Emerging Church/Fresh Expressions

Messy Church Theology

Messy Church Theology is set out in a series of chapters from a range of contributors involved and active within the thriving Messy Church community.

As such it sets out ideas of what Messy Church is, and isn't, in relatively clear language—though to be fair there are times when as you might expect it becomes a little tautologous as the same idea is expressed by multiple contributors.

It also attempts to show models of how Messy Church works, and can work in parishes, communities and churches up and down the country by using case studies that ground the idea of what Messy Church is and the idea or 'theology' behind it. It then attempts to broaden this out a little to demonstrate how this can, would, and should look in a wider sphere of 'Church'. 

It is largely anecdotal in feeling and format, though there are in here real figures, representations, graphs, and studies too, but much like the feeling of Messy Church the book retains a much more anecdotal or personal feel to each chapter. The same can be said of the 'theology' in it. There is not here an overarching highbrow academic view but instead it is again the personal insights, the day to day realities, the man on the ground, and those being outreached style at work here that aims to make 'theology' something we all can do and understan.

And herein that lies the reason why this book would be an interesting book for those outside looking in at what Messy Church is and can be and how perhaps they might want to consider it more in context for their own settings.

A book I think would be recommended for any outside the Messy Church arena to read to see a deeper picture of Messy Church.

Re-Storying Your Faith

Re-Storying Your Faith is a wonderful little book that looks at the nature of stories, the stories we tell each other and ourselves everyday in our relationships, in our conversations and in the basic nature of our thoughts and minds.

Our whole lives are a series of stories lived out in reality and imagination and many of these stories are deeply spiritual in nature and scope, indeed some of our most important and foundational stories are our religious ones, however this doesn't always make them our best stories...

Coyle goes on in this book to look at how we probably need to approach the stories we know and tell ourselves and in effect repurpose them, or rework them entirely - we need to look beyond the surface story to the deeper hidden meanings we have overlooked or lost sight of.

For anyone interested in the nature of story then this book is probably a must read. For anyone aware of the fact that perhaps there are dissonances between what they were told and what they believe, then again this book would probably be a great tool too.

This book could well be used in a group setting but would as easily be a good work book for individuals too.

Cranky, Beautiful Faith

What an incredibly rich, honest and enjoyable book - one that is completely down to earth and bites with a wicked edge of satire that is almost entirely aimed at the reality of the author's own life but that resonates so strongly with pretty much everyone else I would think.

There is here no bland patina of do gooding, no cover over of self-help talk and smiley feel better faces that say God makes it all shiney, instead there is honesty and raw truth in the fact that we are all saints and sinners and coming to faith does not change this, that we ourselves are constantly a work in progress and that facing that truth is one of the hardest things we will ever do but in doing so we are set free indeed.

I loved this book, I can entirely understand why this book was a New York Times Bestseller (under the title Pastrix) because it contains within it all the things a book on faith needs to in order to meet a generation disenfrachised with it - it contains humour, honesty and insight without the overtone of holy roller but rather with the reality of misfit - something I think Jesus knew all about and that's why this book really does talk gospel for a doubting generation.

Churches in Exile

Discipleship of equals could sound curious until you engage with the content Higgins offers. The scriptural and historic female character portraits are authored with conviction.

Grassroots movements hope and transformation is the thread constructed for a living vibrant witness to Christ in Ireland. Though understandably incomplete, Higgins offers more fuel for the Kingdom of God in that precious land.

Authentic writing more than radically alternative.

Making Disciples in Messy Church

The Last Word and the Word After That

Many will consider McLaren's writing and this series of books nothing more than liberal universalism but having been and still considering myself to be entirely convinced of the validity of the Bible for "teaching, correcting and rebuking" I think these arguments hold little water for clear thinking mature readers. This book will challenge your theology, your faith and your compassion for your fellow man and for most Christians none of these will be a bad thing. A brave and uncertain write for the exploratory heart.

Sometimes the book suffers from the painful insertion of really deep theology into a story which groans from the effort of carrying so much meaning. Illustrations are pushed too far. It is provocative, helpful and unresolved.

Visit the author's website >>

Messy Church 3

Fresh Expressions of Church and the Kingdom Of God

Fall To Grace

Emergence Christianity

Church for Every Context

Reimagining Discipleship

Pioneers 4 Life

Church in the Present Tense

The Hospitality of God

A Just Church

New Monasticism as Fresh Expression of Church

Risk-Shaped Discipleship

Parishes in Transition

Pioneer Mission and Fresh Expressions of Church

Mission After Christendom

Churchmorph

Through the Pilgrim Door

The Challenge of Change

GloboChrist

Punk Monk

Evaluating Fresh Expressions

Fresh Expressions in the Sacramental Tradition

Mission-shaped church - second edition

Messy Church 2