Faith in Real Life: Creating Community in the Park, Coffee Shop, and Living Room

by Mike Tatlock

An effective new voice in the contemporary church movement shares important lessons from his failures and successes in building a community that reaches out with maximum impact within an emerging culture. Over the past decade, Mike Tatlock has been on a journey to examine the life of Jesus with a view to developing a church that truly makes a difference. His hard-won lessons have shaped a ministry philosophy that is connecting people in community to engage the world around them---from the living room to the coffee shop and beyond. His clear strategy intentionally connects people and provokes them to be about something bigger than themselves. It generates momentum in a culture where people long to be part of a cause that is bigger than being a member of a church. And it creates a network of lives bonded together through authentic relationships.Faith in Real Life is not a collection of theoretical how-to's but, rather, an inspiring flight of discovery designed to help church leaders and their members take the risk to live fully, effectively, and engagingly as the body of Christ in this world.

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 24, 2010

Reviews

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book has kernels of good ideas to remember when trying to build Christian community. I'll remember the three phases of bringing people into full community (in the park, in the coffee shop, in the living room), and Tatlock impresses me for how out-of-the-box he's been in the creation and pastoring of his religious communities. Having been involved virtually my entire life in the sustenance of such communities, I know how difficult it can be to do it well. I'll be thinking about this book this year as our community tries to discern it's identity and function.

[Brett Branch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read. I loved the first few chapters and the realization that "church" needed to be in and part of the community. Church is not a building, nor a Sunday event. It's a missional community where the members of the community spur one another to faith and good works. What is the mission, to love God and love others. Help others experience the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tatlock begins this book well by talking about components of the church world that are disenchanting to him. I related to many of his points very well and my opinions felt validated when he voiced them. The book then quickly veers into a retelling of his experiences in ministry, especially as a leader, and the vision he had for change. I'm happy for him that he learned so much, but honestly, it's nothing I haven't heard before, and I feel bored reading it. So far, it's mostly the story of every little twist and turn his career took as he led churches and why you should do certain things his way if you're a church leader. When I bought this book, I didn't realize that I'm not the appropriate audience for it. I thought it was about genuinely living out your faith in every situation. Well, it's about that a little, but mostly not something I'm looking for, and I don't think I'll finish it.

(1/9/12--Didn't finish. I used to make it a point to finish books even if I didn't like them, because it didn't feel right not to. Now that seems ridiculous when "free" time for things like reading is so valuable and there are better things to be read.)

[Paul]

Wonderful book that is very helpful for individuals interested in building community both in and outside their spriritual communities.

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read.