Hugh Halter and Matt Smay, The Tangible Kingdom: Creating Incarnational Community, the Posture and Practices of an Ancient Future Now. Leadership Network / Jossey-Bass, 2008.
Companion volume: Halter and Smay, AND: The Gathered and Scattered Church
Referenced in: Missional Communities – Organic Church
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
This is a similar genre to the organic church models of Neil Cole and Frank Viola. Halter and Smay describe their journey of growing small pockets of believers in various parts of the city that lived in such a way that the kingdom was made more tangible. The advantage of this volume and the companion primer lies in the inspirational stories that may encourage people on a variety of levels:
- A church leader may derive hope that incarnational ways of church make more sense in the long run than spinning the plates for spiritual consumers or fighting the uphill battle of trying to attract people to your church. You’ll also discover that sending your people out is safer than trying to keep them happy. …You’ll have more fun modeling a new way of life than running programs or preaching to the choir.
- A concerned non-paid saint may find help to vent frustrations, rethink important theology, and find practical ways of readjusting your life around God’s mission in the world. You’ll see why you are in as good – or better – a position than your pastor to bring the gospel into the lives of those you love, no matter where you live. (xxi)
Like other books of this genre, trained historians and theologians may struggle with the accuracy of some of their observations. This is not the chief contribution of the book. To the extent that it energizes and inspires possibilities of incarnational ministry, it has served a good purpose. Read appreciatively, with discernment.
For those who like what they find and want the next steps for integrating the vision of incarnational ministry into established churches, see the authors’ companion volume, The Gathered and Scattered Church.
From the Publisher
According to a recent survey, of the nine in every ten Americans who identify themselves as Christian, only a third of these actually participate in a faith community with any regularity. Many faith seekers have tried different churches, methods, programs, leaders, teachers, and styles only to discover that nothing holds their interest.
Written for those who are trying to nurture authentic faith communities and for those who have struggled to retain their faith, The Tangible Kingdom offers theological answers and real-life stories that demonstrate how the best ancient church practices can re-emerge in today’s culture, through any church of any size. In this remarkable book, Hugh Halter and Matt Smay “two missional leaders and church planters” outline an innovative model for creating thriving grass-roots faith communities.
Starting from nothing, Halter and Smay began meeting in homes, coffee shops, and anywhere they could. Their goal wasn’t to attract people to worship services, but to be the faithful church in small pockets throughout their city. Based on their experiences, the authors offer some intentional activities and habits of life that can help a faith community make God’s kingdom more tangible. Halter and Smay call for churches to take a leap from their safe environments of their buildings and truly enter into the real world—God’s reality.
The Tangible Kingdom offers new hope for church leaders, pastors, church planters, and churchgoers who are looking for practical new ways to re-orient their lives to fit God’s mission today.
About the Authors
Hugh Halter is a specialist with Church Resource Ministries and the national director of Missio, a global network of missional leaders and church planters. He is also lead architect of Adullam, a congregational network of incarnational communities in Denver, Colorado (www.adullamdenver.com).
Matt Smay co-directs both Missio and Adullam and specializes in helping existing congregations move toward mission. Halter and Smay direct the MCAP “missional church apprenticeship practicum,” an international training network for incarnational church planters, pastors, and emerging leaders (www.missio.us).
***For additional information on this resource, including reviews, click the bookstore links. Check the reference at page top or the links below for resource guides on related topics.***
See Resource Guides on Related Areas:
- Missional Perspectives, Introduction
- Missional Church Resources, Introduction and Index
- Church Leadership and Renewal, Index to Resources
See Resources on Over 100 Areas of Ministry Leadership: