Comments on: Emerging Church Reading Group

By: Josh Newton

Josh Newton — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:04:04 +0000

I suggest these four books:

1) A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren (This is a must read for any Emergent discussion)

2) Emergent Manifesto of Hope compiled by Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones (This one gives many different articles from Emergent leaders from almost any denomination you can think of)

3) Velvet Elvis or Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell

4) Either Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller (for a take on Christianity from someone not educated in Theology).

By: josh

josh — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:26:40 +0000

Todd -

Just finished Deep Church by Jim Belcher. Great book for your purpose. He explores the positives and negatives of the traditional and emerging movements respectively, and does so with grace.

I don’t have four for you, but this would definitely be one!

By: curtis klope

curtis klope — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:48:41 +0000

definitely A Generous Orthodoxy needs to be on this list

By: Steve K.

Steve K. — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:51:36 +0000

Todd, here are my suggestions:

“The New Christians” by Tony Jones

“The New Conspirators” by Tom Sine

“Signs of Emergence” by Kester Brewin

I haven’t read “Emerging Churches” by Gibbs and Bolger (yet), so I honestly can’t recommend it, and I’d listen to Jonathan’s advice that it may be geared more for pastors than lay people.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:21:58 +0000

I have 200 books on the subject but I still think the most comprehensive and insightful info is to be found on blogs and not books

By: Jonathan Brink

Jonathan Brink — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:55:48 +0000

I would suggest:

Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell: This explores a great conversation about what it means to expand faith.

The New Christians by Tony Jones: This explores the specific philosophy of emergence.

Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren: This book explores the specific ways in which we believe across different sectors.

The Great Emergence by Phyllis Tickle: This books explores the specific history that led up to where we are now.

I did enjoy Bolger and Gibbs but thought it was more for pastors. Each of these is more personal.

Much love
Jonathan

By: gazza

gazza — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:32:31 +0000

Duh … shouldn’t the Bible be on your list?

By: JR Rozko

JR Rozko — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:46:32 +0000

Todd, the big temptation here (and the way some of the suggestions seem to be going) is to do 1 of 2 things –

1) Read the most helpful “missiology of western culture” books (Newbigin, Frost, Hirsch, Murray, etc.).

2) Try to be balanced by including people on the “other side” (Belcher, Stetzer, DeYoung, etc.)

These would be great ways to go if you had more time and margin for reading, but if 4 books is the limit, and if the goal is understanding, I would really encourage you to stick to the authors trying to write within and for the EC.

In that vein, here’s my top 4.

1) Emerging Churches (Gibbs & Bolger)
2) Who’s Afraid of Postmodernism (Smith)
3) The New Christians (Jones)
4) The Story We Find Ourselves In (McLaren)

By: Todd

Todd — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:03:18 +0000

Thanks everyone! helpful stuff here so far!

By: Esther

Esther — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:57:05 +0000

Emerging Churches by Gibbs

The Shaping of Things to Come by Hirsch

The Forgotten Ways by Hirsch

Radical Hospitality by Homan and Pratt

I had ordered Planting Missional Churches awhile ago. Tried to get into but just could not. Lots of practical how to stuff – not sure it’s the best book out there for emerging stuff.