In today's frenetic society, people rarely develop intimate friendships. Instead, they spend their lives essentially disconnected from others, rushing through life content with brief visits and casual conversations. But what if one were to develop a community, a spiritual community, of people who walked with and supported each other through life's journey? A community of real friends who listened to each other's personal tragedies without merely trying to fix the problems, who encouraged and nurtured each other's strengths, and who accepted people for who they really are, instead of the image they try to portray. In Becoming a True Spiritual Community (formerly titled The Safest Place on Earth), Larry Crabb explores such a place, where God can heal disconnected people and allow them to reconnect with each other and, ultimately, with Him.
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About the Author
Dr. Larry Crabb is a well-known psychologist, seminar speaker, Bible teacher, author, and founder/director of NewWay Ministries. He is also Scholar in Residence at Colorado Christian University, Professor for Richmont University in Georgia, and serves as Spiritual Director for the American Association of Christian Counselors.
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More About the Author
Dr. Larry Crabb is a well-known psychologist, seminar speaker, Bible teacher, author, and founder/director of NewWay Ministries. In addition to various speaking and teaching opportunities, Dr. Crabb offers a week-long School of Spiritual Direction and a weekend conference, Life on the Narrow Road. He is also Scholar in Residence at Colorado Christian University and serves as Spiritual Director for the American Association of Christian Counselors. His many popular books include Inside Out, Finding God, Becoming a True Spiritual Community, The PAPA Prayer, Soul Talk, and his life work, 66 Love Letters. For additional information visit www.newwayministries.org.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By B. Vannoy
Format:Paperback
According to an online source, "Becomming a True Spiritual Community" is simply the republishing of "The Safest Place on Earth" under a new title. I read TSPoE, liked it, and was recently pleasantly surprised to find that Larry apparently had a new book coming out (Becomming). I almost bought it. Fortunately, before placing my order, I checked another online source for reviews and saw that Becomming is the same book as TSPoE. If you haven't read either book, I do recommend reading one or the other.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Great book on a subject that is dominated by disgruntled people with an axe to grind and a formula to follow. This is not that book. It is full of heart explanations and it is written with a humble spirit.
You won't walk away knowing how to have a spiritual community, but it will help you to know it when you see/feel it and possibly help you to try and be one who fosters such an organism.
I was blown away reading it. His vision of spirit/soul dynamics (what he refers to as the upper room and lower room) is so helpful and is so under-understoon or referenced in Christianity these days.
I give it two thumbs up, or however we rate things here. I immediately bought another copy to give away.
You won't walk away knowing how to have a spiritual community, but it will help you to know it when you see/feel it and possibly help you to try and be one who fosters such an organism.
I was blown away reading it. His vision of spirit/soul dynamics (what he refers to as the upper room and lower room) is so helpful and is so under-understoon or referenced in Christianity these days.
I give it two thumbs up, or however we rate things here. I immediately bought another copy to give away.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There is a growing sense among many within the church that there must be more. Futurists including George Barna suggest that there is a significant number of believers choosing to go underground in their faith --- forming home groups in an effort to foster the kinds of relationships that can't naturally happen during a few hours on Sunday morning.
In BECOMING A TRUE SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY, Larry Crabb addresses the heart issues behind the changes taking place in the church. He points out that most people who choose to follow Jesus assume that they'll find a spiritual community of friends, a kind of family that will enjoy each other's company as they encourage one another to spiritual maturity. More often than not, though, they are sorely disappointed. Though Christians hunger for a community of deep rich relationships, both new and veteran believers often find themselves frustrated that these kinds of connections don't happen naturally.
The relationships among believers often can be compared to a series of rocking chairs on a front porch lined up side by side. Though every seat may be filled and cordial dialogue exchanged, the real hunger in people's hearts is to have the chairs placed in a circle facing each other. In the same way, we long for our souls to be turned toward each other.
Rather than offer four magical steps or three quick ways to community, Crabb takes readers on a journey to explore the nature of life with the Trinitarian revelation as a backdrop for the longings of a relationship. He invites readers to turn the focus inward and examine the weaknesses that short-circuit their own ability to enter real spiritual community.
