NOVEMBER 2009
The Once & Future Church – Loren B Meade
Synopsis
A beginners guide to the changing nature of the church, outlining the broad history of the church from its humbll beginnings in first century Palestine as a small resistance movement, to the later heights of Christendom as a powerful state religion spanning the globe.
The situation in Britain today is much different from the church we grew up with, so where do we go from here? What will be the third paradigm for the church?
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If you would like to read this book in full it can be purchased online from Amazon.
To whet your appitite, follow this link to a detailed summary of the book (six chapters)
Summary of The Once and Future Church
Introduction and Chapter ONE
Chapter TWO
Chapter THREE
Chapter FOUR
Chapter FIVE
Chapter SIX
the unlikely evangelist
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DECEMBER 2009
Telling Our Faith Story – Janice Price
Synopsis
A helpful and simple guide to encourage us all to share our faith in a relaxed and open way – including a helpful 90 minute worship outline and materials for use in local churches.
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If you would like to read this book in full it can be purchased online from Grove Booklets.
A brief summary of the booklet in pdf format is available by clicking Telling Our Faith Story.
If you have already read Telling Our Faith Story or usedsome of the material in your local church, then please add your comments using the comments box at the bottom of this page.
the unlikely evangelist
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JANUARY 2010
Church on the Other Side – Brian D McLaren
Synopsis
If ‘The Once and Future Church got you thinking then Church on the Other Side is a must. Where the previous book sets out the problems facing the church in a simple way, McLaren addresses similar themes but digs deeper and ultimately by asking more challenging questions takes us nearer to a reinvented church.
Chapters address themes including, context, mission, theology, apologetics, communication, structures, leadership and postmodernism. Throughout the book McLaren challenges us not simply to seek to revive and refresh the church, but completely re-invent it for a new age. This is not a work book of practical steps and easy answers, but a thoughtful and profound challenge to the church today.
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If you would like to read this book in full it can be purchased online from Amazon.
Comment on resources within this book to follow.
If you have already read Church on the Other Side and you would like to add your comments, then please add them using the comments box at the bottom of this page.
the unlikely evangelist
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FEBRUARY 2010
Beyond the Fringe – Nick Spence
Synopsis
Beyond the Fringe is the result of research interviewing sixty people for a wide variety of walks of life, different ages, gender, social background and income. To try and find out what makes people spiritually ‘tick’ today, if anything! It is the first in a series of three books, Beyond the Fringe – Researching a Spiritual Age – Nick Spencer, Evangelism in a Spiritual Age – Church House Publishing, Equipping your Church in a Spiritual Age – Group for Evangelism – a research book, a reflection book and a practical book. The second and third in the series will probably be of more practical use to those in a local church setting, but the first is useful background information.
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If you would like to read this book in full it can be purchased online from Amazon.
However, for a short summary of the main findings of the research click Beyond the Fringe.
If you have already read Beyond the Fringe and you would like to add your comments, then please add them using the comments box at the bottom of this page.
the unlikely evangelist
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JULY 2010
Messy Church 2 – Lucy Moore
Synopsis
Messy Church is a growing movement helping churches of all denominations to reconnect with families and children through creativity, fun and food. Messy Church 2 is a book packed with new ideas and 15 exciting session outlines to help people of all ages reconnect with God.
Get it NOW to help you plan for summer activities or a new session of children and family work in September!
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If you would like to read this book in full it can be purchased online from Amazon.
Comment on resources within this book to follow.
If you have already used Messy Church 2 and you would like to add your comments, then please add them using the comments box at the bottom of this page.
the unlikely evangelist
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JULY 2010
Spadework – Carl Beech
Synopsis
Now the world cup is over you church may be awash with men with nothing to do. Or maybe you have a men’s fellowship group which struggles to find speakers or interesting topics to explore. Does your church have a Bible Study group, but find that men are much more reluctant to attend then women? If any of this is true, then this may be a helpful book for you.
Spadework is a refreshingly ‘blokey’ book of Bible based discussion starters, 52 of them- enough for a whole year of interesting investigations into the Bible and how we share our faith with others, particularly how to connect with men. Like all workbooks it works best if you use if flexibly to suit your group rather than addressing every question or activity, but there is enough in this book to stimulate every men’s group in the church. Each session takes a male figure from the Bible as it’s theme – from ‘big name’s’ like Adam, Moses and Noah, to lesser known Hezekiah, Achan and Caleb. After a short and readable introduction to the Biblical character, each chapter concludes with a few simple questions for discussion and some suggested responses or actions you might try as a result of what has been shared.
This book might not be everyone’s cup of tea in its perspective, style or theology – but it’s refreshingly different and direct enough to be well worth exploring and allowing yourself to be challenged by and to challenge the material inside.
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If you would like to read this book in full it can be purchased online from Amazon.
Comment on resources within this book to follow.
If you have already used Spadework and you would like to add your comments, then please add them using the comments box at the bottom of this page.
the unlikely evangelist
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AUGUST 2010
Everybody Welcome – Bob Jackson
Synopsis
Everybody Welcome is a four session course book for the whole church to consider afresh what it is to be a truly welcoming church today. Full of simple, practical advise on how to attract and retain new members. Mush of the advice is obvious once it’s pointed out, you’ll wonder why you hadn’t thought of it already. A must read for every church!
The book is designed for the leaders of the workshop sessions and is accompanied by an optional participants workbook and a DVD containing presentations for each session.
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If you would like to read this book in full it can be purchased online from Amazon.
Comment on resources within this book to follow.
If your church has already used Everybody Welcome and you would like to add your comments about this resource, then please add them using the comments box at the bottom of this page.
the unlikely evangelist
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SEPTEMBER 2010
Radical Welcome – Stephanie Spellers
Synopsis
Radical Welcome is a natural follow on to ‘Everybody Welcome’, covering more challenging topics and a deeper theology of welcome far beyond a friendly greeting and pleasant surroundings. This book will challenge everyone, but our churches will be much the better for that challenge!
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If you would like to read this book in full it can be purchased online from Amazon.
Comment on resources within this book to follow.
If you have already read Radical Welcome and you would like to add your comments, then please add them using the comments box at the bottom of this page.
the unlikely evangelist
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