metanoeo

      So this is where our journey ends. I hope that I was able to enlighten you about this movement known as the Emerging Church. I hope that your questions are not completely answered; if you are seriously interested in learning about the movement, go to an emerging church (or the website of one) and see where it stands on Scripture. Then go to another. And another. I think you will find that emerging churches are no different than conventional churches: there is a wide diversity of beliefs.

     You see, I really don’t care what you call your church. I care that you are faithful to Jesus and faithful to Scripture. Be a missionary, be a light, be a city on a hill. If we can learn from the past and engage the present we will be able to create a future which glorifies Christ among all the nations. Including our own.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

“About Emergent Village.” Emergent Village. Emergent Village. 28 October 2006. <http://www.emergentvillage.com/about/>.

Bahá’í Topics: An Information Resource. Bahá’í International Community. 29 October 2006. <http://info.bahai.org/>.

Barna, George. “The Future of the Church in America.” Catalyst Monthly. October 2006. 27 October 2006 <http://www.catalystspace.com/content/monthly/default.aspx>.

Bethlehem Baptist Church. Bethlehem Baptist Church. 5 November 2006. <http://www.bbcmpls.org>

Christian, Nicholas. “CIA Gives Grim Warning on European Prospects.” NEWS.scotsman.com. 16 January 2005. 31 October 2006. <http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=591&id=56762005>.

Driscoll, Mark. “A Pastoral Perspective on the Emergent Church.” Criswell Theological Review 27 March 2006: 87-93.

—. “Cultural Values and the Preaching of Repentance.” Desiring God 2006 National Conference Podcast. 31 July 2006. 25 October 2006. <http://www.desiringgod.org/media/video/2006_National/national2006_driscoll_interview11.mov>.

—. “Emerging vs. Emergent.” Desiring God 2006 National Conference Podcast. 12 June 2006. 25 October 2006. <http://www.desiringgod.org/media/video/2006_National/national2006_driscoll_interview1.mov>.

—. “Seeker vs. Missional - Part One.” Desiring God 2006 National Conference Podcast. 19 June 2006. 25 October 2006. <http://www.desiringgod.org/media/video/2006_National/national2006_driscoll_interview2.mov>.

—. “Seeker vs. Missional - Part Two.” Desiring God 2006 National Conference Podcast. 28 June 2006. 25 October 2006. <http://www.desiringgod.org/media/video/2006_National/national2006_driscoll_interview8.mov>.

—. “The Need for Cultural Immersion.” Desiring God 2006 National Conference Podcast. 17 July 2006. 25 October 2006. <http://www.desiringgod.org/media/video/2006_National/national2006_driscoll_interview6.mov>.

—. “Worldliness and Culture.” Desiring God 2006 National Conference Podcast. 5 September 2006. 25 October 2006. <http://www.desiringgod.org/media/video/2006_National/national2006_driscoll_interview14.mov>.

Kimball, Dan. “Origins of the terms ‘Emerging’ and ‘Emergent’ church - Part 1.” Vintage Faith. 25 October 2006. 29 October 2006 <http://www.dankimball.com/vintage_faith/2006/04/index.html>.

—. “Origins of the terms ‘Emerging’ and ‘Emergent’ church - Part 2.” Vintage Faith. 25 October 2006. 29 October 2006 <http://www.dankimball.com/vintage_faith/2006/04/index.html>.

—. The Emerging Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003.

Keller, Tim. “Characteristics of a Missional Church.” Desiring God 2006 National Conference Podcast. 17 July 2006. 25 October 2006. <http://www.desiringgod.org/media/video/2006_National/national2006_keller_interview6.mov>.

—. “Is the Bible Culturally Conditioned.” Desiring God 2006 National Conference Podcast. 26 June 2006. 25 October 2006. <http://www.desiringgod.org/media/video/2006_National/national2006_keller_interview15.mov>.

—. “The Scripture as Foundation.” Desiring God 2006 National Conference Podcast. 22 June 2006. 25 October 2006. <http://www.desiringgod.org/media/video/2006_National/national2006_keller_interview14.mov>.

Steyn, Mark. “It’s the Demography, Stupid.” The Opinion Journal. 4 January 2006. 31 October 2006. <http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110007760>.

Street, R. Alan. “An Interview with Brian McLaren.” Criswell Theological Review 27 March 2006: 5-14.

McKinley, Rick. “The Shift in Thinking Required to Engage Your Culture.” Catalyst Monthly. October 2006. 27 October 2006 <http://www.catalystspace.com/content/monthly/detail.aspx?i=1148&m=10&y=2006>.

