Control the story, control reality itself. Control the story, and you hold the master key to all forms of power Leonard Sweet, Decoding the Divine: Unveiling the Sacred Through Semiotics, 181
“AI and the Church,” by Jason Moore
Will AI be a shortcut that sidesteps hope in becoming ever more like Christ, mastering the ability God gives us? Or is AI an electronic messiah which will do our hard work for us?
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“Between Cross and Resurrection,” by Alan E. Lewis
Lewis goes deep with such heady scholars as Karl Barth (1886–1968), Jürgen Moltmann (1926–2024), and Eberhard Jüngel (1934–2021). Now, disclaimer here, in the spirit of full disclosure. I have read very little of these theologians, just enough to get by, because as a rule, I find theoretical theology too … theoretical. I have always preferred Biblical theology over systematic theology. Lewis talks about the idolatry of doctrine—as opposed to dogma, I am sure (p. 140). But, as I read more of their ideas, I found myself drawn in.
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“The Well-Played Life,” by Leonard Sweet
Sweet's discourse on growing new and what that means for the third stage of life is refreshingly lifegiving and entirely counter-cultural. "Third Agers tell the stories of Jesus in ways that synthesize all and resonate with all, give voice to the oppressed, ventriloquize those who are suffering, and build for the future."
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“Apostolic Imagination,” by J.D. Payne
According to J.D. Payne, we should not only be regularly reforming how we understand scripture, we should be regularly reforming our practices as the Church, particularly in how we do missions.
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“Designer Jesus,” by Leonard Sweet
To me, this is the heart and soul of Designer Jesus. Let us see if we can out-love Jesus. Golden coin—“This is the greatest commandment. It has two sides, but it is all one” (p. 457).
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“Faithful Disobedience,” by Wang Yi
... for pastors, their glory is not in their accomplishments nor even in their lives but rather in their investment in the church and in Christ, what will live into eternity (p. 162). Yi called it when he told pastors to get over being afraid of losing their jobs. That is earthly kingdom thinking, not heavenly kingdom thinking. I can see Yi saying churches must be public proclamations of freedom in Christ, for the sake of Christ and for others. This is what really living, fully living means, and to live under another's thumb (whether that is Satan, the Chinese Communist Party, or the pressure of public opinion, etcetera) is only partly living.
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“Unreasonable Hospitality,” by Will Guidara
It is the culture of the staff, I am learning from his book, that has made the difference, and I think that is a direct corollary to churches. Relationships are hard but simple, relationships are everything, relationships are what last into eternity, because, in the end, it is only people, only love, that endures.
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“Jesus Human,” by Leonard Sweet
This book, taken as a whole with all its many conversations and observations laid next to each other in mindful contextualization, brings meaning. It is experiential, becoming its own metaphor for the fractals and diversity of every Jesus human, and the Body of Christ. I deeply appreciate being taken on this journey in this way.
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“The Patient Ferment of the Early Church,” by Alan Kreider
Patience Habitus (reflexive bodily behavior),the development of habits based upon the teachings and worship of the church Catechesis and worship,involving personal mentors and discipling The ferment of God’s invisible power, the Holy Spirit at work in each believer’s life
