Minding the Good Ground: A Theology for Church Renewal
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Declining memberships. Pastoral scandals. A fear of secularism and the New Atheism. Christians are worried about the church’s future. Despite such despair, Jason Vickers believes the church also sits upon the cusp of renewal. Some emerging voices promise to lead the church out of decay but focus only upon its structure, while others encourage the Spirit’s work to the exclusion of all else. Minding the Good Ground organizes the multitude of voices and proposes a new way forward--rooting these renewal movements in a robust historical theology. Moving beyond quick-fix solutions, this new theological vision grounds renewal in the good and life-giving work of the Holy Spirit.
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- Organizes the multitude of voices
- Proposes a new way forward—rooting these renewal movements in a robust historical theology
- Introduction
- 1 The Nature of the Church
- 2 The Mission of the Church
- 3 The Sacramental Life of the Church
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
We need balance between Spirit and structure whereas there is now a tendence to exalt the charismatic, the spontaneous, and condemn the ecclesial structures. As Vickers says, it is the Spirit that has inspired and guided the structures in the first place. I highly recommend this book.
—Ben Witherington, III, Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary
This is the best book on renewal I have read. Minding the Good Ground cuts through the pious clap trap and romantic hocus pocus and provides precisely the kind of sharp, substantial theological analysis we need. Vickers represents the work of a new generation who are coming on board to carry the torch of renewal into the future.
—William J. Abraham, Outler Professor of Wesley Studies, Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University
Vickers is one of the brightest, most helpful young theologians working in our church today. And, he is surely right—renewal is primarily God’s self-assigned task, not ours. This wonderful book calls us to renewed theological accountability.
—Will Willimon, Bishop, North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church and Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry, Duke Divinity School
- Title: Minding the Good Ground: A Theology for Church Renewal
- Author: Jason E. Vickers
- Publisher: Baylor University Press
- Print Publication Date: 2011
- Pages: 151
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
- ISBNs: 9781602583603, 9781602583900, 1602583609, 1602583900
- Resource ID: LLS:MNDNGGDCHRCRNWL
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-09-25T17:36:39Z