Book Notes 6

I read all of Gibbs and Bolger's 'Emerging Churches' for my final book notes. It was tasty good...ha ha ha...just kidding, but seriously...to the noooootes!

Chapter 1

This chapter identifies areas with which the culture in the United States and the UK are leaving behind modern forms of churches. This is an introductory chapter, and as I have 11 to cover I shall keep my comments brief.

Chapter 2

This chapter is foundational in defining the emerging church movements and its many manifestations. A clear line is made between modern and post-modern forms of church, and how emerging models of church fit within those models.

Chapter 3

This chapter shows how emerging churches have shifted back to a gospel of the kingdom. In this gospel, the words of Jesus are rediscovered. The kingdom as a here and now practice emerges under this gospel as the followers seek to be like Jesus in their everyday lives.

Chapter 4

This was one of the most interesting chapter in my opinion. The way that emerging churches are encouraging a holistic view of Christianity is amazing. For too long the dichotomies between the physical and spiritual has existed. By removing secular space, the emerging church seeks to destroy these dichotomies.

Chapter 5

The community of emerging churches becomes very strong as the members begin to see each other as family. Emerging churches often serve together in the same locations and eat together on a common basis. Life is lived within community as the isolation of the modern world is overcome.

Chapter 6

This chapter details how emerging churches seek to include others who do not follow Jesus into their community. Since the emphasis is placed upon love, emerging churches often invite others into fellowship with them without the direct goal of evangelizing them. The concepts of this chapter were groundbreaking, but I can see how they would be controversial.

Chapter 7

This chapter speaks about how emerging churches seek to engage in a life of service and hospitality. It is not enough for them to simply give money to organizations or have outreaches a few times a year. They seek to live transformed lives that constantly produce the aforementioned values. Again, holism is commonly mentioned.

Chapter 8

Worship is transformed by emerging churches. The era of modernity produced churches where people merely consumed. Emerging churches seek to involve both the mind and body in the act of worship in ways that aren't necessarily charismatic. They also want to have several ages represented in the same room. Holism comes up again...imagine that!

Chapter 9

This chapter emphasizes the emerging church's exaltation of creativity. The church wants to find ways to use culture and produce relevant music and art for the context that it is located in. The church believes that it can no longer afford to be a foreigner within its mission field.

Chapter 10

Leadership models in the church change radically. Many emerging churches want to avoid paid clergy all-together. Obviously, this demands a lot of faith and volunteer time from several people. The concept of the priesthood of all believers is very strong. Sometimes pastors do not even give sermons.

Chapter 11

Another strong movement with the emerging church is to rediscover the mystical practices of old, and to recover traditional liturgies. By doing this, emerging churches reconnect with Christian history in a deeper level than most congregations linked to a traditional denomination. The practice of these ancient rites provide a way to orient the community to God.