The Awakening of Hope: Why We Practice a Common Faith [Paperback]

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 21, 2012

According to Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, faithful action is always inspired and sustained by common convictions---the basic truths that have sustained God's people throughout every generation. The Awakening of Hope re-presents Christian faith by beginning with stories of faithful witness and asking, Why? Why do Christians eat together? Why do we fast? Why would we rather die than kill? These are the questions that help us see why creation and the fall, covenant and community, ethics and evangelism matter. This book and its accompanying DVD (sold separately) is a contemporary catechism, celebrating lives and stories that wouldn't make sense if the gospel were not true. And then going one step further, this project shares the good news of Jesus and the way of life that he makes possible.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove is an associate minister at St. Johns Baptist Church. A graduate of Duke Divinity School, Jonathan is engaged in reconciliation efforts in Durham, North Carolina, directs the School for Conversion (newmonasticism.org), and is a sought-after speaker and author of several books. The Rutba House, where Jonathan lives with his wife, Leah, their son, JaiMichael, daughter, Nora Ann, and other friends, is a new monastic community that prays, eats, and lives together, welcoming neighbors and homeless. Find out more at jonathanwilsonhartgrove.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (August 21, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310293383
• ISBN-13: 978-0310293385
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 5.2 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #398,830 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove is a celebrated spiritual author and sought-after speaker. A native of North Carolina, he is a graduate of Eastern University and Duke Divinity School.

In 2003, Jonathan and his wife Leah founded the Rutba House, a house of hospitality where the formerly homeless are welcomed into a community that eats, prays, and shares life together. Jonathan directs the School for Conversion, an organization that has grown out of the life of Rutba House to pursue beloved community with kids in their neighborhood, through classes in North Carolina prisons, and in community-based education around the country. He is also an Associate Minister at the historically black St. Johns Missionary Baptist Church.

Jonathan is a co-complier of the celebrated Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, and is the author of several books on Christian spirituality, including The Awakening of Hope, The Wisdom of Stability, and The New Monasticism.

An evangelical Christian who connects with the broad spiritual tradition and its monastic witnesses, Jonathan is a leader in the New Monasticism movement. He speaks often about emerging Christianity to churches and conferences across the denominational spectrum and has given lectures at dozens of universities, including Calvin College, Bethel University, Duke University, Swarthmore College, St. John's University, DePaul University, and Baylor University.

Connect with Jonathan at www.jonathanwilsonhartgrove.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove's deepest book yet December 5, 2012

By Daniel E. Sidey

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

In June of 2012 I was able to meet the author of The Awakening of Hope, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove. I stayed near his home, visited frequently, eat meals with his family and community, played with their children and on numerous occasions talked with him and other members of the Rutba House Community which Wilson-Hartgrove is part of. I was deeply humbled by how down-to-earth they are.

Of particular importance, I met one individual in the community who, while living in the neighborhood, happened to be homeless. He moved into the Rutba community and now is a member. It is examples of love, reconciliation, justice, and hospitality like this that show how deeply true to the spirit of Christ folks on the Rutba Community are. To see it is to have fresh imagination breathed over you by God.

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove's newest book The Awakening of Hope is a breath of fresh air along these same lines. He works to answer two questions. First, How is Christian hope born, nurtured and shared? Second, what are the practices that "normal" Christians are engaged in that is changing them into "saints"? He answers this in seven chapters each describing a specific practice:

1. Why we eat together
2. Why we fast
3. Why we make promises
4. Why it matters where we live
5. Why we live together
6. Why we would rather die than kill
7. Why we share the good news

Because The Awakening of Hope is a book about practices, that are sorely needed within the western church, Jonathan isn't hesitant to be theological. But don't let this wary you. His theology is lived out and a flower blossoming from his life in community and close quarters with the people of a struggling neighborhood.... He pulls heavily from Biblical narrative to show how practices, such as making promises and dying rather than killing, issue from the heart of God and are important parts of the lives of Biblical saints. He also shows us how Christians today are using these practices and becoming saints one-day-at-a-time because of it. All of it together has left quite an impression on me.

