Troy M. Troftgruben is associate professor of New Testament at Wartburg Seminary and an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
Description
Introduction: Why Church Roots Matter Chapter 1: Sacred Spaces for a Church on the Way Chapter 2: On Being True Siblings in a Divided World Chapter 3: What Were They Like and What Will We Be? Chapter 4: What Did They Do and How Will We Act? Chapter 5: How Did Others Experience Them and How Will We Be Viewed? Chapter 6: Correlations and Questions: Church Past and Present in Dialog
"As cultural change, shifting demographics, and dire predictions make churches worry they aren't measuring up, we should ask: measuring up to what? Churchgoers need to learn about their past so they won't venture into their future fearfully or foolishly. Troftgruben's guidance and insights are sure to generate lively conversations in congregations." --Matthew L. Skinner, Luther Seminary "Faithful improvisation springs from a fertile memory. In a time buzzing with ideas about the future shape of the church, Troftgruben has gifted us with a rich grounding in the ways that New Testament churches gathered, forged identity, and bore a witness to an enduring gospel." --Christopher B. James, University of Dubuque Theological Seminary "A biblical scholar and experienced pastor, Troy M. Troftgruben makes the struggles, challenges, and vision of the New Testament church come alive for a twenty-first-century church that has much to learn from its earliest heritage. This is a welcome study--substantive, contemplative, and timely." --Carla Swafford Works, Wesley Theological Seminary "As God reinvents church, we must retrieve core New Testament practices. Authentic spirituality, servanthood, and public witness define the Way of Jesus Christ. This book reimagines enduring patterns beyond the church box: worship, prayer, eating, koinonia, and ministry in daily life. An amazing convergence of congregational savvy and scholarly wisdom." --Craig L. Nessan, Wartburg Theological Seminary