Prodigal Christianity: 10 Signposts into the Missional Frontier

"When it comes to pastoral theology, the only voices I care to hear are those who are pastoring, and pastoring well. David Fitch and Geoff Holsclaw are such voices. Their book reflects a rare combination of faithful neighborhood witness, embodied church life, and theological rigor. The result is a compelling missional theology for today′s missional Christian." —Scot McKnight, professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary; author of numerous books including King Jesus Gospel "Over the last decade the church has finally begun to engage what it means to be sent (missional). What we have yet to learn is how to be sent (incarnational). This is exactly the kind of book that is needed to re–engage the lost art of incarnational mission."? —Alan Hirsch, author of The Permanent Revolution; Untamed; Right Here, Right Now ; and The Forgotten Ways "Prodigal Christianity′s push to return to the local is not a fad. It is the aching, beseeching call of the Spirit to rediscover the deeply human shape of the gospel. In the midst of the unraveling of church life in North America, Fitch and Holsclaw grasp what′s at stake in the formation of Christian life at this time." ? —Alan J. Roxburgh, founder of The Missional Network ; author of The Missional Leader, Missional Map–Making , and Missional: Joining God in the Neighborhood "Thoughtful, rooted, and direct. Fitch and Holsclaw do something with Prodigal Christianity that most authors can′t pull off. They hold the tension between the prophetic and priestly. As a result they make some readers squirm?and others question. Yet their love for the church, rooted in their own experience, provides a foundation so often lacking in the missional conversations.?As a result, nobody will be able to read this book and remain comfortable where they are." —Gary V. Nelson, president of Tyndale University College & Seminary, Toronto

About the Jossey–Bass Leadership Network Series xi Preface and Acknowledgments xiii Introduction: Following Jesus into the Far Country—the Winter of Our Discontent xix Signpost One: Post–Christendom 1 Into the Far Country: The Journey into Post–Christendom Signpost Two: Missio Dei 16 With the Prodigal God: The Journey into God’s Mission Signpost Three: Incarnation 31 On the Ground: The Journey into Everyday Life Signpost Four: Witness 48 In the World: The Journey into the World Signpost Five: Scripture 66 Living Our Story: Journeying by the Book That Is More Than a Book Signpost Six: Gospel 83 Making All Things Right: The Journey into Redemption Signpost Seven: Church 96 In Kingdom Communities: The Journey as the Body of Christ into the World Signpost Eight: Prodigal Relationships 114 With Our Brokenness: The Journey Toward Sexual Redemption Signpost Nine: Prodigal Justice 131 Among Our Neighborhoods: The Journey Toward Local Justice Signpost Ten: Prodigal Openness 148 For the Good News: The Journey into Diverse Worlds Epilogue: The Prodigal Returns 163 Notes 167 About the Authors 183 Index 185

David E. Fitch is a copastor and founder of Life on the Vine Christian Community and coaches church–planting for the Midwest District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. He is the B.R. Lindner Chair of Evangelical Theology at Northern Seminary, Chicago, and is author of The Great Giveaway and The End of Evangelicalism? Geoff Holsclaw is a copastor at Life on the Vine Christian Community and an adjunct professor of theology at Northern Seminary. He is the Mid–West regional coordinator for Ecclesia Network. ABOUT LEADERSHIP NETWORK The mission of Leadership Network identifies and connects innovative church leaders, providing them with resources in the form of new ideas, people, and tools. Contact Leadership Network at leadnet.org.