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Mission and Evangelism
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Jesus' People:
What the Church should do
next. Steven Croft,
CHP 2009
Whether we are part of traditional congregations or
fresh expressions: what does it mean to be church in the
twenty-first century? What shapes our vision for life together
today and tomorrow? What are we called to be and to do? And
where will we find the strength to fulfil that calling? In this
timely book, Steven Croft engages with these pressing questions
and shares his vision for the Church today – a vision that
crosses the divide between different traditions and approaches. |
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GOING TO CHURCH: A user's guide, by John Pritchard (SPCK
2009) £8.99
Do you go to church wishing it was (more often) a more
uplifting experience? Are you contemplating giving church a try?
If so, this book is for you. It's a route-finder through
the mess, mystery and magic of the church, written by someone
who fully understands the problems but is confident about the
value. Looking in turn at the church as it is, the church
as it's meant to be, and the church as it might become, John
Pritchard's highly readable volume offers not only humour and
insight, but encouragement to feel that going to church
is really worthwhile. |
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Mission-shaped Spirituality: by Susan Hope (CHP2007)
£7.99
If your shelves are overloaded with books on how to do
mission and evangelism, create some space to engage with
this book. No to-do lists. No win-win strategies. Instead,
this discerning books reflects on the inner resources and
attitudes of mind required to engage in mission in a postmodern,
pluralist society.
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Mission-shaped and rural: growing churches in the
countryside, by Sally Gaze (CHP 2007) £7.99
Using a compelling mix of theological reflection,
sociological analysis, real-life case studies and personal
experience, this book explores ways forward for mission in a
rural context in both traditional and fresh expressions of
church. |
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Mission-shaped Parish: traditional church in a
changing context, by Paul Bayes & Tim Sledge (CHP 2006) £7.99
'A practical book: how to make Mission-shaped Church real in
your parish.' (John Finney, Former Bishop of Pontefract)
What do the bread-and-butter things that churches regularly do
look like through the lens of the values in Mission Shaped
Church? This accessible books takes a fresh look at a
typical parish church's worship, pastoral contacts, civic and
public responsibilities, its faith nurturing opportunities,
administration and government, and creatively points to how all
of this can be seen from the point of view of God's mission.
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Mission-shaped Children: moving towards a
child-centred church by Margaret Withers (CHP 2006) £7.99
Too often, church for children is about containing and
entertaining, rather than engaging with and growing young
Christians who can give as much as they receive.
Mission-shaped Church touched on the importance of involving
and nurturing children and young people in the Church, but only
in passing. Mission-shaped Children fills
this gap. The book outlines the many obstacles that are
currently preventing growth in children's work in the Church,
and suggests practical and effective strategies for overcoming
these.
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Mission-shaped Youth: rethinking young people and
church, by Tim Sudworth (CHP 2007) £7.99
Following on from Mission-shaped Church, this book
examines what it means to have a 'youth-mission-shaped-church'.
It challenges us to intersect with today's young people in their
daily lives and culture. The authors urge us to offer a mission
that isn't just about evangelism, but is also about providing
support, both pastorally and spiritually.Mission-shaped
Youth challenges us to expand our vision beyond the standard
mode for youth work and asks what church should be for young
people. If you want to do something new for God and for
young people, this book is an essential tool.
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Mission-shaped Questions: Defining issues for
today's Church, edited by Steven Croft (CHP 2008) £14.99
In 2004 Mission-Shaped Church presented a challenge
to church leaders. Now Mission-shaped Questions
addresses the big theological and practical issues that have
arisen as ministers and leaders have south to apply its lessons.
Mission-shaped Questions tackles questions such
as:-
What exactly is Church?, What is the role of sacramental
ministry in Fresh Expressions? Can we be mission-shaped
and kingdom focused? |
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Fresh Expressions DVD 1:stories of church for a
changing culture (CHP & Methodist Church) £14.99
Presented by Diane Louise Jordan, the DVD tells 14 stories
of Fresh Expressions and describes some of the lessons learned
so far. An excellent training tool for those interested in
setting up or understanding more about fresh expressions.
