Author: W. David Baird Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press ISBN: 080616638X Category : History Languages : en Pages : 293
Book Description
In the 1950s and 1960s, Churches of Christ were the fastest growing religious organization in the United States. The churches flourished especially in southern and western states, including Oklahoma. In this compelling history, historian W. David Baird examines the key characteristics, individuals, and debates that have shaped the Churches of Christ in Oklahoma from the early nineteenth century to the beginning of the twenty-first century. Baird’s narrative begins with an account of the Stone-Campbell movement, which emerged along the American frontier in the early 1800s. Representatives of this movement in Oklahoma first came as missionaries to American Indians, mainly to the Cherokees, Chickasaws, and Choctaws. Baird highlights the role of two prominent missionaries during this period, and he next describes a second generation of missionaries who came along during the era of the Twin Territories, prior to statehood. In 1906, as a result of disagreements regarding faith and practice, followers of the Stone-Campbell Movement divided into two organizations: Churches of Christ and Disciples of Christ. Baird then focuses solely on Churches of Christ in Oklahoma, all the while keeping a broader national context in view. Drawing on extensive research, Baird delves into theological and political debates and explores the role of the Churches of Christ during the two world wars. As Churches of Christ grew in number and size throughout the country during the mid-twentieth century, controversy loomed. Oklahoma’s Churches of Christ argued over everything from Sunday schools and the support of orphan’s homes to worship elements, gender roles in the church, and biblical interpretation. And nobody could agree on why church membership began to decline in the 1970s, despite exciting new community outreach efforts. This history by an accomplished scholar provides solid background and new insight into the question of whether Churches of Christ locally and nationally will be able to reverse course and rebuild their membership in the twenty-first century.
Author: Charles Simpson Publisher: Author House ISBN: 1452039879 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 310
Book Description
This book is a documentary containing many dozens of quotes from Church of Christ practitioners from all over the USA, and it accurately reflects the theological philosophy prevalent within this faith. It discusses fundamental differences between the theology of the Churches of Christ and that of other protestant denominations. Written by a fifty-year member of the Churches of Christ, it offers an opportunity for self-examination rarely available to members of this brotherhood.
Author: Benjamin Williams Publisher: Keledei Publications ISBN: 9781946849199 Category : Languages : en Pages : 188
Book Description
The Church of Christ, at this present hour, is host to a multitude of frustrated and disenchanted ministers and scholars. From the inside of ministry, the veneer of our movement disappears and the blemishes take center-stage. Discouragement is common. In response to this state of affairs, we asked an eclectic cast of authors, ministers, and scholars to answer the question, "Why did you stay within our movement?" The result is a diverse set of answers which we hope will create some hope for the future of our people. Contents: Preface, Scot McKnight Introduction, Benjamin J. Williams I Stayed for the Restoration Plea, Everett Ferguson I Stayed for the Love of Scripture, Jeremie Beller I Stayed for the Christ in the Church of Christ, Matthew Dowling I Stayed for the Charity, Steven C. Hunter I Stayed for the Water, Grant B. Sullivan I Stayed for the Table, Scott Elliott I Stayed for the Singing, Benjamin J. Williams I Stayed for the Wild Democracy, John Mark Hicks I Stayed for the Wedding, Chris Altrock I Stayed for the Light, Ron Highfield I Stayed to Bloom Where I Am Planted, John Wilson I Stayed for the Inheritance, Chris Rosser
Author: Scot McKnight Publisher: Brazos Press ISBN: 149342002X Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 272
Book Description
Being a pastor is a complicated calling. Pastors are often pulled in multiple directions and must "become all things to all people" (1 Cor. 9:22). What does the New Testament say (or not say) about the pastoral calling? And what can we learn about it from the apostle Paul? According to popular New Testament scholar Scot McKnight, pastoring must begin first and foremost with spiritual formation, which plays a vital role in the life and ministry of the pastor. As leaders, pastors both create and nurture culture in a church. The biblical vision for that culture is Christoformity, or Christlikeness. Grounding pastoral ministry in the pastoral praxis of the apostle Paul, McKnight shows that nurturing Christoformity was at the heart of the Pauline mission. The pastor's central calling, then, is to mediate Christ in everything. McKnight explores seven dimensions that illustrate this concept--friendship, siblings, generosity, storytelling, witness, subverting the world, and wisdom--as he calls pastors to be conformed to Christ and to nurture a culture of Christoformity in their churches.
