Church Without Walls: Moving Beyond Traditional Boundaries

By Jim Petersen

Book Overview

By habit, the church has come to mean a place where we congregate. But that understanding causes us to miss one of our primary reasons for being in the world. In Church Without Walls, author Jim Petersen offers an exciting definition of the church that pushes beyond the too-small boundaries we've inherited from the past. A vivid and inspiring call to every Christian, this book explores why some church forms impede the gospel in today's postmodern world. The first-century church had to sort out Jesus from Judaism in order to become a people for all nations. Today we have to sort out Jesus from our religious traditions in order to make him accessible to our culture. In a time of sagging church influence, this book demonstrates that the Scriptures provide a blueprint for helping men and women make a difference in the world. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0891096639
• ISBN13: 9780891096634
• Release Date: December 1991
• Publisher: NavPress Publishing Group
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Book that challenges tradition

This book challenges the concept of the Christian Mega-Church, and the role of Christians in the modern world. In Church Without Walls Petersen puts forth the following two point thesis:1. Christians are in the world (not separate from it) in order to spread the good news about Jesus. 2. Every believer has a role in this process.I think that he successfully argues his point, and provides a litany of supporting evidence...

An Amazing Book!

This is a balanced yet radical new look at what it means to be the Church in our day and in our culture. Peterson reminds us that Jesus gave us the command to "Go" into our world and make disciples. Instead we have told the world to "Come" to us! Peterson's analysis of the form of the Church being elastic enough to fit the function in each location and culture is truly life-changing; I was changed by this book. I have given...

A Very Balanced View

This book represents a very well researched and balanced rethinking of much of the Church Growth material that has been generated since "Understanding Church Growth" was published in the 60's. It presents a honest, Biblical view of all the stuff and fluff and gets down to the heart of the matter, namely reaching people for Christ.

Much-needed Biblical evaluation

I highly recommend this book to all Christians who want a well-reasoned approach to the Biblical concept of the Church. Petersen challenges the reader to re-think traditional, cultural "add-ons" to corporate worship of God and to seriously consider St. Paul's practice of "becoming all things to all men" for the sake of the spread of the Gospel to those foreign to practices familiar to the American Christian. -- Joseph W. Roberts...