Christian Scharen Books

Focusing on the role of assisting ministers in Christian worship, this resource offers a historical overview and practical guidance. It emphasizes the importance of viewing this leadership position as a ministry to the entire assembly rather than merely a task. Christian Scharen provides a step-by-step approach, alongside tips and encouragement, making it an invaluable tool for those in this role. This book serves as a comprehensive guide that can be referenced repeatedly for support and inspiration in ministry.

Exploring the disconnect between Christian faith and its practical application in daily life, the book examines the challenges faced by pastoral leaders in a culture dominated by emotional and managerial models. Christian Scharen highlights the importance of a robust faith language and offers concrete examples of effective pastoral leadership. By providing practical theological reflections, he demonstrates how faith can meaningfully influence all aspects of life, including family, work, politics, and leisure, encouraging leaders to promote faith as a holistic way of living.

In this addition to the acclaimed The Church and Postmodern Culture series, leading practical theologian Christian Scharen examines the relationship between theology and its social context. He engages with social theorist Pierre Bourdieu to offer helpful theoretical and theological grounding to those who want to reflect critically on the faith and practice of the church, particularly for those undertaking ministry internships or fieldwork assignments. As Scharen helps a wide array of readers to understand the social context of doing theology, he articulates a vision for the church's involvement with what God is doing in the world and provides concrete examples of churches living out God's mission.