Product Description

Churches are noticing less and less emerging generations in their midst. This book explores the cultural changes impacting churches and offers practical advice of how they can creatively reach emerging generations. Some of the "spiritual" things that were removed from churches are the very things that post-Christian generations are connecting with and find attractive in a church.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #277376 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

From the Back Cover
Includes
· Samples and photos of emerging church worship gatherings
· Recommended resources for the emerging church

The seeker-sensitive movement revolutionized the way we did church and introduced countless baby boomers to Jesus. Yet trends show that today’s post-Christian generations are not responding like the generations before them. As we enter a new cultural era, what do worship services look like that are connecting with the hearts of emerging generations? How do preaching, leadership, evangelism, spiritual formation, and, most of all, how we even think of "church" need to change?

The Emerging Church goes beyond just theory and gets into very practical ways of assisting you in your local church circumstances. There is no one right way, no model for us all to emulate. But there is something better. Dan Kimball calls it "Vintage Christianity": a refreshing return to an unapologetically sacred, raw, historical, and Jesus-focused missional ministry. Vintage Christianity connects with emerging post-seeker generations who are very open spiritually but are not interested in church.

For pastors, leaders, and every concerned Christian, Kimball offers a riveting and easy-to-grasp exploration of today’s changing culture and gives insight into the new kind of churches that are emerging in its midst. Included is running commentary by Rick Warren, Brian McLaren, Howard Hendricks, and others.

About the Author
Dan Kimball is the founding pastor of the "Graceland" worship services at Santa Cruz Bible Church and a sister church, Vintage Faith Church, in Santa Cruz, California, designed for the emerging post-Christian culture. Dan serves on the emergentYS board and speaks extensively around the country, is a columnist for Rev magazine and is the author of The Emerging Church. He lives with his wife and daughters in Santa Cruz, California.

Customer Reviews

Excellent, excellent and extremely helpful book
I have read virtually all the books out there on postmodernism and the emerging church and alternative worship etc. and this book is the most practical for usage in a church. PLUS it brings in scripture and theology so it is not just theory without scriptural backing. the book also has commentary by USA pastors rick warren and brian mclaren which really adds a lot to the book, and it is fascinating to read commentary by these people. It also is very cool graphically and has lots of very helpful charts.

This book is not an angry book like so many others are, and is one that pastors of all ages can read to begin understanding some of the changes happening here and why we are seeing less and less younger people in our churches.

Good but more suitable for US than UK
Surveys differences between 'seeker-sensitive' (modern) and emerging (postmodern) approaches. Helpful thoughts on relationship between Jesus (positive affect) and Christians (negative affect) as perceived by emerging generations. Sections on worship, preaching (notes that for moderns: FACT influences BELIEF influences BEHAVIOUR, whereas for emerging culture: EXPERIENCE influences BEHAVIOUR influences BELIEF), evangelism (focus on being a co-worker with Jesus in the kingdom as a way of finding purpose in life) & leadership. Quite a strong conservative evangelical bias and written for a similar audience though much of use for others.
Richard Seel.

One of the best and most practical books I have read in 2005
Although written primarily for US based target, this book has much of great benefit to UK readers. It is written in a clear style with a well-thought-out layout and presentation, backed by sound Christ-centred insight. It will be of help to pastors and worship leaders who are asking the question "why are our seeker-sensitive services not connecting with the post-modern, post-Christian generation". In demystifying our services, turning the lights up, placing the rock band up front, making it all 'church-lite', Kimball argues that we have thrown out exactly that sense of mysticism and awe that the postmodern is drawn to.

This book is in two parts and starts with a deconstruction of postmodern ministry, followed by a reconstruction of Vintage Christianity in the emerging church. This is a call to rediscovery of our rich heritage and tradition, along with the new. What I especially appreciated was Kimball's warning not to simply adopt 'emerging church style materials' as a kind of strap-on, guaranteed-to-work formula, without a change of mindset and a seeking after exactly what God wants in a given church situation. Another strength was discussion around leadership style (Modern - Capt Kirk: "look to me I have a plan" versus Postmodern - Capt Luke Picard "I'll lead as we solve this together"). Finally, it was refreshing to read of how all the five senses can be brought to play in Worship, with the profile of the visual/performing arts raised, alongside the musicians, giving other artists a means of expression in developing resources for corporate worship.

This was an exciting book that inspired me, as a worship leader, to think about lots of aspects of our church's approach to seeker services, and also about my own personal evangelistic style (which has sometimes tended to focus on winning the argument rather than winning a friend!)