Crabb explains some of our core struggles with intimate relationships in the context of the Lower Room and the Upper Room. The Lower Room is the place of our own flesh --- where our passions for self, control, defining our own lives and performance tear us away from each other and who God designed us to be. This stands in dark contrast to the Upper Room, where the passion to worship, trust, grow and obey reshape and renew who we are to look more like Jesus. When we as individuals abide in the Upper Room, we are better prepared to partake of the true spiritual community God intended.
Crabb is incredibly vulnerable and honest about his own shortcomings throughout the book. He isn't afraid to look at his own failures, sins and faults in an effort to uncover our own. The transparency is refreshing and moving. Beyond being a brilliant thinker, he is also a great writer. His descriptions dance, and his insights pack a punch.
BECOMING A TRUE SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY is like a balm for those in the church who keep thinking There must be more. Crabb assures us that there is more --- much more --- but it's going to have to take intentional decisions and movement by every individual to get there. The journey isn't easy, but it's well worth it.
--- Reviewed by Margaret Oines
In BECOMING A TRUE SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY, Larry Crabb addresses the heart issues behind the changes taking place in the church. He points out that most people who choose to follow Jesus assume that they'll find a spiritual community of friends, a kind of family that will enjoy each other's company as they encourage one another to spiritual maturity. More often than not, though, they are sorely disappointed. Though Christians hunger for a community of deep rich relationships, both new and veteran believers often find themselves frustrated that these kinds of connections don't happen naturally.
The relationships among believers often can be compared to a series of rocking chairs on a front porch lined up side by side. Though every seat may be filled and cordial dialogue exchanged, the real hunger in people's hearts is to have the chairs placed in a circle facing each other. In the same way, we long for our souls to be turned toward each other.
Rather than offer four magical steps or three quick ways to community, Crabb takes readers on a journey to explore the nature of life with the Trinitarian revelation as a backdrop for the longings of a relationship. He invites readers to turn the focus inward and examine the weaknesses that short-circuit their own ability to enter real spiritual community.
Crabb explains some of our core struggles with intimate relationships in the context of the Lower Room and the Upper Room. The Lower Room is the place of our own flesh --- where our passions for self, control, defining our own lives and performance tear us away from each other and who God designed us to be. This stands in dark contrast to the Upper Room, where the passion to worship, trust, grow and obey reshape and renew who we are to look more like Jesus. When we as individuals abide in the Upper Room, we are better prepared to partake of the true spiritual community God intended.
Crabb is incredibly vulnerable and honest about his own shortcomings throughout the book. He isn't afraid to look at his own failures, sins and faults in an effort to uncover our own. The transparency is refreshing and moving. Beyond being a brilliant thinker, he is also a great writer. His descriptions dance, and his insights pack a punch.
BECOMING A TRUE SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY is like a balm for those in the church who keep thinking There must be more. Crabb assures us that there is more --- much more --- but it's going to have to take intentional decisions and movement by every individual to get there. The journey isn't easy, but it's well worth it.
--- Reviewed by Margaret Oines
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
How God brings beauty out of brokenness
This is a book that not only articulates a common and profound spiritual longing, but begins to point us to how to find the fulfillment of our longings - through our own brokenness... Read more
Published 3 months ago by K. Boyle
3.0 out of 5 stars
Animal and Diabolical
This book is written about community, but I found the thing that drew me in was his discussion about "animal and diabolical". Read more
Published 16 months ago by j
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best I've read on church and community
As it has often been the case, it is so again... I have fallen "head over heels" with the vision that is portrayed in this book, Becoming a True Spiritual Community. Read more
Published on April 15, 2011 by Jeffrey Borden
1.0 out of 5 stars
20 page article expanded to a boring book
This book was selected for study for small group in the church. Lots of mumbo-jumbo, name dropping, jargon, and about 20 pages of nuggets worth reading, but buried in over 200... Read more
Published on May 28, 2010 by M. Davis
5.0 out of 5 stars
May not catch on...
but it would certainly be worth the effort. The thing is, it would require quite a bit of effort; and I haven't met a lot of people who would be willing to do the work to make this... Read more
Published on July 21, 2009 by Steve Lee, Sr.
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