Author: Richard T. Hughes Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA ISBN: 0313074615 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 366
Book Description
This volume tells the story of the Churches of Christ, one of three major denominations that emerged in the United States from a religious movement led by Alexander Campbell and Barton W. Stone in the early 19th century. Beginning as an effort to provide a basis on which all Christians in America could unite, the leaders of the movement relied on the faith and practice of the primitive church. Ironically, this unity movement eventually divided precisely along the lines of its original agenda, as the Churches of Christ rallied around the restorationist banner while the Disciples of Christ gathered around the ecumenical cause. Yet, having begun as a countercultural sect, the Churches of Christ emerged in the 20th century as a culture-affirming denomination. This brief history, together with biographical sketches of major leaders, provides a complete overview of the denomination in America. The book begins with a concise yet detailed history of the denomination's beginnings in the early 19th century. Tracing the influence of such leaders as Stone and Campbell, the authors chronicle the triumphs and conflicts of the denomination through the 19th century and its reemergence and renewal in the 20th century. The biographical dictionary of leaders in the Churches of Christ rounds out the second half of the book, and a chronology of important events in the history of the denomination offers a quick reference guide. A detailed bibliographic essay concludes the book and points readers to further readings about the Churches of Christ.
Author: Michael Todd Publisher: WaterBrook ISBN: 0593239210 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 241
Book Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of Relationship Goals . . . Will you be remembered as a person who claimed to follow God but liked to play it safe? Or as a person who lived your life out on the limb and trusted God enough to live in crazy faith? Noah looked crazy when he started building the ark . . . until it started raining. It was crazy for Moses to lead a nation of people into the desert away from Egypt . . . until the Red Sea parted. It was crazy to believe that a fourteen-year-old virgin would give birth to the Son of God . . . until Mary held Jesus in her arms. There are many things that seem normal or average today that at one point in time seemed absolutely crazy. Smartphones, Wi-Fi, and even the electric light bulb were all groundbreaking, history-making inventions that started out as crazy ideas. Our see-it-to-believe-it generation tends to have a hard time exercising true faith—one that steps out, takes action, and sees mountain-moving results. Many of us would rather play it safe and stand on the sidelines, but it’s crazy faith that helps us see God move and reveals His promises. In Crazy Faith, Pastor Michael Todd shows us how to step out in faith and dive into the purposeful life of trusting God for the impossible. Even if you have to start with baby faith or maybe faith, you can become empowered to let go of your lazy faith, trust God through your hazy faith, and learn to live a lifestyle of crazy faith. With powerful stories of modern-day faith warriors who take their cues from biblical heroes, Michael Todd equips you to • believe for the impossible • choose hope over fear • be alert to the voice of God • cope with loss and doubt • develop a deeper level of trust in God • speak faith-filled declarations • inspire crazy faith in others God’s not looking for somebody to give Him all the reasons why His plans can’t happen. He’s looking for somebody to believe they will happen. In fact, He has so much He wants to do through you. The question is, Are you crazy enough to believe it?
Author: Dave Miller, Ph.D. Publisher: Apologetics PressInc ISBN: 9781600630033 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages :
Book Description
The United States of America is undergoing swift transition as the forces of political correctness wage a vociferous culture war. Activist judges, secularist educators, morally bankrupt entertainers, and liberal politicians have teamed up to sell a sanitized version of America?'s past. Their objective? To expunge every manifestation of God, Christ, and the Bible from American life. What has been the result of their intolerant, relentless assault on the traditional American values that lifted the U.S. to its unprecedented prominence among the nations of human history? The moral and spiritual underpinnings of American civilization are collapsing.But America's intimate connection to Christianity from the very beginning was embedded deeply in our public life. Though for 50 years these sinister forces have steadily chipped away at America?'s now crumbling foundations, many indications of our nation?'s Christian heritage remain. The historical evidence is voluminous and decisive: the Founders of the American Republic intended the political institutions that they established to be based upon and rooted in the moral principles of the Christian religion.How can a nation that has scaled such heights and viewed such vistas stray so far from its original moorings? The Silencing of God Seminar issues a stirring plea to the nation to return from the moral and spiritual depths to which she has plummeted, and to reaffirm the biblical values that are being systematically stripped from public life. Recommendations are suggested on what Christians can do to save our nation from moral destruction.
Author: W. David Baird
Author: Charles Simpson
Author: Benjamin Williams
Author: Scot McKnight
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Author: Richard T. Hughes
Author: Robert Baylor Semple
Author: Michael Todd
Author: John Thomas Brown
Author: Dave Miller, Ph.D.