Prodigal Christianity

An engaging and thoughtful book that guides readers into the frontiers of being a missional Christian Prodigal Christianity offers a down-to-earth, accessible, and yet provocative understanding of God's mission of redemption in the world, and how followers of Christ can participate in this work. It speaks into the discontent of all those who have exhausted conservative, liberal, and even emergent ways of being Christian and are looking for a new way forward. It offers building blocks for missional theology and practice that moves Christians into a gospel-centered way of life for our culture and our times. Offers a compelling and creative vision for North American Christians Puts forth a theology and ten critical signposts that must be observed to follow a missional way of life: post-Christendom, missio Dei, incarnation, witness, scripture, gospel, church, sexuality, justice, pluralism Asks questions and points to issues that trouble many leaders in the post-modern, post-denominational, post-Christendom church This book can fill the gap for the average Christian left discontented with the current options "after evangelicalism."

About the Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series xi Preface and Acknowledgments xiii Introduction: Following Jesus into the Far Country—the Winter of Our Discontent xix Signpost One: Post-Christendom 1 Into the Far Country: The Journey into Post-Christendom Signpost Two: Missio Dei 16 With the Prodigal God: The Journey into God’s Mission Signpost Three: Incarnation 31 On the Ground: The Journey into Everyday Life Signpost Four: Witness 48 In the World: The Journey into the World Signpost Five: Scripture 66 Living Our Story: Journeying by the Book That Is More Than a Book Signpost Six: Gospel 83 Making All Things Right: The Journey into Redemption Signpost Seven: Church 96 In Kingdom Communities: The Journey as the Body of Christ into the World Signpost Eight: Prodigal Relationships 114 With Our Brokenness: The Journey Toward Sexual Redemption Signpost Nine: Prodigal Justice 131 Among Our Neighborhoods: The Journey Toward Local Justice Signpost Ten: Prodigal Openness 148 For the Good News: The Journey into Diverse Worlds Epilogue: The Prodigal Returns 163 Notes 167 About the Authors 183 Index 185