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Giving Church Another Chance: Finding New Meaning in Spiritual Practices
2011 Golden Canon Leadership Book Award winner! Everybody wants to be spiritual. But nobody wants to be religious. Everybody is looking for a rich spiritual life. But nobody is looking to church. As a pastor, Todd Hunter found himself disillusioned, burned out and needing to drop out of traditional forms of church. He experimented with house churches and other options but was still dissatisfied. Eventually he found himself sneaking off to worship services on Sunday mornings with surprising results. What did the historic spiritual practices of church do for him? How did they lead to a life of centered peace, chart a path to simplicity and cause him to reach out to others while focusing on the glory of God? Walk with Hunter on this journey to find spiritual riches in a surprising place. You might just give church another chance.
189 pages, Hardcover
First published February 16, 2010
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66 people want to read
About the author
Todd D. Hunter
14 books13 followersBishop Todd Hunter of the Anglican Mission in the Americas, is the founding pastor of Holy Trinity Church, an Anglican church in Costa Mesa, California and author of Christianity Beyond Belief (IVP 2009), Giving Church Another Chance (IVP Spring, 2010) and The Outsider Interviews (Baker Books, Summer 2010). Todd is also the founding director of Churches for the Sake of Others, the West Coast church planting initiative for The Anglican Mission in the Americas. Prior to his work with the Anglican Mission in the Americas, Todd founded Three is Enough, a small group movement that makes spiritual formation doable.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 24, 2010
"Giving Church Another Chance: Finding New Meaning in Spiritual Practices" is a book about the church journey of Todd D. Hunter and the things that he has found valuable along the way.
Todd Hunter became a Christian as a teen and started his Christian walk in non-denominational Bible churches -- Calvary Chapel California first and then the Vineyard Church. He was teaching Bible studies and classes early in his 20's and eventually became a pastor. After living in the non-denominational Bible church world, teaching and preaching there over many years he found himself dried up and tired. He did not doubt his faith or his salvation, he was just tired and in need of spiritual refreshment. At one point he found himself no longer pastoring a church, and at this point his family (wife and two children) decided they would like to not attend church at all. It seems they too were all burned out and tired as well. Todd could not stay away from church, so he began to attend a nearby Episcopal church. In the high-church liturgical services he attended he found the worship elements that have been practiced by Christians for thousands of years. He was fed and comforted and built up in the regular elements of the service, elements he had never really heard of or experienced before. Eventually, Todd became an Anglican and is currently a bishop, working with the Anglican Mission in the Americas (www.theamia.org).
This book is written for the "de-churched" (as he terms them), people who have been in church but have been fatigued and hurt and somehow starved in the church itself. Hunter's own experience seemed to show him that a constant emphasis on the new, hip, culturally trendy church left him feeling emotionally manipulated and over-studied. He wanted a balance of stable, historically deep richness from a church tradition that reaches back to the time of Christ. Hunter does not anywhere criticize or lay blame, he merely suggests that things are out of balance and writes to encourage that there is a balance to be found in the practices of the ancient Christian church. He is thankful for the godly teaching he grew up under and now is thankful for the godly worship he is learning.
The book is organized to walk a person through a high-church Christian liturgical service. For someone from a Bible church, that might include totally unfamiliar elements. Hunter starts with the prelude, singing the doxology, scripture reading using a lectionary schedule, hearing sermons, the offering, communion and ending with the benediction. Time of quiet prayer, reflection and meditation. Praying prayers aloud with other Christians. Specific times of prayers of repentance, reconciliation with others (the giving of the peace). The purpose and meaning of communion. Being sent out into the world to minister to the world via the benediction. These liturgical elements go back to the time of the early Christian church. The pattern has been used in Anglican, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Eastern / Russian / Greek Orthodox churches for hundreds of years. Hunter suggests that there is worth and value in studying and practicing the spiritual disciplines of the church.
