Recommended Resources

Picking up from the discussion that started over on the "Get rid of Adrian" thread ... What are some good books, articles, podcasts, videos, etc. that you would recommend for thinking about the various aspects of this whole emerging church conversation?

Please include Web links whenever possible in your replies.

Thanks!
Steve K.

I'm interested in what everybody's list of resources for the 'life-changing' variety...not so much for broad, introductory reasons. C'mon, gimme your top five. ;)

I couldn't help being reminded about a question Magenta brought up earlier when I read this article this week on a group of people who have actually - I kid you not - restructured their lives socially and economically on the basis of relying on a total abandonment to the love of God (the linchpin of their communal economic structure is 'Providence'). These folks are going all out for that 'trust' thing. It's like they lept off the cliff! I wonder if you guys know of similar stories and of people who really go all out, who feel God in every situation in life...and don't just sit around wondering if we 'got it awright with' Him all the time. =)

Looks like this Adrian guy created quite a stir, to get you all thinking about truth. Kiwi.

Hey here are some intro resources i recommend to the college students I work with.

Heath White (Phil prof at UNCW) "Postmodernism 101: a first course for the curious christian"
- he gives an intro to the pomo mind and is both a philosopher by trade and a christian. it is extremely readable and addresses specifically christian fears about the pomo world

Tyron Inbody "The Faith of the Christian Church"
- a great intro to theology that emphasizes God's relationality and addresses the pomo situation specifically.

Jurgen Moltmann "Jesus Christ for Today?s World"
- an awesome intro to one of the best living theologians which touches on Christology, Justice, and Eschatology. "In the end ? the beginning: the life of hope" is a better intro to his eschatology, but if you like one of these lay-friendly books go on the 'Crucified God', a theological masterpiece.

John Cobb "Becoming a Thinking Christian"
- a great book for group discussion. even if you dont end up agreeing with Cobb it helps you think about the important questions. i have used it with college students and at church and it worked well at both.

Marjorie Suchocki "Divinity and Diversity"
- she is a friend of mine and also a super theologian. this is a book that gives a great explanation for a Christian affirmation of religious pluralism within God's intention.

Mirsolav Volf "Exclusion and Embrace"
- a book everyone should read at least twice. his concept of 'double vision' is amazing. I have some good articles of him in dialog with Mennonite scholars about the book if anyone wants them, just email me

Philip Clayton "God and Contemporary Science"
- I imagine the title is self-revealing, but he does set it in context with sections on the biblical imagination, theological traditions...

Terence Fretheim "God and World in the Old Testament: a relational theology of creation"
- the best OT book I have ever read. A great section on genesis 1-11, ecology, the prophets, psalms, and more

Richard Horsley "Jesus and Empire"
- the best intro to the anti-imperial reading of Jesus (his Paul stuff is good too). this does a good ob relating things to our contemp. situation

Anybody have Jesus and Empire, I can borrow? Anthony, don't forget I still have your Richard Horsley book...and you still have my David Flusser. =)

We need to have a library. =)

Eric,

I know man. I need to give you your Flusser book back. I'll try to remember to bring it this Sunday.
I have Jesus and Empire by Horsley. Great read. I especially love his discussion on Legion. Great stuff.

I'd recommend these:

Truth and Authority by L. Newbigin

Great intro into the issues surrounding modernity, postmodernity, and the Christian faith's relationship to them. The book is about 30 pages long. Short and sweet. Understandable.

Believing in the Future by David Bosch

Same thing as the above book but deals more with some general history that's pretty good.

Resident Aliens by Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon

These guys call out the church's captivity to modernity in provocative ways. Very thoughtful and dare I say it, entertaining read.

Emerging Churches by Gibbs and Bolger

Great intro to the actual emerging church movement itself.

How (Not) to speak of God by Peter Rollins

Great theological/philosophical thoughts. Very readable as well. He lays out the significance of the emerging church movement. What it seems to represent and its potential as a powerful Reformational/Revolutionary form of Christianity for our times. The second half of the book gives snapshots in the 'everyday' implications of this at this guys church in Belfast. Very inspiring. I picked it up a week ago and already in my third reading of it.

I couldn't help being reminded about a question Magenta brought up earlier when I read this article this week on a group of people who have actually - I kid you not - restructured their lives socially and economically on the basis of relying on a total abandonment to the love of God (the linchpin of their communal economic structure is 'Providence'). These folks are going all out for that 'trust' thing. It's like they lept off the cliff! I wonder if you guys know of similar stories and of people who really go all out, who feel God in every situation in life...and don't just sit around wondering if we 'got it awright with' Him all the time. =)

There are groups out there like Jesus People USA and the Bruderhof communities who are on a similar bent.

More on intentional Christian community, new urbanism, and "new monasticism":

Sidewalks in the Kingdom
I have a copy of the book. Haven't read it yet, but if anyone's interested in borrowing it, let me know.

NewMonasticism.org
Rutba House is located in Raleigh/Durham, NC. I'd be interested in doing a road trip up there sometime, if others are interested as well.

Thanks Steve...Those will be great communities to plug into as we go into Camp Greene.

I'll be definitely interested in visiting them sometime. Maybe we can get a group of us.

shane claiborne is a hero of mine and a champion of intentional christianity with his "Simple Way." hopefully he'll show up this saturday and enlighten us. What I especially love about shane is that he wasn't some hippie dude that traded a bong for a crucifix; he grew up like most of us did, even spent some time working with willow creek and went to school at wheaton. it was his faith though that led him into an "everyday radical" lifestyle.

peace.
-jon