Be inspired!
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Fresh Expressions DVD 2: Changing Church in every
place (CHP & Methodist Church) £14.99
Following on from Fresh Expressions DVD 1, this
dvd focuses on four specific areas where fresh expressions of
church are breaking new ground. Each film looks at fresh
expressions with a distinct focus: work and leisure, rural,
sacramental and youth.
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Resourcing Renewal : shaping churches for the emerging
future by Martyn Atkins (Inspire/MPH 2007) £9.99
The Church in Great Britain is facing perhaps the greatest
challenges in its history: how to accept the painful reality of
falling attendance; members who are leaving an organization they
feel is no longer "their" Church; and the fact that the Church
is seen as largely irrelevant in an increasingly secular age.
In Resourcing Renewal Martyn Atkins argues that times of
fatigue and loss in the Church are in facts times of transition
that can lead to genuine renewal and greater opportunities for
the work of the Holy Spirit. This book offers
snapshots of new, innovative worship, evangelism and exciting
new ministries. |
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Emerging Churches: creating Christian community in
postmodern cultures, by Eddie Gibbs & Ryan K Bolger (SPCK 2006)
£12.99
"If you want to be truly conversant with emerging churches,
this is the book to read. It's locally specific and
globally aware- as are emerging churches themselves.
It encourages readers from more traditional churches to listen
and to seek to understand before passing judgement. It
provides not only the best available overview of the emerging
church phenomenon but also an example of charitable and
reflective-rather than suspicious and reactive- scholarly
analysis." ( Brian Mclaren) |
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Exiles: Living Missionally in a post-Christian
culture, by Michael Frost (Hendrickson 2007) £12.99
This book is for exiles: Christians who find themselves
caught in that dangerous wilderness between contemporary secular
Western culture and an old-fashioned church culture of
respectability and conservatism. Frost presents a plea for such
Christians to embrace a dynamic, life-affirming, robust
Christian faith than can be lived confidently in a world that no
longer values such a faith.
"Exiles captures the intensity, anger, wonder, heartache,
clear-sightedness, and hope so many of us share in this moment
of in-betweenness." (Brian Mclaren)
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God-shaped Mission: Theological and practical
perspectives from the rural Church by Alan Smith, (Canterbury
Press 2008) £14.99
"We live in a world where some people think food comes from
supermarkets not farms; where some children grow up unable to
recognise a carrot, and who don't know chips are made from
potatoes. An urban mindset has gripped our nation and,
unfortunately, many of those writing about the mission of God's
church are also shaped by the predominant urban and suburban
worldview.
Bishop Alan Smith is not one of them. He knows his spuds. These
perspectives from the rural church offer a theological vision
and practical pointers for the growth of a God-shaped mission in
the countryside. It is locally produced wisdom for the
rural church and a healthy and substantial meal for those
infatuated by the quick fix solutions of the city." (Stephen
Cottrell, Bishop of Reading)
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Prepare for Exile: A new Spirituality and mission for
the Church, by Patrick Whitworth (SPCK 2008) £10.99
The Church today must throw off old attitudes, renew its
spirituality and refocus its mission if it is to flourish as it
enters a new period of exile. Preparing for and living in exile
means learning from those who were 'exiles' in their own day -
men and women who challenged the Church to reshape itself and to
remain fresh and engaging. Exiles from the Bible and from
all traditions of the Church are recalled:
Benedict, who formed the Western monastic tradition
Mystics, such as Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross
Luther, Pascal and Wesley, who challenged the religious
hegemonies of their day.
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Creating a Prodigal-Friendly Church, by Jeff Lucas (Zondervan
2008) £8.99
God longs that the lilting melody of his love be
heard....prodigals desperately need to hear it. We all
have prodigals in our lives. They have drifted away from
God and the church, seduced by thrills, tired of repetition.
And now they're bored, scared, lonely and empty.How can we
help them? How do we reach those who have already left the
church? How do we help them return?
