Growing Spiritual Redwoods

✍ Scribed by William M. Easum, Thomas G. Bandy

• Publisher: Abingdon Press
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 184
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

"Growing Spiritual Redwoods" is an effort to help church leaders answer the kinds of questions that confront congregations and Christians in this era of rapid and uncertain change. William M. Easum and Thomas Bandy argue that the congregations to whom the term "spiritual redwoods" can be applied are grown slowly, becoming vigorous centers of witness and mission.

✦ Table of Contents

Growing Spiritual Redwoods......Page 2
VISTAS  Appreciation......Page 3
VISTA ONE  Welcome!......Page 4
Living on the Edge of Tomorrow......Page 8
Growing Spiritual Redwoods......Page 10
VISTA TWO  Standing Tall in the Forest......Page 12
The New Maxim......Page 13
Find the Right Paths Through a Pre-Christian World......Page 14
The Church of Philippi: The First "Spiritual Redwood"......Page 20
VISTA THREE  Beneath, Behind and Beyond......Page 26
The Utopian Christ and the Dream of an Achievable, Just Society......Page 30
The Ecclesiastical Christ and the Dream of a Doctrinally Consistent Christology......Page 31
The Magical Christ and the Dream of Eternal, Personal Safety......Page 32
The Church in Conversation with Culture: What Is Emerging......Page 33
The Healing Jesus and the Spiritual Yearning to Be Whole......Page 34
The Addiction-Free Jesus and the Spiritual Yearning to Be Free......Page 35
The Advocate Jesus and the Spiritual Yearning for Vindication......Page 36
Jesus, the Heir to Eden, and the Spiritual Yearning for a Personally Meaningful Destiny......Page 37
Representing Jesus in a Pre-Christian World......Page 38
VISTA FOUR  The Fluid That Flows......Page 46
The Purpose of Worship......Page 50
Transformational Method......Page 53
Transformational Focus......Page 61
The Church of the Living Water......Page 67
The People of Hope......Page 69
The Virtual Church of the Resurrection......Page 70
Clues to Indigenous Worship......Page 73
Creating Indigenous Worship......Page 76
Footnote for the Small Church......Page 80
Unexpected Partnerships and Mysterious Futures......Page 81
VISTA FIVE  Following the Flow......Page 83
Machine or Organism?......Page 86
Core Vision......Page 92
Core Values......Page 94
Core Beliefs......Page 95
Mission!......Page 96
The Inclinations of the Species......Page 98
Linear Accountability Versus Mutual Trust......Page 104
Middle Management Versus Web of Communication......Page 106
Reciprocal Rewards Versus Shared Spiritual Discipline......Page 109
The Fruits of the Species......Page 112
VISTA SIX  A Chaos of Vitality......Page 116
Personal Growth and Spiritual Discernment......Page 123
Team Ministries......Page 127
Lay Pastors......Page 129
Staff Support......Page 134
Spiritual Giants......Page 138
VISTA SEVEN  Birthing the Fruits of Life......Page 140
The "Midwife" Metaphor......Page 148
Three Keys to Twenty-First-Century Leadership......Page 156
VISTA EIGHT  The Tree of Life......Page 165
Notes......Page 172
Growing Spiritual Redwoods......Page 183