McLaren, Brian. “Underneath the Cosmetics.” Leadership Journal Fall 2005: 136.

McManus, Alex. Into the Mystic. 29 October 2006. 31 October 2006. <http://alexmcmanus.org>.

McManus, Erwin. An Unstoppable Force: Daring to Become the Church God Had in Mind. Loveland, CO: Group, 2001.

—. “The Cause-Driven Church.” Erwin Raphael McManus. 29 October 2006. <http://www.erwinmcmanus.com/>.

Miller, Donald. “Be Yourself and Go For It.” Catalyst Monthly. October 2006. 27 October 2006. <http://www.catalystspace.com/content/monthly/detail.aspx?i=1151&m=10&y=2006>.

Mills, David M. “The Emergent Church - Another Perspective.” David Mills’ Personal Page. 5 Novemeber 2006. <http://people.cedarville.edu/employee/millsd/mills_staley_response.pdf>

NIV Student Bible, The. International Bible Society. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002.

Piper, John. “What are Some Effects of Postmodernism.” Desiring God 2006 National Conference Podcast. 26 June 2006. 25 October 2006. <http://www.desiringgod.org/media/video/2006_National/national2006_piper_interview3.mov>.

Saddleback Church. Saddleback Church. 5 November 2006. <http://www.saddleback.com>.

Smith, William, Dr. “Entry for ‘Church’”. “Smith’s Bible Dictionary”. <http://www.studylight.org/dic/sbd/view.cgi?number=T1008>. 1901.

Taylor, Dr. and Mrs. Howard. Hudson Taylor and the China Inland Mission: The Growth of a Work of God. London: The Religious Tract Society, 1918.

SUGGESTED READING

The Barbarian Way by Erwin McManus: A great beginning point in understanding how the movement of Jesus Christ has been tamed by our current religion. Not his best work in terms of literary merit, but by far it is his most powerful - and controversial - book.

An Unstoppable Force: Daring to Be the Church God Had in Mind by Erwin McManus: A refreshing look at the first-century church in a post-modern world.

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller: Opens the door for understanding what postmodern thinkers are asking about Jesus, although he provides few answers.

Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller: Amazing description of the biblical illiteracy of modern Christianity.

The Emerging Church by Dan Kimball: A very optimistic look at the emerging church and the context from which it has emerged.

Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church by D. A. Carson: A description of the emerging church from a theologian’s point-of-view, though somewhat ambiguous about the different kinds of emerging churches.

Another Perspective on the Emergent Church by David Mills: This is a great response to lectures given by D. A. Carson concerning the emerging church. Dr. David Mills, professor of philosophy at Cedarville University, examines some of the common critiques of the emerging church very well: http://people.cedarville.edu/employee/millsd/mills_staley_response.pdf

Concerning the stats for the replacement fertility rate, see the United Nations report: http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2002/WPP2002_VOL_3.pdf

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Mom and Dad - Your support has been invaluable. I hope that I will be able to model to my kids the joy, love, and character that you modeled to me.

Barry Darnell - Thanks for teaching me to think biblically and live relevantly.

Erwin McManus - Though you will probably never read this, I deeply appreciate your work because it has given me much hope for the future of the church; it was an honor to meet you in Greensboro, and I hope to one day to meet Mosaic as well.

Tim Albrecht - Our conversations have framed a lot of what I believe with the awareness that not everyone sees things my way; you have taught me a lot, and I am very grateful for that - I look forward to more dialogue in the future.

The “Asiago Speaks Louder than Words” Group - What a great group! I learned so much from you all; thanks for putting up with my weirdness and journeying with me last summer.

Laura Wood - Our conversations regarding the emerging church and other topics encouraged me so much; I’m glad that you broke my stereotype of Bob Jones students!

Jeremy Logan - There have been so many encouraging discussions following this series and I’m so glad to have a friend like you to learn from!

Leigha Dennis - We’ve shared so many great discussions; your input is deeply valued, and I’m so grateful for the leadership you provided, and still provide, at Southwest.

Tyler Hinton - Our heated discussions in chemistry class contributed to what propelled me into this journey; thanks for listening to me, and thanks for teaching me.

Dr. Tony Beam - Thank you for encouraging your students to hold on to truth in the postmodern age.

Dr. Ron Marks - Though we disagree on some points, I appreciate your willingness to dialogue; thanks for encouraging me to write down my thoughts.

Rob Emmanuel - You first introduced me to the works of Erwin McManus which were the catalysts for much of my spiritual growth in the last few years; I am very appreciative of your influence in my life.

Mr. A. - Thanks for teaching me to love writing and for challenging me to engage a postmodern world.

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