- Jubilee offer: spend £10 or more on any product sold by Amazon.co.uk on or before June 6 and you can buy The Diamond Jubilee A Classical Celebration Album for just £2.50 Here's how (terms and conditions apply)
Intelligent Church
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| |||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Special Offers and Product Promotions
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Authors
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Synopsis
'As St. John of the Cross said: "Mission is putting love where love is not." This book is full of ideas. It should prompt us all to examine the effectiveness of the way local churches are organized.' - The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr. John Sentamu, Archbishop of York. 'Everything that Steve Chalke writes is insightful and cutting-edge. Here he argues in favor of a church that thinks and acts in ways that make the Kingdom of God visible and reasonable in a secular society.' - Tony Campolo, PhD Eastern University, Pennsylvania, USA. The task of the Church is "to be the irrefutable demonstration and proof of the fact that God is love," claims Steve Chalke. An intelligent church intentionally connects the Bible and its twenty-first-century culture, is authentic and, most importantly, has thought through its practice. In other words, the way it does church is a reflection of its understanding of who God is. This foundational issue must be addressed by pastors, church and ministry leaders, small group leaders and others as we continue to grapple with the shape of effective church in the postmodern, post-Christian West.As Chalke unpacks central theological concepts, such as the incarnation, human sinfulness and the Trinity, he points us to the corresponding characteristics of an intelligent church, such as inclusiveness, messiness and diversity. Each thought-provoking chapter concludes with a 'Yes but How?' section, which gives practical suggestions for moving your church along this path.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Steve Chalke is known to many as the "TV vicar", so any book by him is worth a read. The forward praises him up like he is the freatest Christian thinker of our time, that you'll have to decide for yourself. I found myself agreeing with Chalke's conclusions about church in the 21st Century. He draws on historical highlights rather than the breadth of church history to demonstrate the journey towards Christ-centred community that we in the church are all on. Examples such as Mother Theresa are cited, as someone who held firmly to the same views as many Christians on issues such as abortion and Euthanasia and sexuality, yet was not painted with a negative brush.
Or regarding praying, he quotes Gregory Boyd: "Unless it is sometimes true tat God brings about the course of events in a way that he would not had he not been asked, petitionary prayer is idle: just as it would be idle for a boy to ask his father for a specific birthday present if the father has made up his mind what to give irrespective of what the boy asks."
It's not so much about becoming an intelligent church, as an inclusive church. All of this goes back to Jesus' teaching and life, a life lived anmongst many outcasts. Chalke makes the amazing point that teh radical nature of Jesus' ministry was that it was political in a very subversive way. So mmany are confused as to why Jesus showed such anger at the Temple market, yet this book cuts through much of the fog surrounding that event, to show that it was a liberation act! The Temple system was excluding ordinary people, and Jesus simply came to turn that system over (just like the tables), and so should we.
Every chapter contains ideas on how to put these things into pratice. It is only a start, of course, and the real work we are all left with after reading this book is to apply those ideas to our specific situations. The truth is we allhave a very long way to go to do church the way Jesus intended. This is book that'll get you on the right way
Or regarding praying, he quotes Gregory Boyd: "Unless it is sometimes true tat God brings about the course of events in a way that he would not had he not been asked, petitionary prayer is idle: just as it would be idle for a boy to ask his father for a specific birthday present if the father has made up his mind what to give irrespective of what the boy asks."
It's not so much about becoming an intelligent church, as an inclusive church. All of this goes back to Jesus' teaching and life, a life lived anmongst many outcasts. Chalke makes the amazing point that teh radical nature of Jesus' ministry was that it was political in a very subversive way. So mmany are confused as to why Jesus showed such anger at the Temple market, yet this book cuts through much of the fog surrounding that event, to show that it was a liberation act! The Temple system was excluding ordinary people, and Jesus simply came to turn that system over (just like the tables), and so should we.
Every chapter contains ideas on how to put these things into pratice. It is only a start, of course, and the real work we are all left with after reading this book is to apply those ideas to our specific situations. The truth is we allhave a very long way to go to do church the way Jesus intended. This is book that'll get you on the right way
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A real challenge to Christians today - we have a faith that is vibrant and relevant for today - why are we clinging on to outdated traditions and organisations and not spending our time and energy taking God's love to those who need it most in a way that is accessible to them. That's exactly what Jesus did.
Steve Chalke pulls no punches and fearlessly questions where we are and where we should be and sets out suggestions to help us act and move there - a must for an honest re-examination of our churches role in the community
Steve Chalke pulls no punches and fearlessly questions where we are and where we should be and sets out suggestions to help us act and move there - a must for an honest re-examination of our churches role in the community
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book explores the role of the church in society and by looking at the early church shows the wonderful possibilities for it today. It was very easy to read and engaging. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of an "Intelligent church": vulnerability, generosity, honesty, inclusiveness... It is enormously practical, at the end of each chapter it offer topics to think about and practical advice. I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent book to study and use
We are using this as a fellowship study book to look for the way forward in our Church. Neither denominationally specific nor extreme, but very challenging.
Published 7 months ago by Mrs. Marilyn Pratt
Contemplative activists
Intelligent church, intelligent book.
The sub-title (A Journey Towards Christ-Centred Community) describes what the book is about - and what our churches should be... Read more
The sub-title (A Journey Towards Christ-Centred Community) describes what the book is about - and what our churches should be... Read more
Published on 17 Sep 2007 by Endlessly restless
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living
- Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Church Institutions & Organizations
- Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Clergy > Church Administration
- Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Evangelism > Missions & Missionary Work
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