Know and study your Bible, yes. Be Biblically literate and "study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (discerning) the word of truth" (II Timothy 2: 15 ), absolutely. But recognize that Christianity has a history of practices that have been handed down like well worn tools, handed down to the next generations for use. If the well worn tools are used, the work is made easier. If they are not used, then the work can be hindered or slowed down while suitable new tools are invented then cast aside or invented and then broken in for use. Hunter suggests that we not reinvent the tools. Use the ones our Christian brothers and sisters in the past used, and then hand them down to the next generation.
I would recommend this book. For those who have grown up in high-church Christian liturgical services, it is a reminder of what you have been doing, perhaps without knowing why or understanding the scriptural basis for it. For those who have not, it can be an introduction and a way to understand the very regular rhythm of worship that has been ongoing since the early Christian church.
An interesting interview with Todd Hunter is here in this article from "Christianity Today", http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2... .
Todd Hunter became a Christian as a teen and started his Christian walk in non-denominational Bible churches -- Calvary Chapel California first and then the Vineyard Church. He was teaching Bible studies and classes early in his 20's and eventually became a pastor. After living in the non-denominational Bible church world, teaching and preaching there over many years he found himself dried up and tired. He did not doubt his faith or his salvation, he was just tired and in need of spiritual refreshment. At one point he found himself no longer pastoring a church, and at this point his family (wife and two children) decided they would like to not attend church at all. It seems they too were all burned out and tired as well. Todd could not stay away from church, so he began to attend a nearby Episcopal church. In the high-church liturgical services he attended he found the worship elements that have been practiced by Christians for thousands of years. He was fed and comforted and built up in the regular elements of the service, elements he had never really heard of or experienced before. Eventually, Todd became an Anglican and is currently a bishop, working with the Anglican Mission in the Americas (www.theamia.org).
This book is written for the "de-churched" (as he terms them), people who have been in church but have been fatigued and hurt and somehow starved in the church itself. Hunter's own experience seemed to show him that a constant emphasis on the new, hip, culturally trendy church left him feeling emotionally manipulated and over-studied. He wanted a balance of stable, historically deep richness from a church tradition that reaches back to the time of Christ. Hunter does not anywhere criticize or lay blame, he merely suggests that things are out of balance and writes to encourage that there is a balance to be found in the practices of the ancient Christian church. He is thankful for the godly teaching he grew up under and now is thankful for the godly worship he is learning.
The book is organized to walk a person through a high-church Christian liturgical service. For someone from a Bible church, that might include totally unfamiliar elements. Hunter starts with the prelude, singing the doxology, scripture reading using a lectionary schedule, hearing sermons, the offering, communion and ending with the benediction. Time of quiet prayer, reflection and meditation. Praying prayers aloud with other Christians. Specific times of prayers of repentance, reconciliation with others (the giving of the peace). The purpose and meaning of communion. Being sent out into the world to minister to the world via the benediction. These liturgical elements go back to the time of the early Christian church. The pattern has been used in Anglican, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Eastern / Russian / Greek Orthodox churches for hundreds of years. Hunter suggests that there is worth and value in studying and practicing the spiritual disciplines of the church.
Know and study your Bible, yes. Be Biblically literate and "study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (discerning) the word of truth" (II Timothy 2: 15 ), absolutely. But recognize that Christianity has a history of practices that have been handed down like well worn tools, handed down to the next generations for use. If the well worn tools are used, the work is made easier. If they are not used, then the work can be hindered or slowed down while suitable new tools are invented then cast aside or invented and then broken in for use. Hunter suggests that we not reinvent the tools. Use the ones our Christian brothers and sisters in the past used, and then hand them down to the next generation.
I would recommend this book. For those who have grown up in high-church Christian liturgical services, it is a reminder of what you have been doing, perhaps without knowing why or understanding the scriptural basis for it. For those who have not, it can be an introduction and a way to understand the very regular rhythm of worship that has been ongoing since the early Christian church.
An interesting interview with Todd Hunter is here in this article from "Christianity Today", http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2... .
May 17, 2010
Late last year I read my pastor and Bishop Todd Hunter’s first book, Christianity Beyond Belief in which he argued for the importance of entering into God’s story and living as Christians not merely for cleansing from sin, but further for the sake of touching the lives of others with Christ’s love. That is, being a people set apart by God for the sake of the rest of the world, just as Israel was intended to be.
