Real Letters. Real People. Real Issues.God is raising up the simple, organic, house church movement. And this book gives you, for the first time, a real-life inside look at the controversies, struggles, victories, and personalities emerging from within this revolution. This book is a collection of real letters to real people facing real issues. These letters challenge, persuade, and encourage. They address theological issues and practical problems. They were sent to friends, acquaintances, strangers, radicals, and critics. This book will not just satisfy your curiosity about today's house church movement, but it will propel you to complete the task to which Jesus Christ has called you."Rad is one of those that has taken the time to... give us all a sort of house church FAQ that unzips and unpacks the current revolution and makes it more tangible than ever."Wolfgang SimsonAuthor of Houses that Change the World"Rad Zdero has labored to usher in a new/old paradigm in church life... a courageous, candid, and vulnerable publication of the letters that have chronicled his journey... an important work..."David Garrison, Ph.D.Author of Church Planting Movements"I am thrilled that Rad Zdero has released this series of insightful letters into book form... a timely, biblical, poignant yet gracious response to real-life concerns... Highly recommended!"Andrew JonesBlogger and founder, Boaz ProjectRAD ZDERO has a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has been involved in the house church and small group movement since 1985. Rad is the author of The Global House Church Movement. He is also the editor of Nexus: The World House Church Movement Reader and The Starfish Files house church magazine. Rad lives just outside Toronto, Canada.

A major church shift is happening all around the world. God is once again bringing back the power and simplicity of New Testament style Christianity. The Lord is raising up the global house church movement. Do you want to reach your friends and your nation with an approach to church life and church planting that is biblical and effective? If so, read this book.

This is an exploration of house churches, especially in Poland. The book begins with a review of literature about the "global house church movement" and continues with an article on the early Christian transition from house churches to purpose-built buildings for churches. Next is an article regarding the concept of "sacred space" in relation to house churches. The first half concludes with a chapter on methodology of research for a qualitative interview approach to studying house churches. The thesis then presents a theological method for using the qualitative interviews to develop ecclesiology. Sixteen interviews from thirteen house churches are presented. The thesis continues the theological method by attempting to answer the question "why is it going on" and presents a thematic analysis from the qualitative interviews that includes input from sociological research done in Poland. The thesis concludes by using scriptural and academic sources in conversation with house church interviews from the interviews and global house church literature to present four primary conclusions in a practical-prophetic ecclesiology.

In our changing world, how do Christians come together in non-traditional ways? For the Christian, there's value in learning about expressions of our own beliefs that may be unfamiliar. In Kingdom Expressions, an expert takes a look at some of the most significant, gospel-advancing movements and trends to take place in the latter twentieth and twenty-first centuries in the United States, including: The Church Growth Movement Missional Church Movement Multisite Movement The rise of church planting networks The House Church Movement The Emerging Church Movement You'll be quickly introduced to each expression of Christianity—what each means and what it looks like in practice; along with important convictions, history, and influential leaders. Features include: A close look at non-denominational movements that reach new people in Christ's name. Explanations of how contemporary Christianity is changing and why. A concise guide to non-traditional Christian groups.

In this book the author proposes the house church structure as a key to continuing renewal in the church today. After a biblical and historical look at the significance of the house church, the author looks at a model of ministry appropriate to that structure. In light of this model, the author develops a theology of renewal through the servant leadership of both women and men, personal and corporate giftedness, participatory worship, and community commitment.

This book offers a unique historical documentation of the development of the ambitious religious entrepreneurism by leaders of the Early Rain church (and later Western China Presbytery leadership), in an effort to gain social influence in China through local institution-building and global public image management. It unravels the social processes of how this Christian community with a public image of defending religious freedom in China was undermined by an internal loss of moral authority. Based on publicly available texts from Chinese social media that aren’t readily available in the West as well as in-depth interviews, it is framed by existing scholarship in social theories of the public sphere, charismatic domination in social transition, and the role of power in organizational behaviour. These churches’ stories show how Christianity, which has long been politically marginalized in communist China, has not only adapted and challenged the socio-political status quo, but how it was also ironically shaped by the political culture. This is an insightful and critical ethnographic study of one of modern China’s most famous house churches. As such, it will be of great interest to scholars of Religion in China as well as those working in Religious Studies, Asian studies, Chinese studies, and Mission Studies more generally.

In this thoroughly revised and updated edition of a classic reference work, topics like Christology, justification, and hermeneutics receive careful treatment by trusted specialists. New topics like politics, patronage, and different cultural perspectives expand the volume's breadth and usefulness for scholars, pastors, and students today.

From the original preface: This book grows out of the need to present a model of being the church which emphasizes covenant, commitment, and personal involvement with a small number of people. I have tried to offer the house church not just as an acceptable model of the church, but indeed as a good way of being the church, where Christians can emphasize the essentials of being the church—covenanting, worshiping, teaching, sharing, discipling, deciding, using spiritual gifts, serving, and growing.

This thorough, lucid, solidly researched book, the first of two volumes, charts the history of global Christianity.

In this addition to the award-winning BECNT series, leading New Testament scholar and bestselling author G. K. Beale offers a substantive evangelical commentary on Colossians and Philemon. With extensive research and thoughtful chapter-by-chapter exegesis, Beale leads readers through all aspects of Colossians and Philemon--sociological, historical, and theological--to help them better understand the meaning and relevance of these biblical books. As with all BECNT volumes, this commentary features the author's detailed interaction with the Greek text and an acclaimed, user-friendly design. It admirably achieves the dual aims of the series--academic sophistication with pastoral sensitivity and accessibility--making it a useful tool for pastors, church leaders, students, and teachers.