Reclaiming What Was Lost

by Stewart, Carlyle Fielding

• ISBN13: 9780687097876
• ISBN10: 0687097878
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-06-01
• Publisher: Abingdon Pr

Summary

Much has been written, and much has been said, about the decline in mainline North American Protestantism. Sophisticated sociological and theological analyses have posited a number of solutions to the problem. While such analysis is helpful, the author reminds us, much of it fails to see the simple reality behind the problem: a loss of essential spiritual fervor, Stewart's ministry, both within Hope United Methodist Church in Detroit (where he is pastor), and in numerous congregations and conferences across the country where he has preached, lectured, and taught, has been spent in calling Christians back to a vital relationship with Jesus Christ, and to an immediate and transformative experience of the Spirit. In this new book, Carlyle Fielding Stewart brings together the best of his writing and thinking on the problems of the African American church and mainline Protestantism. Readers will find here important guidance on how to establish a congregation that is genuinely lay-led, how to move the gospel from the church building out into the neighborhood and onto

Author Biography

Carlyle Fielding Stewart III is Senior Pastor of Hope United Methodist Church in Detroit, Michigan.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	11	(2)
Introduction	13	(8)
Reclaiming Christ Through a Conversion or Reconversion Experience	21	(8)
Reclaiming the Bible as an Undergirding Authority for Ministry	29	(6)
Reclaiming the Tradition of Holiness	35	(6)
Reclaiming the Legitimacy of All Spiritual Gifts	41	(6)
Reclaiming the Importance of Spiritual Formation	47	(10)
Reclaiming Our Historical Legacy	57	(8)
Reclaiming a Passion for Preaching	65	(6)
Reclaiming the Purpose of the Church	71	(10)
Reclaiming the Mission of the Church	81	(8)
Reclaiming the Value of the Church for Ministry	89	(12)
Reclaiming the Importance of the Black Church	101	(10)
Appendix A	111	(3)
Appendix B	114	(2)
Bibliography	116