Abstract
General works
Returning to an older postwar conception of “World Christianity” as an international, ecumenical fellowship, this volume aims to highlight the universalist, globalizing aspirations of many Christians worldwide.
Church renewal
In this work, Allen argues that there are times and circumstances when non-clergy must take the lead in the administration of Holy Communion. What should be the response when the church’s cultural preferences are unable to keep up with the work of the Spirit on the mission field? This was a not only a question in Allen’s day, but one for every generation of believers.
What does being engaged with global missions look like? How can local churches train, send, and support missionaries well? This book is filled with practical steps and advice for supporting missionaries, forming international partnerships, sending short-term teams, and engaging with the nations here at home. This book casts a vision for the local church as the engine of world missions.
A model of emergent innovation that combines insights from both complexity and entrepreneurship theories, this text is especially for all interested in pioneer ministry, church planting, church growth, and ecclesiology.
Evangelism
Elaine Heath brings a fresh perspective to the theory and practice of evangelism by approaching it through contemplative spirituality.
Drawing on the Gospels, Acts, and personal insights, Wells elaborates on the concept of being within eight dimensions: presence, attention, mystery, delight, participation, partnership, enjoyment, and glory. His vivid narratives and wise reflections will help Christian readers better understand how to be with all kinds of people outside the church, both individually and collectively.
History
Well into its second century now, the history of SIM is a history of God graciously using generations of ordinary and imperfect people to display his mercy and to extend his kingdom. This is a story of Jesus building his church through new and multiplying churches and mission societies representing millions of his redeemed followers.
Jones tells the story of how bhakti religious traditions in North India opened up space for the development and growth of Evangelicalism.
Drawing on the historical records of the Student Christian Movement, the author establishes the role of women in the organization from its beginning, stressing not only the pressures and prejudices they faced, but also the pioneering work they performed and the valuable contributions they offered.
A historical examination of the encounter between British missionaries and people in the Pacific Islands, as well as the missionary distinctions between “othering” and “brothering.”
Two missionary scholars and experienced professors help readers understand how missions began, how missions developed, and where missions is going.
Methods
This text is written by a skeptic who became a Christian and then a pastor, all while exploring answers to the most difficult questions raised against Christianity. The author recounts his skeptical search for truth through science, philosophy, and history.
When we practice disciplines of prayer, communion, reconciliation, and more, God becomes faithfully present to us, and we in turn become God’s faithful presence to the world. Pastor and Professor David Fitch shows how these seven practices can revolutionize the church’s presence in our neighborhoods, and transform our way of life in the world.
National headlines regularly herald the decline of Christianity in the United States, citing historically low levels of confidence in organized religion, drops in church attendance, church closures, and the dramatic rise of the “Nones.” In this text, the author provides stories from the thousands of new churches and new forms of church that are springing up each year across the country.
To preach effectively in today’s world, preachers need cultural intelligence. They must build bridges between listeners who come from various denominations, ethnicities, genders, locations, religious backgrounds, and more. Matthew Kim provides a systematic template for cross-cultural hermeneutics and homiletics, equipping preachers to reach their varied listeners in the church and beyond.
The book looks at disciple-making from multiple cultures to help readers discover contextual approaches that are culturally relevant and biblically faithful. It emphasizes methods that are especially effective with contemporary converts and includes practical examples from around the world.
While many churches talk about calling and engaging in mission, very few are structured to make this their ministry focus. Sanders provides a vision for the church rooted in its biblical mission to share the love of God and serve the poor. He explores how to make structural changes, how to think about leadership, how to fund ministries, and how to engage people in God’s mission.
Religions
Drawn from a conference celebrating the 50th anniversary of the landmark Vatican II document, Nostra Aetate (“Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions”), this multi-perspective collection of essays by the world’s leading scholars of theology and interreligious dialogue brings new ferment to the field of interreligious understanding.
This yearbook presents data in sets of tables and scholarly articles spanning social science, demography, history, and geography. This issue offers findings, sources, methods, and implications surrounding international religious demography.
Why did the Christian church, in the twentieth century, engage in dialogue with Islam? Between them, Islam and Christianity represent over half the earth’s population. Consequently, their history of interaction, positive and negative, has global implications. Contentious issues remain real, yet the story and ongoing reality of contemporary Christian–Muslim engagement presented in this text is encouraging.
“Are Muslim insider Christ followers real believers?” This question, addressing the topic of insider movements, is controversial within the church. Opinions differ widely and convictions often are defended aggressively. The set of voices sorely missing from this debate has been that of the insiders themselves. This book brings their voices to the discussion.
This text provides a comprehensive survey of the topic of insider movements, providing an indispensable resource into the creative, unexpected, boundary-crossing ways God is at work among the peoples of the world in their diverse religious communities.
Having shared his journey of faith in Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, Nabeel Qureshi now examines Islam and Christianity in detail, exploring areas of crucial conflict.
Social aspects
In this text, McGrow challenges common Christian assumptions about sex workers. Using feminist, postcolonial perspectives, interviews with pastoral practitioners, and personal narrative, the author carves out a space for the dynamic theological agency and life complexity of sex workers to be acknowledged.
Social sciences
This new edition covers the concepts that drive cultural anthropology by showing that now, more than ever, global forces affect local culture and the tools of cultural anthropology are relevant to living in a globalizing world.
Theology
The authors of this volume draw on the best of contemporary scholarship and use language shaped by teaching and conversing with today’s students. In doing so they provide fresh discussions of Paul’s letter writing and how those letters were received in the churches, the authenticity of Paul s letters, and updated coverage of recent developments in interpreting Paul.
This volume offers a constructive theological understanding of denomination, showing its role as an intermediary structure between congregation and church. It places denomination and other intermediary structures within the doctrine of the church. Exploration of unity and diversity is central to this analysis, and individual chapters offer theological analyses of the unity and the diversity to which the Christians are called. The author provides a contemporary theological analysis of denomination.
Africa
Emmanuel Katongole outlines a theological vision of reconciliation as God’s journey with creation—both gift and mission. Drawing on stories of peace activists in Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda, he illuminates the spiritual and practical disciplines that sustain those who labor for reconciliation.
This text reflects the remarkable expansion of Christianity in Africa amid massive social challenges, which has created unprecedented opportunities for Christian leadership. Leaders among the thousands of young congregations provide insights into these local platforms for spiritual and social direction.
Asia
Can theological uniqueness also function as a legitimate Chinese Christian cultural expression in the formation of its own ecclesial identity? This critical question is explored, as well as how missionary influences, consciously or unconsciously, introduced seeds of independence into the cultural ethos of China’s Christian community.
Set in the larger context of the exceptional growth of the church in the non-Western world, Hedlund recognizes that the center of Christian influence numerically and theologically is shifting southward to Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Predominantly, it is a church of the poor. The author’s research also affirms the reality that wherever the gospel goes, it takes root in the local culture.
Europe
This gives an overview of the field of Irish ethnology, covering representative topics of institutional history and methodology, as well as case studies dealing with religion, ethnicity, memory, development, folk music, and traditional cosmology. This collection of essays draws from work in multiple disciplines including but not limited to anthropology and ethnomusicology. These essays illuminate the complex history of Ireland, exhibit the maturity of Irish anthropology, and provide an instructive example of how a local anthropology can have lessons for the wider field.