today's culture. It will synthesize the deep seated theological and practical issues facing the church without all the technical lingo and help alienated Christians and their leaders finally understand the biblical idea of community and how it holds the key to evangelism, spiritual formation and enjoyment of life.
Synopsis
Written for those who are trying to nurture authentic faith communities and for those who have struggled to retain their faith, The Tangible Kingdom offers theological answers and real-life stories that demonstrate how the best ancient church practices can re-emerge in today's culture, through any church of any size. In this remarkable book, Hugh Halter and Matt Smay "two missional leaders and church planters" outline an innovative model for creating thriving grass-roots faith communities.
Synopsis
"Among increasing numbers of faithful, conservative, Bible-believing Christians, an important shift is beginning to occur. These aren't wild-eyed radicals; they're solid, established church leaders and members who are asking new questions because deep within they discern that something is wrong with the status quo. Hugh and Matt have been through this shift, and offer wise counsel for a way forward."
Brian McLaren
author, A New Kind of Christian Trilogy and Everything Must Change
"What makes this book so outstanding is that it is not just another book on theology and theory, but it is rooted in the process of making disciples."
Bob Roberts
pastor, NorthWood Church, and author, Transformation, Glocalization, and The Multiplying Church
"No matter what kind of church you are seeking to participate in or plant, The Tangible Kingdom will knock you out of your comfortable pew to follow the mission of Jesus to transform your community."
Mark Driscoll
author, Confessions of a Reformission Rev. and The Radical Reformission
"Hugh Halter and Matt Smay are not just men of words but of actions. They have broken from the pack of theorizers, philosophers, and abstract theologians by diving into the deeper waters of experimentation, struggle, failure, and success. The results are sharper principles packed with punch because they have been refined in the fires of real life. Take confidence that what they teach will work."
Neil Cole
church starter; director of Church Multiplication Associates; and author, Organic Church
About the Author
Hugh Halter is a specialist with Church Resource Ministries and the national director of Missio, a global network of missional leaders and church planters. He is also lead architect of Adullam, a congregational network of incarnational communities in Denver, Colorado (www.adullamdenver.com).
Matt Smay co-directs both Missio and Adullam and specializes in helping existing congregations move toward mission. Halter and Smay direct the MCAP "missional church apprenticeship practicum," an international training network for incarnational church planters, pastors, and emerging leaders (www.missio.us).
Table of Contents
Foreword by
Reggie McNeal.Acknowledgments.
An Invitation.
1. Fiona.
2. Elvis Has Left the Building.
3. Tremors.
4. U-Haul.
5. Moving Violations.
6. Posture.
7. The 1,700-Year Wedgie.
8. Paradigm.
9. Jipped.
10. Another Angle.
11. Lift Up the Hood.
12. Tip It Over.
13. The Hello Experiment.
14. Leaving.
15. Listening.
16. Living Among.
17. Loving Without Strings.
18. Inviting In.
19. Togetherness.
20. Oneness.
21. Otherness.
A Day in the Life.
Notes.
The Authors.
The Missional Church Apprenticeship Practicum.
Church Resource Ministries.
Index.