Treasure in Clay Jars: Patterns in Missional Faithfulness (The Gospel and Our Culture Series (GOCS)) - Softcover

Lois Y. Barrett

Softcover

ISBN 10: 080282692X ISBN 13: 9780802826923

Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2004

Synopsis

If you saw a missional church, what would it look like? What patterns of behavior and practice would you find there?

Building on the ground laid by the book Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America (Darrell Guder et al. 1998), Treasure in Clay Jars centers on case studies of nine missional congregations from across North America that are diverse in their denominational affiliations, worship styles, political stances, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The book explores eight concrete "patterns" common to these churches. Although the patterns may be different in each setting, they can be recognized in any congregation seeking to participate in God's mission in the world.

The team that authored this book believes that "missional" says something not so much about the activities of the church as its character: "The church does not exist for itself, but for participation in God's mission of reconciliation. . . . Mission is the character of the church in whatever context it exists." The congregations studied here are "clay jars," but each carries in its witness a remarkable treasure that points to God's power and purposes.

Authors:
Lois Y. Barrett
Darrell L. Guder
Walter C. Hobbs
George R. Hunsberger
Linford L. Stutzman
Jeff Van Kooten
Dale A. Ziemer

About this title

About the Author

Lois Y. Barrett is director of the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary Great Plains Extension in North Newton, Kansas, where she is also assistant professor of theology and Anabaptist studies. She also serves as research project director for the Gospel and Our Culture Network in Holland, Michigan, and as a congregational and organizational consultant for Church Innovations Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota.     

From the Back Cover

If you saw a missional church, what would it look like? What patterns of behavior and practice would you find there?

Building on the ground laid by the book "Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America" (Darrell Guder et al. 1998), "Treasure in Clay Jars" centers on case studies of nine missional congregations from across North America that are diverse in their denominational affiliations, worship styles, political stances, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The book explores eight concrete bpatternsb common to these churches. Although the patterns may be different in each setting, they can be recognized in any congregation seeking to participate in Godbs mission in the world.

The team that authored this book believes that bmissionalb says something not so much about the activities of the church as its character: bThe church does not exist for itself, but for participation in Godbs mission of reconciliation. . . . Mission is the character of the church in whatever context it exists.b The congregations studied here are bclay jars, b but each carries in its witness a remarkable treasure that points to Godbs power and purposes.

Authors: Lois Y. Barrett
Darrell L. Guder
Walter C. Hobbs
George R. Hunsberger
Linford L. Stutzman
Jeff Van Kooten
Dale A. Ziemer

Edition details

• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 080282692X
• ISBN 13: 9780802826923
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 186