In this landmark work, Foster examines the “streams of living water” –– the six dimensions of faith and practice that define Christian tradition. He lifts up the enduring character of each tradition and shows how a variety of practices, from individual study and retreat to disciplines of service and community, are all essential elements of growth and maturity. Foster examines the unique contributions of each of these traditions and offers as examples the inspiring stories of faithful people whose lives defined each of these “streams.”
Archive for October, 2008
1st Chapters Podcast | Ep. 115 “Streams of Living Water” (Richard J. Foster)
Monday, October 27th, 20081st Chapters Podcast | Ep. 114 “Invitation” (Basyle Tchividjian)
Monday, October 20th, 2008Three of Billy Graham’s grandsons have compiled stories, pictures, and testimonies of people whose lives have been powerfully transformed because of Graham’s ministry. A layout of feature length stories and shorter quotes and testimonials bring the listener a recapturing of the emotional and spiritual experience a person goes through in the powerful event that is a Billy Graham crusade. The power of the true stories, the authentic voices speaking to how their lives were changed, and the echoes of Billy Graham’s words create a powerful and deeply spiritual experience.
1st Chapters Podcast | Ep. 113 “The Great Emergence” (Phyllis Tickle)
Monday, October 13th, 2008Rooted in the observation that massive transitions in the church happen about every 500 years, Phyllis Tickle shows readers that we live in such a time right now. She compares the Great Emergence to other “Greats” in the history of Christianity, including the Great Transformation (when God walked among us), the time of Gregory the Great, the Great Schism, and the Great Reformation.
Combining history, a look at the causes of social upheaval, and current events, The Great Emergence shows readers what the Great Emergence in church and culture is, how it came to be, and where it is going. Anyone who is interested in the future of the church in America, no matter what their personal affiliation, will find this book a fascinating exploration.
1st Chapters Podcast | Ep. 112 “Pagan Christianity” (Frank Viola & George Barna)
Monday, October 6th, 2008Have you ever wondered why we Christians do what we do for church every Sunday morning? Why do we “dress up” for church? Why does the pastor preach a sermon each week? Why do we have pews, steeples, choirs, and seminaries? This volume reveals the startling truth: most of what Christians do in present-day churches is not rooted in the New Testament, but in pagan culture and rituals developed long after the death of the apostles. Coauthors Frank Viola and George Barna support their thesis with compelling historical evidence in the first-ever book to document the full story of modern Christian church practices.
Many Christians take for granted that their churchs practices are rooted in Scripture. Yet those practices look very different from those of the first-century church. The New Testament is not silent on how the early church freely expressed the reality of Christs indwelling in ways that rocked the first-century world.
Times have changed. Pagan Christianity leads us on a fascinating tour through church history, revealing this startling and unsettling truth: Many cherished church traditions embraced today originated not out of the New Testament, but out of pagan practices. One of the most troubling outcomes has been the effect on average believers: turning them from living expressions of Christs glory and power to passive observers. If you want to see that trend reversed, turn to Pagan Christianity . . . a book that examines and challenges every aspect of our contemporary church experience.