Every church can adopt an open heart that will in turn open its
doors for everyone-especially the prodigals in our lives. By
focusing on developing a heart for prodigals, Pastor Jeff Lucas
offers hopeful counsel for drawing our prodigals back and loving
them into staying.
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Building Utopia?: Seeking the authentic Church
for new communities, by Laurie Green & Christopher Baker (SPCK
2008)
£14.99
The new urban areas are reshaping much of Britain. Those who
live, work or minister within them are not only at the cutting
edge of new forms of built environment, they must also discover
new ways of being community and contemplate new expressions of
Church. All this demands careful and bold analysis and
creative theological reflection. What are the appropriate
building projects, mission programmes and lifestyles that will
be effective in meeting the challenges of these urban
settlements? |
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Church on the other side: exploring the radical future
of the local congregation by Brian D McLaren (Zondervan 2006)
£7.99
If you're a church leader or committed member and you're
tired of easy steps and facile formulas for church health,
growth and renewal, then, this book points the way to
thoughtful action and profound, liberating change.
Discover the importance of redefining your mission, finding
fresh ways to communicate the gospel, and engaging today's
culture with understanding. Brian McLaren shows you
thirteen practices for navigating toward a vibrant church that
can reach out and serve with conviction and confidence in
today's changing new world.
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Church Unplugged: remodelling church without losing
your soul, by David Male (Authentic 2008) £8.99
This book gives an essential framework for creating church
in the twenty-first century. It is a call to think and
work outside the box of recent practice in bold and
risk-taking ways. "Church Unplugged" tells the
story of one of the first "Fresh Expressions of Church" in
England: the Net in Huddersfield, and shows how it was started
from nothing but a passion to reach people who would not
normally associate with church. "Church Unplugged" is an
honest account which examines not just the ups but also the
downs and clearly shows what the Net learnt about community and
how being community is never easy.
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The Provocative Church :third edition with study guide
by Graham Tomlin (SPCK 2008) £9.99
Sometimes Christians assume that people 'out there' are
eager to listen to what the Church has to offer. But why
should those we try to evangelize want to hear the Gospel?
Surely people will only be intrigued by Christian life and
community when they seen something provocative or attractive.
Then they will want to know what's going on.
This book offers a liberating understanding of evangelism as a
corporate activity, in which all the gifts needed to enact the
life of the Kingdom - to stir people into asking, 'what does
this mean?' - are spread throughout the whole Church. It
encourages the development of a theology of conversion that sees
beyond 'becoming a Christian' to bring each individual life
increasingly under the rule of God.
This is without doubt the best, most honest, most theologically
grounded and therefore most practically helpful book on
evangelism I have read for a long time.' (Church Times
reviewer)
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The Challenge of Change: a guide to shaping change and
changing the shape of church, by Phil Potter (BRF 2009) £7.99
Change can feel uncomfortable and risky, but these days it
is an ever-increasing force in society and will continue to have
a dominating effect on how we view our world. Decisions on what
and how and when we change will inevitably affect growth or
decline in a church, and also have a major impact on people.
Leaders can end up burnt out by their attempts to bring about
change, or by facing up to the challenge of it, while
congregations are left damaged and disillusioned because they
could not catch the vision.This book offers a map for healthy
and godly change. Writing as a pastor and practitioner, Phil
Potter explains ways of shaping all kinds of change in the life
of a church, particularly in the context of the 'fresh
expressions' emerging. This book is for leaders wanting to take
their congregations through change, and for church members
wanting to be equipped for whatever lies ahead.
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An Emergent Theology: for emerging Churches, by Ray S
Anderson (BRF 2007) £8.99
This book explores the parallels between challenges facing
the Church today and the first-century Antioch church, where St
Paul shaped 'emergent theology', developing from the 'parent'
Jerusalem church.
