Beyond Maintenance to Mission

by Nessan, Craig

• ISBN13: 9780800663261
• ISBN10: 0800663268
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-03-01
• Publisher: Fortress Pr

Summary

Visionary yet practical, Nessan's influential book makes a persuasive case for the centrality of mission in the life of the church. Nessan's model of mission-driven leadership is strongly centered on the community of faith's worship and draws unique connections between the worship life of a congregation and every aspect of the church's ministry. Around the twin foci of congregational identity and mission, the chapters in this dynamic book provide solid theological and radical direction on the themes of worship, education, fellowship, stewardship, evangelism, global connections, and social ministry.

Author Biography

Craig L. Nessan is Professor of Contextual Theology and Academic Dean at Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa. He is author of Transforming Leadership: New Vision for a Church in Mission (with Norma Cook Everist, 2008), Many Members, yet One Body (2004), and Give Us This Day: A Lutheran Proposal for Ending World Hunger (Lutheran Voices, 2003).

Table of Contents

How to Use This Book	p. vii
Preface	p. xi
Orientation
Basic Elements of a Theology of the Congregation	p. 1
Kerygma, Koin&obar;nia, Diakonia	p. 2
From Identity to Mission and Back Again	p. 6
Grounded in Liturgy of Word and Sacrament	p. 10
First, Listen	p. 15
Congregational Story	p. 16
Cultural Story	p. 18
Biblical Story	p. 23
Trinitarian Mission: The Sending of the Son in the Power of the Spirit	p. 29
Jesus and the Kingdom of God	p. 30
Living Word of Gospel	p. 33
From Proclamation to Paraenesis	p. 36
Worship: Imagining the Kingdom	p. 41
In the Name of...	p. 42
Eucharistic Drama	p. 45
"Go in Peace; Serve the Lord"	p. 49
Identity
Prayer: Your Kingdom Come!	p. 57
Leading the People of God in Prayer	p. 58
Let Us Pray For...	p. 61
Lord, Teach Us to Pray!	p. 65
Education: Making Disciples	p. 69
Arcane Discipline	p. 70
Saints Who Followed	p. 76
Crossings	p. 78
Life in Community: Friends of the Crucified	p. 83
The Meaning of Christian Friendship	p. 84
Egalitarian Communion	p. 86
Pastor and People	p. 89
Stewardship: God Owns Everything	p. 97
Ownership	p. 98
Tithing: A Check on Idolatry	p. 101
Caring	p. 104
Mission
Evangelizing: Speaking the Kingdom	p. 113
Unprecedented Diversity: Are We Ready to Be Changed?	p. 114
Evangelizing Defined	p. 117
Learning to Speak the Faith	p. 121
Global Connections: The Church Catholic	p. 127
Centrifugal Force of the Gospel	p. 128
Beyond Nationalism	p. 131
Global Connections in the Congregation	p. 134
Ecumenism: That All May Be One	p. 141
Ecumenism as Apologetics	p. 142
Toward a Common Table	p. 145
In Service to God's World	p. 150
Social Ministry: Striving for Justice and Peace in All the Earth	p. 155
Social Service and Social Advocacy	p. 156
The Critical Mass: Three Priorities	p. 160
Congregational Praxis	p. 164
Conclusion: "One Long Epiclesis"	p. 169
Name Index	p. 173
Subject Index	p. 175
Scripture Index	p. 177
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