23 Mar Hitting the Books

So, this email is for all the learners/readers out there (or just anyone, say, looking to grow in their faith).

What follows is actually a list of sources that have helped me with this most recent series, “The Story of The Bible”. They have helped me think or preach in better ways, and while I am putting out a reading list, as always, if you choose to read one of these and don’t like it and disagree with it, please don’t hold that against me! I try to read broadly across lots of different areas, and that always means finding stuff I like and don’t like in a book, and besides, like you, I filter everything, anyway. I don’t always agree with some author’s conclusions, even while I may like some of their thoughts and thinking, but that doesn’t mean the book wasn’t helpful to me in some way. So, if this latest series intrigues you, and you’re wanting to put a little faith-based reading list together, this is for you, with comments:

1. How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind, by Thomas Oden

Super helpful for considering the very African roots of the Christian church and much of orthodox Christian theology.

2. A Light to the Nations, by Michael Goheen

A great look at the story of the nation of Israel and its impact on the life of Jesus and the early church from a Canadian theologian.

3. The Story of God, the Story of Us, by Sean Gladding

Imaginative way of telling the whole Bible story by a British missionary to the United States. It’s where the idea of using the “C” names for the current series’ plot points came from. Some I used, some I went a different direction.

4. Irresistible, by Andy Stanley

Tells the story of the early church and the formation of the early New Testament Scriptures, and challenges the modern church to re-examine why and how it does what it does. It’s helped me to see the importance of preaching the Resurrection.

5. The Epic of Eden (video) by Sandra Richter

She’s a Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College who does a great video series, telling the story of the whole Bible, from Eden to Revelation. You can also watch her “Seven Minute Seminary” videos and learn some great stuff.

6. The Story of Christianity: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation, by Justo Gonzalez

If you read one book on church history in your lifetime, this is it. Gonzalez is Cuban scholar who is simply brilliant.

7. The Sacred Canopy, by Peter Berger

Mostly secular critique of Christianity and faith. This helped me see how unique the Christian faith is, in hindsight, and where we need to grow for the future.

8. Transforming Mission, by David Bosch

This overly long classic by the African missiologist helped me understand the importance of the return of Christ as an influence in how we do church and love our neighbors, now. Not for the short of attention span.

9. The Next Evangelicalism, by Soong-Chan Rah

A heavy critique of the Western church, this underscores the importance of the kind of stories we tell as they relate to building multiethnic community.

That’s it! Good luck, class, and there will not be a test. 🙂

In all truth, I hope that we are all lifelong learners, and continue to grow in how we love God with all our minds. Following Jesus and Christian discipleship are far more than reading and learning and thinking, but they are not less, either.

Again, if you are interested in learning some of the different influences in my life as of late and in this series, well, there you go.

Or, if you just prefer to get the “Cliff’s Notes” version on a Sunday morning…I feel you!

Blessings to you, and may we all continue to grow and to love God and our neighbors as ourselves.

Morgan