Many have experienced Christianity as a confusing list of restrictive rules designed to wring all of the joy out of life. Larry Duggins rejects this notion, and has molded three anchor scriptures into a simple model of balanced Christian life using the Celtic cross as an illustration. Duggins believes that The Greatest Commandment, the Hymn of Kenosis, and the Prayer of Unity combine to guide a life of worship, sharing, service, and community that leads to a closer relationship with God. This simple, engaging book includes questions for reflection and discussion, and is appropriate for both the curious and the committed. Larry Duggins is the Executive Director of the Missional Wisdom Foundation, a non-profit organization that seeks to develop a new generation of Christian leaders through new monasticism and rule-of-life communities. He also serves as Pastor for Emerging Worship at White’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Southlake, TX.

Simple Harmony: Thoughts on Holistic Christian Life

Religion & Spirituality

Duggins, Larry

Christian Books & Bibles

Createspace Independent Pub

Here is the long-awaited volume that provides both the theoretical foundations and practical guidance for developing new monastic and missional communities in contexts that are theologically progressive, racially and economically diverse, and multicultural. This book contains the wisdom and perspectives of people who live and serve in missional, new monastic communities in United Methodist and other mainline traditions, and it describes new forms of theological education that are emerging to resource a new generation of Christian leaders. Heath and Duggins challenge Methodists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and other Christians to reach into their own robust, mainline heritage for resources to develop small, intentional communities that practice a rigorous life of prayer, hospitality, and justice. ""Missional monastic communities display the work of the Spirit in this day. This book is a thoughtful primer for the academy and church on the ongoing reformation we are experiencing. The authors offer permission and how-tos to embrace this missional energy in ecumenical community."" --Shelley Wickstrom, Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Alaska Synod ""In her teaching and writing, Elaine Heath has led pilgrims to thin places where the Holy Spirit pierces most, if not all, of our illusions. As denominations flatten and fragment, she and Larry Duggins have become evangelists for a 'tradition behind the tradition' and strategists for a future that is missional, monastic, and mainline. Many will find healing and hope in these pages!"" --Ken Carter, Bishop, United Methodist Church, Florida Elaine A. Heath is the McCreless Professor of Evangelism at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. She is also the Director of the Academy for Missional Wisdom, a non-degree program that equips clergy and laity to start and lead missional and new monastic communities, and is a program of the Missional Wisdom Foundation. She is the author of The Mystic Way of Evangelism (2008), Naked Faith: The Mystical Theology of Phoebe Palmer (2009), Longing for Spring: A New Vision for Wesleyan Communities (coauthored with Scott Kisker, 2010), We Were the Least of These: Reading the Bible with Survivors of Sexual Abuse (2011), and The Gospel According to Twilight: Women, Sex, and God (2011). Larry Duggins is Executive Pastor of Emerging Worship at White's Chapel United Methodist Church in Southlake, Texas, and is the Executive Director of the Missional Wisdom Foundation. He is the author of Simple Harmony (2012). Elaine and Larry are both ordained elders in the United Methodist Church.

Missional. Monastic. Mainline. (Missional Wisdom Library: Resources for Christian Community)

Heath, Elaine A.

Wipf and Stock

Many have experienced Christianity as a confusing list of restrictive rules designed to wring all of the joy out of life. Others seek to live as Christians without a clear understanding of what the focus of a Christian life should be, leaving them to wonder if Jesus had more in mind than regular Sunday morning worship attendance. What does a healthy Christian life look like? Larry Duggins has molded three anchor scriptures into a simple model of balanced Christian life using the Celtic cross as an illustration. Duggins believes that the Greatest Commandment, the Hymn of Kenosis, and the Prayer of Unity combine to guide a life of worship, sharing, service, and community that leads to a closer relationship with God. This simple, engaging book includes questions for reflection and discussion, and is appropriate for both the curious and the committed. This second edition includes a new introduction and two new chapters addressing the question of balance and the nature of the "other."

Simple Harmony: Thoughts on Holistic Christian Life (Missional Wisdom Library: Resources for Christian Community)

Cascade Books

Simple Harmony (Missional Wisdom Library: Resources for Christian Community)

Together: Community as a Means of Grace addresses the concept of community as an avenue to a deeper relationship with God. Using an ecumenical Wesleyan approach, Duggins explores the concept of "God as community" to conclude that bringing people together in almost any setting allows them to grow in God's image. He frames this idea using the historical concept of the "means of grace": the ordinary ways in which people encounter God. Drawing heavily on the work of the Missional Wisdom Foundation, Duggins begins with a reflection on the community-building aspects of traditional church. He then uses storytelling to introduce four common forms of community: community through work, community through food, community through children's schools and activities, and community through shared recreational activities.Together is intended to help Christian people embrace the freedom to experiment with alternative forms of Christian community. Duggins nudges the missional imagination of people who long for spiritual connection and growth, but for whom traditional church is not the answer. Using a "yes, and" approach, he shows that traditional church can empower and stand alongside new forms of community, each of which can act as a means of grace.

Together: Community as a Means of Grace (Missional Wisdom Library: Resources for Christian Community)

Together (Missional Wisdom Library: Resources for Christian Community)

Rooted in Grace is a collection of essays, liturgies, and spiritual exercises focused on staying connected during difficult discussions. Each essay includes questions for discussion for ease of use in small groups and Sunday School lessons. While the collection was designed to be helpful in congregational discussions of the 2019 UMC General Conference and the discussion of The Way Forward, it does not specifically address questions around human sexuality. Rather, it addresses the vanishing art of disagreeing without devolving into animosity. The book has applications well beyond the current issues within the UMC. Rooted in Grace was written by people connected to the Missional Wisdom Foundation. The authors are young and old, male and female, gay and straight, and the opinions and perspectives are varied. The result is a book that speaks to all people without regard to their political party or position on human sexuality issues.

Rooted in Grace: Essays on Dialogue Without Division

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

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