Treasure in Clay Jars: Patterns in Missional Faithfulness (The Gospel and Our Culture Series) (Paperback)

~ Lois Y. Barrett (Editor, Contributor) "When the Holy Ghost Full Gospel Baptist Church outgrew its facilities in one neighborhood of Detroit and moved to another, it assumed something not many..." (more)
Key Phrases: mission covenant groups, missional authority, missional vocation, Holy Ghost, Spring Garden, Jesus Christ (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

If you saw a missional church, what would it look like? What patterns of behavior and practice would you find there?

Building on the ground laid by the book Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America (Darrell Guder et al. 1998), Treasure in Clay Jars centers on case studies of nine missional congregations from across North America that are diverse in their denominational affiliations, worship styles, political stances, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The book explores eight concrete -patterns- common to these churches. Although the patterns may be different in each setting, they can be recognized in any congregation seeking to participate in God-s mission in the world.

The team that authored this book believes that -missional- says something not so much about the activities of the church as its character: -The church does not exist for itself, but for participation in God-s mission of reconciliation. . . . Mission is the character of the church in whatever context it exists.- The congregations studied here are -clay jars,- but each carries in its witness a remarkable treasure that points to God-s power and purposes.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (April 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080282692X
• ISBN-13: 978-0802826923
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #46,458 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent practical missional church resource, March 22, 2006

By	D. W. Smith (Mobile, AL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book gives some very good practical insights into the Missional Church movement. The examples come from a variety of churches in a variety of contexts. The principles or practices of missional churches are described and explained in real live church contexts. I'm reading this with my session (leadership board) now. So far folks seem to be tracking pretty well, but still some translation is needed to the lay reader. At least that is true in my situation.

3.0 out of 5 stars missional case studies, July 14, 2009

By	Daniel Sheffield (Hamilton, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

a collection of case studies to back up the missional framework outlined by the Gospel and Culture Network

4.0 out of 5 stars From William B. Eerdmans, May 22, 2007

By	S. McDonald "Library World" (Independence, MO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you saw a missional church, what would it look like? What patterns of behavior and practice would you find there? Building on the ground laid by the book Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America (Darrell Guder et al. 1998), this book centers on case studies of nine missional congregations from across North America that are diverse in their denominational affiliations, worship styles, political stances, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The book explores eight concrete "patterns" common to these churches. Although the patterns may be different in each setting, they can be recognized in any congregation seeking to participate in God's mission in the world. The team that authored this book believes that "missional" says something not so much about the activities of the church as its character: "The church does not exist for itself, but for participation in God's mission of reconciliation... Mission is the character of the church in whatever context it exists." The congregations studied here are "clay jars," but each carries in its witness a remarkable treasure that points to God's power and purposes.