Samuel Wells shares his vision for the Church as imagined by HeartEdge, the growing network of churches established by St Martin-in-the-Fields, with its fourfold focus for renewing the mission activity of the church: commerce, culture, congregation and compassion.

Samuel Wells

Preface

Introduction: A Vision for Church Renewal

What this book is about

What inspired this book

At the heart. On the edge.

HeartEdge

The convictions of kingdom communities

The shape of this book

1 For Such a Time as This: The Church’s Opportunity

Lament for the casualties of liberalism

Hope in ordinary virtue

Becoming more human

Three stories of church

Conclusion

2 Investing in the Kingdom: The Divine Economy

Two influential models

The two models in the Reformation

The two models today

How it should work

A new model

3 Minding God’s Business: Becoming a Parable

Do we have a problem?

Are we part of a larger problem?

What kind of business?

The best fit

The beatitudes of business

Kingdom business

4 Entertaining Angels Unawares: It is More Blessed to Receive

The personal is the political

What's wrong with charity

Wider misgivings

Changing life, Changing lives

How charity renews the church

Three kinds of homelessness

5 Making our Hearts Sing: Let All the People Praise Thee

Culture in general

Culture in particular

Two proposals for a renewal of faith and culture

Towards a vision for church and the arts

The vision in action

6 Realizing God’s Presence: On Earth as it is in Heaven

A community of hope

Renewed from the edge

Meeting God in adversity

Inspired by enterprise

Discovering talents

Humbled by repentance

Becoming a blessing

Appendix:

Existing models

A proposal for measuring a church

With God

With oneself

With God together

With near neighbours

With distant neighbours

With creation

Bibliography

Index of Names and Subjects

• Samuel Wells is one of today's leading public theologians. • Sets out the vision of HeartEdge: a growing renewal movement within the church that originated from St Martin-in-the-Fields. • Offers a unique vision for church growth through involvement in commerce, culture and public service.

A Future that's Bigger than the Past sets out a vision for renewing the local church that is energising, realistic and practical for small and large congregations alike. In response to prevailing narratives of decline, it reimagines how the church can live its vocation of receiving God's abundance and sharing it far and wide. It recognises the surprising, exuberant and plentiful things that the Holy Spirit is doing in the world and calls the church to celebrate creation, enjoy culture and share in its flourishing. With a rich theological foundation and borne out of the practical experience of growing local church communities, this ground-breaking book will help churches discover fresh ways to bless the communities they serve.

\["For Christians looking to the future of the Church ","This book presents 6 talks regarding the UK Church by Samuel Wells ","You'll read more of the ways the Church can grow in the year ahead"\]

This mission focused volume, comprises six prestigious Chalmers lectures from English Priest, Samuel Wells

Future That's Bigger Than The Past

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Future That's Bigger Than The Past

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Samuel Wells shares his vision for the Church as imagined by HeartEdge, the growing network of churches established by St Martin-in-the-Fields, with its fourfold focus for renewing the mission activity of the church: commerce, culture, congregation and compassion.

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