reading update

Until I can update the sidebar pics, here’s the updates on the reading list:

recently completed:

• The Meal Jesus Gave Us, by N.T. Wright (continuing to work out my theology of the “Jesus-meal” to set the stage for ikon’s practice of communion/Lord’s Supper/eucharist/mass)  And for those of you disturbed that I used the word “mass,” I plan to post one or two thoughts I learned from this great little book…hold off any condemnation till then
• I Became a Christian and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt, by Vince Antonucci  (I attended Vince’s session at the exponential conference.  Vince was inspiring and challenging, telling us that we need to do whatever God’s called us to, even if everyone else thinks it’s crazy)

currently reading:

• The Forgotten Ways, by Alan Hirsch (see post below)
• The Good Shepherd, by Lesslie Newbigin (see previous posts)
• Stories with Intent, by Klyne Snodgrass (disclaimer:  not reading in its entirety, using this as a primary study text for our current studies on the parables – it’s a fantastic resource.  If you buy this, you hardly need anything else on the parables)

on the short list (since the full list has like 89 titles…):

• Church Unique, by Will Mancini (missional leadership of missional churches)
• The Tangible Kingdom, by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay (creating incarnational communities)
• unChristian, by Dave Kinnaman (what young Americans think of Christianity)
• Compelled by Love, by Ed Stetzer and Philip Nation (missional living)
• Neither Poverty Nor Riches, by Craig Blomberg (firming up my theology of giving)
• Making a Meal of It, by Ben Witherington (more work on my theology of the “Jesus-meal”
• Divided America, by Earl & Merle Black (heard these guys on the Dennis Prager show.  The book is a look at American politics by region of the country.  Some areas are Democratic strongholds, other are Republican.  The one main contested area is the midwest, and particularly our state of Ohio.  Sounds like a very interesting read, particularly in an election year)
• The Great Good Place, by Ray Oldenburg (a look at “third places” – beyond home and work spaces – which are at the heart of a community.  Of interest to me, because I want to explore “doing and being the church” in the third places in Medina).

i haven’t forgotten…

I still plan to post some “best of” summaries from the exponential conference.  It’s taken me a while to absorb the info, as well as just to survive a rather busy time in our family.  We spent a couple days this past week in Columbus, sprucing up the not-yet-sold house.  Yesterday was a needed day of rest.  I’ll post more soon…

The Forgotten Ways

I’ve been working my way through Alan Hirsch’s book The Forgotten Ways: reactivating the missional church.  It’s definitely a challenging read.  Hirsch’s suggestions seem somewhat radical, but I can understand what drives him to the conclusions he’s made regarding the church and its missional role in the world.   In the days to come, I plan to post some representative statements, as well as some summary points of his arguments.

The book is largely an evaluation of two specific Jesus movements that had exponential growth, comparing the similarities and the factors that contributed to the movements.  The two movements examined are the early church (from Jesus to Constantine) and the Chinese church today.  Hirsch then makes suggestions for the Western church in our day based on Scripture and these historical/cultural observations.