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They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations
written by Dan Kimball
Studio : Zondervan
by Zondervan
Publisher : Zondervan
Released : 2007-03-01
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780310245902
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 48 reviews)
List Price : $18.99
Our Price : $8.94
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Product Description |
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Many people today, especially among emerging generations, don't resonate with the church and organized Christianity. Some are leaving the church and others were never part of the church in the first place. Sometimes it's because of misperceptions about the church. Yet often they are still spiritually open and fascinated with Jesus. This is a ministry resource book exploring six of the most common objects and misunderstandings emerging generations have about the church and Christianity. The objections come from conversations and interviews the church has had with unchurched twenty and thirty-somethings at coffee houses. Each chapter raises the objection using a conversational approach, provides the biblical answers to that objection, gives examples of how churches are addressing this objection, and concludes with follow-through projection suggestions, discussion questions, and resource listings. |
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Excellent - period! |
Being a Starbucks frequenter myself, I was delighted to read that Dan did most of his research for this book by talking to Coffee Shop folks. It is a fabulous resource if you want to know what non-church people really think of modern Christianity. Primo book!
Rev. Mark |
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Tough Words for the Church, But We Need to Hear Them |
This book grew on me as I was reading it. Dan Kimball has a passion to win people for Christ, but he is very sensitive about what non-Christians say about the church. He is concerned that sometimes, Christians come across as judgmental, narrow minded, homophobic, right wing Republican, and cliquish. He notes that most people he talks to in coffee shops like Jesus, and that they think highly of him. But they also feel that the church has misrepresented Him by making up a bunch of rules to keep women under the authority of men and to keep people under the authority of male ministers.
Kimball reports that emerging generations would like to see worship services that teach intelligently and thoughtfully about Jesus without dumbing things down. The church should allow for question and discussion times, and it shouldn't be centered around a superstar pastor or around any one person. The church should also have a good children's ministry.
Kimball says that people are hungry for spiritual knowledge and hungry in particular to get to know the Jesus of the Bible, but they are so put off by know it all Christians that they end up reading things on their own or just avoid organized religion altogether.
Kimball points out that churches are fooling themselves if they think people are going to shlep to church on Sunday morning just because they have contemporary music or if the sermon is good. Instead of trying to make people come to church, we need to bring the church to them through our witness in the world
I'm a pastor, so these are tough words for me to hear. But it challenges me to be more intentional about my friendships with people outside the church. Kimball also challenges pastors to be able to speak intelligently about the homosexual debate, the roles of women in the church, and theological issues such as why are there so many elements of Christian thought to be found in religions that came before Christianity.
I've been guilty in the past of assuming that most emerging church leaders were theologically dull and weak on witnessing, but boy was I wrong! This book is right on the money! Lord, forgive me for my own judgmentalism. |
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a Must Read |
I think this book should be required for anyone who has been a Christian for any length of time. The whole idea of the Christian bubble is something that I have struggled with for a long time. I found myself wanting to get out of that, but not really knowing how to go about it. Now, thanks to this book, I know. This book also illustrates just how far the modern Church has moved from Christ and the Apostles in the Bible. Today, too many Christians seem content to just stay in their Christian bubble and not make any effort to reach out to those outside the Church. Even though this book is technically geared towards those in Church leadership, I think it will greatly benefit everyone who reads it with an open mind and heart. This book will teach you how to balance that sometimes fine line between being in the world but not of it. Jesus was willing to hang out with tax collectors, prostitutes and lepers and other "sinners" so why aren't his followers willing to do the same?
I also know from experience that the technique that Dan is talking about really works. You must first win the trust of non-believers and really listen to them. We can't just demand they listen to us.
Back in 1996, I befriended an non-believer who rode the bus with me everyday. We sat together and got into some really awesome discussions. I won her trust and really listened to what she had to say. I was able to share Scripture with her and tell her what Christianity is really about. She really opened up to me. But then, one day, a overzealous Christian went up to her (they were complete strangers) and told her "Unless you put your faith in Christ, you will go to hell when you die." My friend was incredibly angry. After that, she completely shut down. She wouldn't discuss spiritual things with me anymore. Every time I tried, she would say she didn't want to talk about it. She had been incredibly open before. I lovingly confronted the man. I asked him if he thought that is how Jesus would approach a non-believer. He shrugged and said "That's how my church taught me to do it." Then he walked off. I tried to assure my friend that not all Christians are like this guy, and that I didn't agree with what he did. But by then, it was too late. The damage had already been done. Even though this incident occurred 13 years ago, it disturbs to me to this day. I had spent months dialoging with this woman, and that one incident was enough to shut her down. I wish this book would have been available then. I would have given a copy to that overzealous Christian. I have since lost touch with this woman. So I don't know where she is spirtually today, but I can't help but wonder if this man has now completely turned her off to Christianity.
This book also talks about how to be sensitive without compromise. That is so important. I think that every Church in America should do a series from this book. This book will revolutionize the way you think and feel about non-believers. I also like the fact that it encourages all Christians to be missionaries where they live. So often, Christians think of the mission field as going overseas. That is a mission field, but what about the mission field that is all around us right here in America?
If you are content in your Christian bubble and being numb to unbelivers, then don't read this book. But if you are ready to have all your preconceptions and comfort zone exploded, then read this book. If you are ready to take your Christianity to the next level, read this book. And while you are at it, buy several copies for your friends. This is definitely one you will want to pass on to others.
Thank you Dan Kimball for having the courage to write this book. It is sorely needed in the Church today. |
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Pretty Obvious |
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Most of what Kimball does here is hand holding for fundamentalists. He explains in a tone that you might hear from a first grade teacher how Christians are perceived by the culture as too judgmental and negative. I guess his sense is that from where he sits in Santa Cruz, he has a unique insight into the secular culture that other Christians aren't capable of achieving, even though what he says is pretty much all over the television. His images of the kinds of Christians he is trying to educate are two dimensional stereotypes of mindless conservatives, which doesn't really ring true to the diversity of conservative Christians out there. In the end, Kimball doesn't achieve much with these over 250 pages. |
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A must read for Christians |
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Dan Kimball presents a timely and applicable lesson for Christians. I think he describes a fairly accurate picture of Christians in the church and encourages us to move out of our comfort zone. |
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