Connected To Christ Overcoming Isolation Through Community

"In an isolated and disconnected world, the Church is different. Diverse communities are built under the umbrella of the Gospel, where God draws people into relationship with Him and one another. God designed His people to live in community, as this book will show. Using biblical examples of community (such as the tribes of Israel and Jesus' disciples), readers will learn about Jesus' invitation to find community in Him. The book will provide practical steps to living in and connecting to a church community"--

Evangelism is broken people bringing the Good News of Christ to other broken people. But as a broken person yourself, you may feel inadequate to the task. Evangelism may feel burdensome or may become a source of frustration, fear, and guilt rather than joy. It's understandable if you feel this way, given all the misguided ideas about being a witness. Author Mark Wood can help you and other Christians discover the joy of being Christ's witnesses, offering insights into being a disciple of Jesus that will aid you in actively sharing the Good News. There's a world full of broken people-including your neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family members-counting on it. Book jacket.

Has the art of accompaniment been lost in Western culture? Could non-judgemental accompaniment be the answer to rising levels of isolation and loneliness? Could spending time with others from different or marginalised backgrounds reduce feelings of 'otherness' and lead to a more open, trusting society? Exploring the themes above, this welcoming book offers models of relationships, interdependence, and community for individuals who are marginalised from society. It emphasises the importance of being with people and time spent in physical activity and in the natural world, without demands being put on expressing feelings or even speaking out loud. It draws on the author's own vast experience and work with those on the edge of society - including living in a Christian community which welcomes those in terms of crisis, living in a Palestinian village, working with adults with autism and as chaplain to Gypsies and Travellers - providing a varied, insightful and heart-warming view on the benefits of accompaniment.

In Christ Existing as Community, Michael Mawson recovers and clarifies the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer's early and important work on ecclesiology, focusing especially on his doctoral dissertation Sanctorum Communio. Despite occasional pronouncements of the importance of this dissertation, it has still received only limited scholarly attention. Mawson demonstrates how Bonhoeffer draws upon and reworks social theory in order to develop an account of the church as a reality of God's revelation and a concrete human community. On this basis Mawson concludes that Bonhoeffer's ecclesiology has ongoing significance for contemporary debates in theology and Christian ethics.

"The church as it is frequently practiced tends to perpetuate cultural isolation rather than offering an alternative to it. With the help of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Myles Werntz shows how reframing familiar practices can shift the church away from isolation and toward community"--

Loneliness has reached epidemic proportions. We have lost the art of connection and relationship, and it’s killing us. Odds are good that you have a loved one or friend whose struggle with addiction, mental illness, suicidal thoughts, or self-injury stems from loneliness. Maybe it’s you. Perhaps you’re feeling depressed or anxious, struggling with compulsive behavior, or simply questioning whether you are truly seen, loved, and valued. The culprit could well be that you’re lonely. Dr. Mark Mayfield understands the crisis well, as it led to him nearly taking his own life as a teen. As a board-certified counselor, he has built a reputable counseling practice on the forefront of brain science and attachment therapies, dedicating his life to helping adults and adolescents confront their feelings of isolation and alienation. He is relied upon by new and experienced counselors for training, and he has become an anchor and guide for community leaders, educators, and faith leaders. When you read and apply the practices in The Path out of Loneliness, you’ll develop habits that move you from isolation to connection. You’ll learn the importance of attachment, the art of connection, the power of relationships, the priority of personal responsibility, the gift of vulnerability, and the vision of God, who knew from the beginning that it’s not good for us to be abandoned to ourselves. This book will guide you, the people you love, and the community you live in toward a richer, fuller, healthier life.

It is no secret that isolation is one of the key ailments of our age. But less explored is the way the church as it is frequently practiced contributes to this isolation instead of offering an alternative. With the help of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, this book argues for a renewed vision of the church community as a theological therapy to cultural, moral, and sociological isolation. It offers an account of how familiar church practices, such as Scripture reading, worship, prayer, and eating, contribute to community formation in the body of Christ.