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Full-Text Articles in Christianity
Book Review: Pilgrims And Priests: Christian Mission In A Post-Christian Society, Nathan Pickard
Book Review: Pilgrims And Priests: Christian Mission In A Post-Christian Society, Nathan Pickard
Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry
Pilgrims and Priests: Christian Mission in a Post-Christian Society by Stefan Pass. London, UK: SCM Press, 2019. 257 pages, $31.57.
Missional Partnership: Reframing The Concept Of “Placing Membership”, Steve Cloer
Missional Partnership: Reframing The Concept Of “Placing Membership”, Steve Cloer
Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry
This essay reframes the process of “placing membership” in a local church with the theological concept of missional partnership. A critical review is offered of the organizational procedure of “placing membership,” its underlying theoretical assumptions, and its deficient theological vision. Then, the practice of joining a local Christian community is reimagined in a missional ecclesiology focusing on the key theological strands of spiritual accountability and equipping for mission. The biblical metaphor of “partner in the gospel” is explored as an alternative to “membership” as a way to adequately communicate what joining, entering, and participating within a church on mission entails. …
Practicing Missional Hospitality In A Suburban Church, Kevin Stewart
Practicing Missional Hospitality In A Suburban Church, Kevin Stewart
Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry
The West Houston Church of Christ is typical of many churches in North America that struggle to relate in meaningful ways to the surrounding culture. Over thirty years West Houston changed from a small, vibrant young church with a thriving family-like atmosphere to a large church in a new building, yet mourning its loss of family connections. It was struggling to find a new identity. In this article I discuss the ingrained sense of family that has served as the identity of West Houston and explore both theological and practical ways—specifically those involving missional hospitality—through which a church can navigate …
A Narrative, Missional Approach To Discipleship And Spiritual Growth, Travis A. Sharpe
A Narrative, Missional Approach To Discipleship And Spiritual Growth, Travis A. Sharpe
Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry
All Christians have the desire to grow in faith and knowledge of God. The difficulty is that most do not have the tools to help them accomplish the task. While churches desire to help their members grow in faith, many have never created an intentional plan to make spiritual formation possible. While there are a multitude of ways this could be accomplished, one avenue would be for churches to implement an intentional discipleship program. A discipleship program that combines a missional/narrative reading of scripture with spiritual disciplines has been shown to help participants grow in spiritual formation and join the …