Recently, he released his second book, Giving Church Another Chance: Finding New Meaning in Spiritual Practices and it is a book well worth picking up. There is a large group in our society, even within Christianity, who have become disenchanted with church. Todd was one of these, he went through a “de-churched” phase, experimenting with various alternative forms of Christian worship, but then, at the end of this journey, he found himself as an Anglican Bishop. For those of you who don’t know, Anglicanism, which has its roots in the Church of England, is a high liturgical church, with bishops, priests, and formal organized prayers. What happened? Well, you’ll have to read the book to get the full story, but in short Todd discovered the role of the liturgical church as a tool for spiritual formation. He came to realize that church is not “what it’s about” but rather a place of spiritual refreshment for Christians, a center for our lives from which we go forth to bless the world.
I still have some of the problems I had with Christianity Beyond Belief, namely the stylistic simplicity (especially the use of quotations from The Message paraphrase of the Bible) but as before, I feel these aesthetic complaints do not reflect on the importance of the content.
Ultimately, I don’t think this book is as important as Surprised by Hope but it’s a wonderful tool for understanding Todd’s vision and I truly believe that the “re-practicing” of church advocated by Todd in this book should at the very least be examined by all Christians (especially the section on the Eucharist), but especially those who would tear down centuries of tradition on the basis of their own limited experience and personal interpretations of scripture.
Recently, he released his second book, Giving Church Another Chance: Finding New Meaning in Spiritual Practices and it is a book well worth picking up. There is a large group in our society, even within Christianity, who have become disenchanted with church. Todd was one of these, he went through a “de-churched” phase, experimenting with various alternative forms of Christian worship, but then, at the end of this journey, he found himself as an Anglican Bishop. For those of you who don’t know, Anglicanism, which has its roots in the Church of England, is a high liturgical church, with bishops, priests, and formal organized prayers. What happened? Well, you’ll have to read the book to get the full story, but in short Todd discovered the role of the liturgical church as a tool for spiritual formation. He came to realize that church is not “what it’s about” but rather a place of spiritual refreshment for Christians, a center for our lives from which we go forth to bless the world.
I still have some of the problems I had with Christianity Beyond Belief, namely the stylistic simplicity (especially the use of quotations from The Message paraphrase of the Bible) but as before, I feel these aesthetic complaints do not reflect on the importance of the content.
Ultimately, I don’t think this book is as important as Surprised by Hope but it’s a wonderful tool for understanding Todd’s vision and I truly believe that the “re-practicing” of church advocated by Todd in this book should at the very least be examined by all Christians (especially the section on the Eucharist), but especially those who would tear down centuries of tradition on the basis of their own limited experience and personal interpretations of scripture.
December 7, 2011
"There is a counterintuitive aspect of engaging with the spiritual practices of church. Though spiritual formation is chiefly an inward reality, we often work on our heart, mind and soul through bodily or external practices. This is true of all the spiritual practices of church. But we need to keep in mind that it is the inward part of our life from which outward action flow.”
All too often followers of Jesus get caught up in what is new, different, and/or exciting. We want to be on the forefront of what God is doing so we forget the practices of the past.
Sadly enough this ‘new’ equal ‘better’ mentality has cast believers into the sea without an anchor or a compass. In order to know where one is going, one has to understand and know where you have been. In his book “Giving Church Another Chance: Finding New Meaning in Spiritual Practices,” Todd Hunter seeks to bring back an understanding of nine practices of the church:
Going to Church: Being Sent as Ambassadors of the Kingdom
Quiet Prelude: A life of Centered Peace
Singing the Doxology: Radiating the Glory of God
Scripture Reading: Embodying the Story
Hearing Sermons: An Easy-Yoke Life of Obedience
Following Liturgy: A Lifestyle of the Work of the People
Giving an Offering: Simplicity of Life
Taking Communion: A Life of Thankfulness
Receiving the Benediction: Blessing Others
The awesome thing about this book is that Todd walks the reader through each of these nine practices while using his own life as a backdrop. Starting with his choice to follow Jesus as a nineteen year old college student amidst the 1970’s Southern California Jesus Movement through his time in the Vineyard to his current adventure with the Anglican Church, Todd beautifully and masterfully brings a new passion to these ancient practices.
