Preface Foundations 1. Metaphors 2. Gathering 3. Scattered 4. The world we live in Scattering 5. Parables of sowing 6. What is the church for? 7. Institutionless Christianity 8. The primacy of relationship 9. Embracing/inclusive 10. Radically decentralized 11. Generous and gracious 12. Creatively subversive 13. Free to improvise 14. Ethics, values, and the sacred 15. What success looks like Notes Bibliography
What might church look like if, rather than being a controlled, institutional garden, it was a radically decentralized weed? Scattering Church explains why the traditional church structure is increasingly viewed as irrelevant not only by society at large but even by many people of faith. In a world that is socially mobile, digital, postmodern and increasingly post-institutional, we cannot expect the traditional model of the gathered church be effective. If you are enamored by Jesus but disillusioned with the rigidity and control of institutions, Scattering Church describes an alternative: a church that consciously forsakes control in order to build a kingdom that enables human flourishing. This book weaves together seven core features of a non-institutional church that takes seriously the Biblical metaphor of scattering, and describes numerous examples of what that would look like in practice. To connect with other readers please visit www.turningteardropsintojoy.com/books.
