Prodigal Christianity

An engaging and thoughtful book that guides readers into the frontiers of being a missional Christian Prodigal Christianity offers a down-to-earth, accessible, and yet provocative understanding of God's mission of redemption in the world, and how followers of Christ can participate in this work. It speaks into the discontent of all those who have exhausted conservative, liberal, and even emergent ways of being Christian and are looking for a new way forward. It offers building blocks for missional theology and practice that moves Christians into a gospel-centered way of life for our culture and our times. Offers a compelling and creative vision for North American Christians Puts forth a theology and ten critical signposts that must be observed to follow a missional way of life: post-Christendom, missio Dei, incarnation, witness, scripture, gospel, church, sexuality, justice, pluralism Asks questions and points to issues that trouble many leaders in the post-modern, post-denominational, post-Christendom church This book can fill the gap for the average Christian left discontented with the current options "e;after evangelicalism."e;

An engaging and thoughtful book that guides readers into the frontiers of being a missional ChristianProdigal Christianity offers a down-to-earth, accessible, and yet provocative understanding of God's mission of redemption in the world, and how followers of Christ can participate in this work. It speaks into the discontent of all those who have exhausted conservative, liberal, and even emergent ways of being Christian and are looking for a new way forward. It offers building blocks for missional theology and practice that moves Christians into a gospel-centered way of life for our culture and our times.* Offers a compelling and creative vision for North American Christians* Puts forth a theology and ten critical signposts that must be observed to follow a missional way of life: post-Christendom, missio Dei, incarnation, witness, scripture, gospel, church, sexuality, justice, pluralism* Asks questions and points to issues that trouble many leaders in the post-modern, post-denominational, post-Christendom churchThis book can fill the gap for the average Christian left discontented with the current options "after evangelicalism."

About the Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series xiPreface and Acknowledgments xiiiIntroduction: Following Jesus into the Far Country--the Winter of Our Discontent xixSignpost One: Post-Christendom 1Into the Far Country: The Journey into Post-ChristendomSignpost Two: Missio Dei 16With the Prodigal God: The Journey into God's MissionSignpost Three: Incarnation 31On the Ground: The Journey into Everyday LifeSignpost Four: Witness 48In the World: The Journey into the WorldSignpost Five: Scripture 66Living Our Story: Journeying by the Book That Is More Than a BookSignpost Six: Gospel 83Making All Things Right: The Journey into RedemptionSignpost Seven: Church 96In Kingdom Communities: The Journey as the Body of Christ into the WorldSignpost Eight: Prodigal Relationships 114With Our Brokenness: The Journey Toward Sexual RedemptionSignpost Nine: Prodigal Justice 131Among Our Neighborhoods: The Journey Toward Local JusticeSignpost Ten: Prodigal Openness 148For the Good News: The Journey into Diverse WorldsEpilogue: The Prodigal Returns 163Notes 167About the Authors 183Index 185