“This book is written for everyone who has tried church and found it wanting, but somewhere deep within they still desire a spiritual life in the way of Jesus. I understand; it happened to me.”
All too often followers of Jesus get caught up in what is new, different, and/or exciting. We want to be on the forefront of what God is doing so we forget the practices of the past.
Sadly enough this ‘new’ equal ‘better’ mentality has cast believers into the sea without an anchor or a compass. In order to know where one is going, one has to understand and know where you have been. In his book “Giving Church Another Chance: Finding New Meaning in Spiritual Practices,” Todd Hunter seeks to bring back an understanding of nine practices of the church:
Going to Church: Being Sent as Ambassadors of the Kingdom
Quiet Prelude: A life of Centered Peace
Singing the Doxology: Radiating the Glory of God
Scripture Reading: Embodying the Story
Hearing Sermons: An Easy-Yoke Life of Obedience
Following Liturgy: A Lifestyle of the Work of the People
Giving an Offering: Simplicity of Life
Taking Communion: A Life of Thankfulness
Receiving the Benediction: Blessing Others
The awesome thing about this book is that Todd walks the reader through each of these nine practices while using his own life as a backdrop. Starting with his choice to follow Jesus as a nineteen year old college student amidst the 1970’s Southern California Jesus Movement through his time in the Vineyard to his current adventure with the Anglican Church, Todd beautifully and masterfully brings a new passion to these ancient practices.
“This book is written for everyone who has tried church and found it wanting, but somewhere deep within they still desire a spiritual life in the way of Jesus. I understand; it happened to me.”
February 13, 2011
Hunter's journey from Vineyard churches to the Anglican Church gives an him interesting perspective. His answer to those who say "I'm spiritual, but not religious" is to "repractice" the way we do church. He's not advocating market-driven or purpose-driven, contemporary or traditional. Giving Church Another Chance is his call for authentic, honest Christian living and participation in the life of the church-not just on Sunday but everyday. He gives some good ideas for how to participate in a worship service and grow as a real disciple of Christ. It was a thought-provoking read.
July 9, 2015
This is an interesting read but I'm not certain it will convince anyone to give church another chance. His focus was more individualistic rather than corporate. I found that strange in light of the title. His personal journey of faith and church was quite interesting. His openness concerning his children no longer participating in church made me feel a deep sense of sadness. I do believe the fomerly-churched might be interested in returning by finding new meaning in spiritual practices, but I'm not sure this book will be the primary reason they return. Then again, I could be wrong.
March 17, 2013
This book does have some good thoughts, and it was interesting to see the missional attitude very much at work w/in what the author was putting forward, even though he was talking about reclaiming ancient church practices as basic as tithing, Eucharist, benediction, sermon, etc. I liked the emphasis he put on doing these not as the main event, but as preparation and training for the main event, which is real life on mission together.
July 8, 2010
Disappointed that the book didn't deliver more on how Hunter gave church another chance or explain more in depth why he felt compelled to return after walking away. I kept getting the impression he is guarding his emotions. Much of the book is a standard defense of the gospel, relying too much on other sources. I want to know more about his experiences, not stuff I've read before.
October 2, 2011
I like books that make you think in new ways, and this is one of them. Some of the ideas include how the "traditional" and historic liturgy of church makes sense in many ways--for rest, contemplation, and as a starting point for everyday practice at being a Christian; you can only talk so much, then you have to "do"; and so on. Great book for discussion in a church group.
March 23, 2013
A Good Introduction to the anglican way of spiritual life. The meaning of liturgical practices are clearly and poetically expressed. This is a good book that helps those who come from a different tradition appreciate the richness of the anglican spiritual journey.
November 16, 2021
This book was thought provoking & informative. I liked the challenge of repracting the "elements" of church I experience each week.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews