No Perfect People Allowed: Creating a Come As You Are Culture in the Church

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Zondervan, Jan 7, 2007 - Philosophy - 336 pages
How do we live out the message of Jesus in today's ever-changing culture? The church is facing its greatest challenge---and its greatest opportunity---in our postmodern, post-Christian world. God is drawing thousands of spiritually curious 'imperfect people' to become his church---but how are we doing at welcoming them? No Perfect People Allowed shows you how to deconstruct the five main barriers standing between emerging generations and your church by creating the right culture. From inspiring stories of real people once far from God, to practical ideas that can be applied by any local church, this book offers a refreshing vision of the potential and power of the Body of Christ to transform lives today. 'We now are living in a post-Christian America---and that means we must be rethinking ministry through a missionary mindset. What makes this book both unique and extremely helpful is that it is filled with real-life stories of post-Christian people becoming followers of Jesus---not just statistics or data about them.' Dan Kimball, Author, The Emerging Church '. . . John's 'get it' factor with people, lost or found, is something to behold! Reading this book filled me with optimism regarding the next generation of pastors and faith communities . . . ' Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church No Perfect People Allowed is a timely and necessary word for church leaders in a post Christian culture. John Burke serves up quite a tasty meal full of the rich nutrients that will strengthen the Body of Christ. Randy Frazee, Senior Pastor, Pantego Bible Church; Author, The Connecting Church and Making Room for Life
 

Contents

Gods Story in Our Stories
9
The Struggle for Emerging Generations
13
The First Corinthian Church of America
15
Results of the Postmodern Experiment
29
The Struggle with Trust
49
Creating a Culture of Dialogue
51
Creating a Culture of Authenticity
69
The Struggle with Tolerance 5 Come as You Are Creating a Culture of Acceptance
87
The Struggle with Truth 9 The Humble Truth about Truth Creating a Culture of TruthTelling Humility
167
Creating the Culture of Incarnational Truth
185
Creating a Culture of Hope
205
Creating a Culture of Sexual Wholeness
223
Creating a Culture of Healing
243
The Struggle with Aloneness
265
Creating a Culture of Family
285
The Struggle Forward
301

Creating a Culture of Growth
105
What about Other Religions? The Tolerance Litmus TestQ1
125
How Do You Feel about Gays? The Tolerance Litmus TestQ2
147
Acknowledgments
315
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About the author (2007)

John Burke and his wife, Kathy, founded Gateway Church in Austin, Texas, in 1998. Since then, Gateway has grown to over 3,000 people, 70 percent of whom are in their twenties and thirties, and consists mostly of unchurched people who began actively following Christ at Gateway. Burke is also the author of No Perfect People Allowed: Creating a Come-as-You-Are Culture in the Church.

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