How can the church stay in step with the Spirit during a time of unprecedented change?
The apostle Paul led the Galatians through a massive cultural shift in which they had to radically expand their ideas of who God is, who they were, and God's mission for the church. He was able to lead them through this time of great change because of his encounter with the risen Christ on the Damascus road, an experience in which his view of God was completely upended.
Today Christianity is undergoing a cultural shift just as challenging as the situation confronting Paul and the Galatians. As many churches decline, congregations and pastors feel uncertain and anxious about how to continue their mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ.
Elaine Heath extends an invitation to broaden our view of God by moving beyond the walls of buildings and programs to become a more diverse church than we have ever imagined. While deeply honoring tradition, she calls the church to boldly follow the Holy Spirit's leadership into the future. Heath offers practical advice and hope for how the church can move through anxiety to courageous, culturally sensitive, and Spirit-led engagement in our rapidly changing world.
Reflection questions make this book ideal for a 6- to 9-week small-group study.
Dr. Elaine Heath's vocational journey includes having served as dean of the Divinity School at Duke University and the McCreless Professor of Evangelism at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. She is a pioneer in new forms of theological education, having cofounded The Missional Wisdom Foundation (2009), and she cofounded and currently serves as president of Neighborhood Seminary. The author of numerous books and articles and featured on many podcasts, Dr. Heath is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and served in pastoral ministry prior to academic ministry. She lives with her spouse and friends in a United Methodist intentional community at Spring Forest in rural North Carolina.
Dr. Elaine Heath's vocational journey includes having served as dean of the Divinity School at Duke University and the McCreless Professor of Evangelism at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. She is a pioneer in new forms of theological education, having cofounded The Missional Wisdom Foundation (2009), and she cofounded and currently serves as president of Neighborhood Seminary. The author of numerous books and articles and featured on many podcasts, Dr. Heath is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and served in pastoral ministry prior to academic ministry. She lives with her spouse and friends in a United Methodist intentional community at Spring Forest in rural North Carolina.