Jonathan definitely breaks new ground in the evangelical world with this book. And as with all of his books he is drawing us closer to a deeply humble, but truly revolutionary faith. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is seriously considering reimagining faith. Read more ›

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A sweet and brilliant reminder October 10, 2012

By Robert Yackley

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Sometimes even those of us who are deeply embedded in the missional community movement can forget why we do what we do. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove's new book brilliantly describes why we pursue this common life and why it is far more than just a passing fad. - Rob Yackley, lead architect of NieuCommunities and co-author of Thin Places.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Community, Hope, and Revival January 6, 2013

By Joshua Lee Henry

Format:Paperback

I am a big supporter of what has been called the "New Monastic Movement", which are groupings of communities of people that live together with a focus on Jesus teachings from the Sermon on the Mount. This one expression of Christianity is growing in recognition as a response to a new thing I believe God is doing among this generation.

In his most recent book, "The Awakening of Hope: Why We Practice a Common Faith", Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove writes "for people who have a hunch, whether you like the language of revival or not, that God is stirring a new movement in our world today" (p. 13). This new revival is based on community, hope, reflection and action trusting in God's providence.

Jonathan goes on to say that "the mission of the church is always to connect God's story with society's deep need" (p. 14). What deeper need is there than our Father's desired relationship with his creation? The Fall has harmed our divine relationship with our Creator, but also our relationship with each other and our world. Jesus meets these needs and shows the way to make things new. Restoration, repentance and resurrection are bigger themes than they are often realized. Not only are they truths about our Savior's desire, but they are ideologies that are to be lived by the Church as God's redemptive plan for the world.

Jonathan tackles the "why" behind big questions like consumption, feasting and fasting, promises to one another, confessing sin and sharing the Good News with others. Through these reflection and actions pictures, the reader will be inspired by stories of God's people being a peculiar type, living purposefully yet counter culturally for the Kingdom....

Shane Claiborne, in the Introduction, states that the movement of God" embodies the Good News" and that "our real challenge today is not just about right-believing--but right living." (p. 9-10). Right living is about maintaining the mission of God and continuing the momentum of His movement. It includes living with "holy habits that transform ordinary people into saints" and takes doctrine as a discipline and discipleship.

In addition, the book is accompanied by a six session DVD series which along with the discussion guide offers an incredible small group study.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR,Part 255. Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Drop everything and buy it. December 24, 2012

By andyoftheway

Format:Paperback

It's a wonderful work, drawing on many similar themes in Wilson-Hartgrove's earlier books. The DVD and book combo would make for a life-changing 6-to-7-week small group study. See my full review at[...]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what the church needs December 17, 2012

By Brian J. Gorman

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Jonathan has done it again--written a book that the church desperately needs. More than ever, the separation between right practice and right belief is in need of collapse, and Jonathan is a gentle guide on the way.

The tone of this book, like others he's written, is pastoral and sympathetic, yet challenges us to re-understand the connection between what we say we believe and what we do. Jonathan goes through practices that just don't make sense if the gospel is not true.

I also recommend the video that goes with the book (it doesn't come WITH the book but has to be purchased separately--it's a little confusing, since the study guide is in the back of the book. But it makes sense since you only need 1 DVD for a study group, instead of including a DVD with each book). The videos add another dimension to the discussion in the chapters. Most of the videos don't address the central question of the chapter "head-on" but rather indirectly broaden the discussion.

I've been using it in a study group and it generates fantastic conversation and experimentation. I would recommend, though, taking the chapters/study guide in small chunks--1 chapter/week (if you use the study guide) is a bit much for some of the chapters. The chapters are generally short, but have a lot in them, and then when you add in the video and then discussion, there's a lot of content to sift through.