Articles for tag: C. Christopher Smith

October 22, 2016

By C. Christopher Smith Although I focus primarily on churches and neighborhoods in my book Reading for the Common Good, many of the reasons for reading in community are equally true for families. Indeed, most people”s first experiences with reading happen in the home. Reading can play a vital role for families as we strive to discern our identity, asking questions like “where are we?” and “what is our purpose as a family?” Similarly, reading can help our families navigate questions of vocation and economy: Which parent(s) will earn income? Will they work full- or part-time? What kind of work

October 21, 2016

Christian Standard

Discipleship & Spiritual Formation

Churches and Reading, Conversation and Insight

From the new book Reading for the Common Good By C. Christopher Smith Reading is essential to the health and flourishing of our churches. However, reading and conversation must go hand in hand.Â Reading that is most beneficial is reading that takes its cues from and is shared and discussed””in some way or another””with the local church body. Just as a body works together””seeing, feeling, listening””to understand its identity, so our churches are faced with the task of working together to understand our identity. Reading is a valuable tool in this process of discerning our identity, but only to the

October 21, 2016

Christian Standard

Book Reviews Reviews

It Takes a Library: An Interview with C. Christopher Smith

By Jennifer Johnson In Reading for the Common Good: How Books Help Our Churches and Neighborhoods Flourish, C. Christopher Smith makes a compelling case for the importance of reading as he discusses our reading with others and using what we”ve learned to discern our call and our identity as faith communities.Â CHRISTIAN STANDARD recently interviewed Smith about some of the big ideas in his new book. _____ One of the themes running throughout your book is that the church needs to become a learning organization. Can you give us a brief definition of what that means and explain why reading

May 25, 2015

Christian Standard

Book Reviews Reviews

Struggling for Balance

By LeRoy Lawson Slow Church:Â Cultivating CommunityÂ in the Patient Way of Jesus C. Christopher Smith and John Pattison Downers Grove: IVP Books, 2014 iGods: How TechnologyÂ Shapes Our SpiritualÂ and Social Lives Craig Detweiler Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2013 Brave New World Aldous Huxley New York: Harper PerennialÂ Modern Classics;Â originally published in 1932 Chris Smith presented the argument for Slow Church to a small gathering in Erwin, Tennessee. After a season of serious drought, First Christian Church has been enjoying renewal under the steady leadership of Chris”s friend Todd Edmondson. Erwin was a fitting venue, since many of the growth techniques that have