The End of the World...As We Know It: Clear Direction for Bold and Innovative Ministry in a Postmodern World [Hardcover]

Chuck Smith Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 16, 2001

The world is dramatically changing. How will the church respond?

An uneasy feeling has crept into the hearts of many Christians: a sense of being powerless in the face of rapid change, a sense of disconnectedness from contemporary culture, and a sense of living in a world of increasing chaos. Even children from Christian homes seem to live according to different mental maps from their parents, justice appears to be irrelevant in court decisions, truths that were once considered “absolute” have dissolved, and moral standards have become as stable as quicksand.

What is happening to Western civilization? We are experiencing a “culture quake” as one major era is being replaced by another.

This evolving social and cultural landscape is creating new demands on faith and the church. The End of the World As We Know It provides practical strategies for seizing these new and hopeful opportunities for ministry.

In this hard-hitting, revealing book, author and pastor Chuck Smith, jr....
• explains this cultural shift in clear, compelling ways
• explores the world of postmodernism
• demonstrates why old religious structures and systems lack meaning for postmodernists
• maps out new strategies for church ministry and personal faith and witness

The End of the World As We Know It will open your eyes to what’s going on around you...and prepare you to become a vital member of a new Christian movement that’s destined to change the world.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The world is dramatically changing. How will the church respond?

An uneasy feeling has crept into the hearts of many Christians: a sense of being powerless in the face of rapid change, a sense of disconnectedness from contemporary culture, and a sense of living in a world of increasing chaos. Even children from Christian homes seem to live according to different mental maps from their parents, justice appears to be irrelevant in court decisions, truths that were once considered ?absolute? have dissolved, and moral standards have become as stable as quicksand.

What is happening to Western civilization? We are experiencing a ?culture quake? as one major era is being replaced by another.

This evolving social and cultural landscape is creating new demands on faith and the church. The End of the World As We Know It provides practical strategies for seizing these new and hopeful opportunities for ministry.

In this hard-hitting, revealing book, author and pastor Chuck Smith, jr....
? explains this cultural shift in clear, compelling ways
? explores the world of postmodernism
? demonstrates why old religious structures and systems lack meaning for postmodernists
? maps out new strategies for church ministry and personal faith and witness

The End of the World As We Know It will open your eyes to what?s going on around you...and prepare you to become a vital member of a new Christian movement that?s destined to change the world.

About the Author

Chuck Smith, jr., started Capo Beach Calvary Chapel in Capistrano Beach, California, and has served as its Senior Pastor for twenty-five years. His father founded Calvary Chapel, a Southern California church that developed innovative ministries in the 1970s to reach young people in the counterculture. Today, Chuck is doing the same thing for young people in the postmodern age. The father of five children, he and his wife, Barbara, also have one grandchild, two cats, and one dog. Chuck’s sermons are heard internationally through the church Web site at calvarychapel.com/capobeach.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press; 1 edition (January 16, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578564026
• ISBN-13: 978-1578564026
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,451,025 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "R" Word, August 12, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The End of the World...As We Know It: Clear Direction for Bold and Innovative Ministry in a Postmodern World (Hardcover)

This book hits it on the head. As a ghost in the machine of Generation X - I can completely understand where Mr. Smith comes from and feel he has a firm grasp on the cultural / spiritual / individual drivers of those that share my age group. In this book, Chuck Smith Jr. exposes the antiquated and fledgling structure of the postmodern church much in the way Martin Luther exposed the Roman Catholic Church during the Reformation. I rate this work as one of the most important true Christian works of our age and an absolute necessity for any other "X-er" that is searching for truth. Do not let the sins of our parents dissuade you from seeking Christ. While most Americans pracitice "churchianity" and stand in shocking denial of their own hypocrisy - listen to what Christ says. Chuck gets it.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Reader-Friendly book on Postmodernism and the Church, March 4, 2005

By 

Larry Gott (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The End of the World...As We Know It: Clear Direction for Bold and Innovative Ministry in a Postmodern World (Hardcover)

This is one of my most underlined and highlighted books, very insightful, well-written, very reader-friendly, from the son of Chuck Smith Sr, of the original Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa.

It discusses the roots of Postmodernism, the current scene, and what the church can do to blunt the negative aspects, and to foster the positive effects. The book instructs, encourages, illustrates, analyzes, and urges the church (that is, the people of God) to be aware of and involved in the coming trends that postmodernity is bringing our way.

As John Fischer's review says, This is "a must-read for people who want to communicate to their generation or simply understand their own kids (or their parents, for that matter)"

It succeeds admirably!

Note that there is now a new release of this book, entitled "There is a Season". I do not know if there is any updating or not, but THIS edition is available used, and I recommend it highly.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Being brave and taking others with you, May 26, 2004

By 

"damienriley" (Victorville, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The End of the World...As We Know It: Clear Direction for Bold and Innovative Ministry in a Postmodern World (Hardcover)

This is a great book for ministers and students of the gospel in the 2000's. I appreciated most the challenge to live among other belief systems without seeing them as "sinful." We as Gen-Xrs are helped by that challenge. I feel God is really using Chuck Smith Jr. to assist young people (and old people who are open to change) to strive and bring a real God to a lost world in a new way. Anybody who's ever been "beaten up" by Christians (or by non-christians) can find a healing way to the cross through this book and through Chuck's ministry. I think writing this book took much bravery. It enlightens the reader to a formidable sociological change that has occurred and still is occurring in our culture. Chuck has indeed made us a "road map" to see the road toward what's to come. Is anybody up for a great adventure? If so, I highly recommend this book.