Equipping the Saints

by michael christensen

Book Overview

Experts on congregational life tell us that ministry in the next century will depend more on called, trained, and committed lay leadership than it has since the days of the early church. But how will... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0687024455
• ISBN13: 9780687024452
• Release Date: May 2000
• Publisher: Abingdon Press
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.6" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

How to Become a Three-Streams, One River Church

In this groundbreaking volume on the new shape of ministry editor Michael Christensen employs the ancient metaphor of "three streams, one river" to ask a crucial question: "How can ministerial leadership (clergy) move the people of God (laity) from the baptismal font into the full flow of ministry in the church and in the world?" Proclaiming that the New Reformation of the Laity has already occurred, he states that "what remains of the revolution is whether the clergy or the laity will be abolished in favor of 'one body with many parts.'" Equipping the Saints seeks to help congregational leaders re-invent TheNextChurch for the challenges that lie before it. Chapters and contributors include: Out of the Pew, into the World: Motivating for Ministry by Jessica Farish Moffatt The Loss and Recovery of the Biblical Basis for Lay Ministry by Russell Moy Life Together: Reclaiming the Ministry of Small Groups by Christine M. Anderson Team Building Through Spiritual Gifts by Brian K. Bauknight The Seeker Service in the Mainline Church by Eric Park Circuit Riding in the Twenty-first Century by Robert Duncan Jr. Three Streams One River by Michael J. Christensen "The NextChurch has two next challenges: getting clear and clearing out. The first challenge is getting clear who Jesus is. The second challenge is clearing out spiritual deformities that dis-order the church's structural life and dis-able its mission. This book picks up the second challenge and runs...." (Leonard Sweet, from the foreword) Michael J. Christensen is director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at Drew Theological School and affiliate assistant professor of spirituality at the Graduate School of Drew University. Carl E. Savage is associate director of the Doctor of Ministry Program and a Ph.D. candidate in New Testament and Early Christian Studies at Drew University.

A Modern Theologian

Leonard Sweet is a visionary. He looks at what's going on today, and he can see changes that need to be made if Christianity is to remain a viable option for people. His style of writing is unique, and his outlook is fresh and exciting. Anything Sweet has written is worth reading!