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Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America
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What would a theology of the Church look like that took seriously the fact that North America is now itself a mission field? This question lies at the foundation of this volume written by an ecumenical team of six noted missiologists—Lois Barrett, Inagrace T. Dietterich, Darrell L. Guder, George R. Hunsberger, Alan J. Roxburgh, and Craig Van Gelder.
The result of a ...more
The result of a ...more
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Paperback, 288 pages
Published
February 9th 1998
by Eerdmans
(first published February 1998)
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Start your review of Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America
I strongly agree with this book's essential premise, which is that we should not think of a church SENDING people to do mission, but rather as a body whose very nature is missional. Thus "'Mission' is not something the church does, a part of its total program. No, the church's essence is missional, for the calling and sending action of God forms its identity. Mission is founded on the mission of God in the world, rather than the church's effort to extend itself." Through this understanding we
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As it is known today, the book that popularized the term missional and its shift of seeing the North American church from sending to being sent in our own society. Also had a shaping influence on the emerging church movement. I read this first for a class and then to prepare some discussion on the theme. I have perhaps more underlining and notes in this volume than almost any other book on my shelf. Obviously, it had a profound impact on me and it still does in the organization I work for. It
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A foundational book by multiple authors, outlining the meaning and method of missional church. They explain the need - how North America has become a mission field. They explain what needs to happen - that the established church become flexible and responsive and outward oriented. They call us to go beyond the great command (love one another) to fulfilling the great commission. The church is sent into the world, not retreating from it.
The book reads like a textbook - highly informative, but ...more
The book reads like a textbook - highly informative, but ...more
One of my single favorite reads outside of the Bible.
I wish I could give the book 3.5 stars, because it's somewhere in between good and great. This is *the* book that kicked off the curernt "missional church" movement and the wide range of resources that have come in that stream. If you're a student of the missional church, then it's worth reading if for no other reason than to understand where it all started. For those who simply want an introduction to the missional church, it would be helpful, but there are other books written more recently
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I have a great deal of tension over this book and how to rate it. On the one hand, the message of this book is powerful and thought-provoking. It forces its readers to ask hard questions about the nature of the church, the cultural context of North American and how to be in the church in the world today.
However, I found myself dreading this book each time I picked it up (it was required for my doctoral reading). Admittedly, I typically do not enjoy books in which different authors write each ...more
However, I found myself dreading this book each time I picked it up (it was required for my doctoral reading). Admittedly, I typically do not enjoy books in which different authors write each ...more
Excellent book but too intellectual and dry for my taste. I read one section thoroughly on recommendation. pp 199-220. ..."we are constantly losing the best and most creative leaders to more visionary and challenging areas of life because the systems of leadership identification that we have created are for a form of church life that no longer has the veracity of the power to engage these kinds of people. The maintenance and servicing of these institutions does not challenge those wanting to
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Perhaps had I read it in a timely manner (instead of over the course of 8 months), I would have gotten more out of it than I actually did. While the overall premise is important and I found myself highlighting and underlining several key parts in each chapter, I continued to have a hard time staying engaged with the text. Maybe seminary did me over, and I still need a break from any near-theological like reading.
Oct 13, 2009
Brian
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
leadership,
spiritual-growth
Guder is a significant presence in the missional church world, and as such he and his team of writers offer depth and originality lacking in some newer literature. His understanding of "The Reign of God" has been significant in my own understanding of The Church. It is a more biblical-based alternative to the valuable bur consumer-based Purpose Driven approach. This volume is a must in a missional church library.
The idea and some of the information of the book was good but often it was dry and pedantic. They tried to make it applicable by using some potential real-life situations but I don't think they did a good job of connecting the information to the situations that were presented. Often times there was too much exegesis of biblical passages that bogged it down for my taste.
Overall this book is OK. The first few chapters really get you hooked but then everything seems to get repetitive. I read this book for a missions class in college and it was good for the purposes of the class but unless you are intent on Missions or church planting I would not suggest reading this book. It's good educationally but not great for leisure reading.
Lots of gold in here, though one has to throw out a sentence here and there. Not comfortable with the Barthian view of Scripture as mere 'witness' rather than the actual Word of God, but there is a lot of good stuff in this book. Not entirely practical, but the reader should mark up the margins with concrete applications from some of the ideas laid out.
The foundational text on the missional church paradigm/movement. A must-read for any pastor, elder or other church leader seeking to influence their congregations toward a missional mindset and model of ministry.
Guder and friends have written a seminal work that every serious Christian should read. Missional theology is still an emerge field of study. These guys literally "wrote the book" on it.
Another 'classic' in the missional category
This is one of a few of our most important texts to help us on our journey of transformation to become communities on mission.
Dec 29, 2012
Bradley
added it
I wasn't that impressed with it at the time, but everybody else raves about it, so maybe I ought to pick this one up again.
This is one of the books that revolutionized my thinking about the local church. Don't read it unless you want to love the church again or deepen your current love for it.
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