At a time when there is much talk of 'emerging/mission-shaped
church'. Ray's book is a challenge to 'think theologically' and
ensure that all such initiatives are rooted in a dynamic,
transformative and biblically informed faith. It is
essential reading for visionary church leaders, those training
future leaders, and all concerned about presenting the gospel
message in a fast-changing culture. |
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Re-Emerging Church: Strategies for reaching a
returning generation, by Roger Standing (BRF 2008) £7.99
When people return to church for the first time in years,
are congregations ready to welcome them? One
of the largest generational groups ever, the 'Baby Boomers', are
now approaching retirement, when questions of spirituality, life
and death often resurface. This was the last generation
for whom 'Sunday School' was a normal part of childhood - so
reconnecting with church may be tinged with nostalgia.
At the same time, Baby Boomers grew up in an era of
unprecedented personal choice and increasingly sophisticated
consumer attitudes, so how can churches help them feel at home
while still engaging them with a clear gospel message?This
book discusses how congregations and leaders alike can be
prepared for reaching out to those rediscovering Christianity,
or at least giving church a try again.
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High Street Monasteries: fresh expressions of
committed Christianity, by Ray Simpson (Kevin Mayhew 2009)
£10.99
Alongside the traditional Church comes a new wave of
committed Christianity. This book explores this
incoming tide, illustrating how new monasticism is becoming the
hear of our global village, focusing on community, peace and
beauty, and the fact that the Holy Spirit is speaking through us
all. |
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Mixed-up Blessing: a new encounter with being Church,
by Barbara Glasson (Inspire/MPH 2006) £5.99
Somewhere Else is the name of the church that is not
afraid to engage with people who struggle with the idea of
church yet still have an inner sense that God is up to
something.
The story of the bread church in Liverpool city centre is a
sign of hope that the church can be different. This
account of the life of Somewhere Else is a story of
encouragement that challenges unconventional people of faith to
risk living out of their own experience and be wonderfully
surprised by encountering God on the edge.
An easy but inspirational read |
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Night Vision : Mission adventures in club culture and
the nightlife, by Jon Oliver, (Canterbury Press 2009) £14.99
Night Vision offers a collection of inspiring and
challenging stories about people finding a meaningful expression
of their faith, engaging with the mission of God and exploring
new forms of church - all within club culture and the nightlife.
From London to Ibiza, from Belfast to Ayia Napa, within the
nightlife of countless towns and cities, there is a new
excitement emerging for the adventure of mission. Here,
front-line practitioners - clubbers, DJs, pastors, evangelists
and priests - share their experiences of prayer, outreach and
pastoral care in the clubs and on the streets. |
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Church after Christendom, by Stuart Murray
(Paternoster reprint 2008) £9.99
How will the western church negotiate the demise of
Christendom> Can it rediscover its primary calling, recover its
authentic ethos and regain its nerve?
If churches are to thrive - or even survive - disturbing
questions need to be confronted and answered. In
conversation with Christians who have left the church and with
those who are experimenting with fresh expressions of church,
Stuart Murray explores both the emerging and inherited church
scenes and makes proposals for the development of a way of being
church suitable for a post-denominational, post-commitment and
post-Christendom era. With chapters on mission, community
and worship, the book offers a vision of church life that is
healthy, sustainable, liberating, peaceful and missional.
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Re-Shaping Rural Ministry: A theological and practical
handbook
Edited by: James Bell, Jill Hopkinson and Trevor Willmott
Canterbury Press 2009
isbn 9781853119538 £14.99
Re-shaping rural ministry explores the imaginative responses
of many rural churches to decades of challenges and changes, and
offers practical and theological reflection from leading writers
on the questions it is addressing today. An essential book for
all engaged in rural ministry, those considering it, and all
involved in ministerial selection and training. |
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All-Age Worship by Lucy Moore. BRF
Publications 2010 isbn: 9781841014326 £7.99
Lucy Moore sets out a compelling vision for all-age worship
-full of inspiration and deeply practical. Read this
book and you will be left in no doubt that all-age worship
really can be spiritually engaging and nourishing for everyone.
Essential reading for any minister or children's leader in any
church that wants to grows its work among children and families. |
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