Unclobber by Colby Martin
UnClobber reexamines what the Bible says (and does not say) about homosexuality in such a way that breathes fresh life into outdated and inaccurate assumptions and interpretations. Churches in America are experiencing an unprecedented fracturing due to their belief and attitude toward the LGBTQ community. Armed with only six passages in the Bible–often known as the […]
The Coming Revolution in Church Economics by Mark Deymaz
Tithes and offerings alone are no longer enough to provide for the needs of the local church, enable pastors to pursue opportunities, or sustain long-term ministry impact. Growing financial burdens on the middle class, marginal increases in contributions to religious organizations, shifting generational attitudes toward giving, and changing demographics are having a negative impact on […]
In Pursuit of the Almighty’s Dollar: A History of Money and American Protestantism by James Hudnut-Beumler
Every day of the week in contemporary America (and especially on Sundays) people raise money for their religious enterprises–for clergy, educators, buildings, charity, youth-oriented work, and more. In a fascinating look into the economics of American Protestantism, James Hudnut-Beumler examines how churches have raised and spent money from colonial times to the present and considers […]
Divine Currency: The Theological Power of Money in the West (Cultural Memory in the Present) by Devyn Singh
This book shows how early economic ideas structured Christian thought and society, giving crucial insight into why money holds such power in the West. Examining the religious and theological sources of money’s power, it shows how early Christian thinkers borrowed ancient notions of money and economic exchange from the Roman Empire as a basis for […]
Journey to the Common Good by Walter Bruerggerman
A decade ago, Walter Brueggemann called the church to journey together for the good of our community through neighborliness, covenanting, and reconstruction. He distilled this challenge to its most basic issues: Where is the church going? What is its role in contemporary society? What lessons does it have to offer a world enmeshed in turbulent […]
Just Preaching: Prophetic Voices for Economic Justice by Andre Resner, Jr.
The Academy of Parish Clergy, Inc. selected Just Preaching: Prophetic Voices for Economic Justice in the Top Ten Books for Parish Ministry published in 2003. In a world that is deeply divided, just preaching becomes a common ground for ecumenical and interfaith dialogue and unity. Bringing together essays and sermons from an impressive list of […]
Transforming Communities by Sandhya Jha
The world around us is a wreck. When there’s so much conflict around the country and around the corner, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, powerless, and helpless. What can one person do to make a difference? Here’s the good news. Millions of everyday people are ready to step into their power to transform their communities. […]
When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert
With more than 450,000 copies in print, When Helping Hurts is a paradigm-forming contemporary classic on the subject of poverty alleviation. Poverty is much more than simply a lack of material resources, and it takes much more than donations and handouts to solve it. When Helping Hurts shows how some alleviation efforts, failing to consider the complexities of poverty, […]
Having Nothing, Possessing Everything: Finding Abundant Communities in Unexpected Places by Michael Mather
Pastor Mike Mather arrived in Indianapolis thinking that he was going to serve the poor. But after his church’s community lost nine young men to violence in a few short months, Mather came to see that the poor didn’t need his help—he needed theirs. This is the story of how one church found abundance in […]
7 Creative Models for Community Ministry by Joy F. Skjegstad
A practical guide for church leaders seeking to engage their congregations with the community, offering step-by-step instructions on 7 ways to structure transformational community ministry. Joy Skjegstad first outlines processes for learning about the neighborhood, assessing gifts and passions within the church, and finding a good fit between congregation and community. 7 Creative Models: • […]