Barefoot Church: Serving the Least in a Consumer Culture (Exponential Series)

There's got to be more to church than this. People around the world are seeking a community that focuses more on others than on themselves. Yet most don't know where to start. Drawing from his own journey, Brandon Hatmaker reminds us that serving the least is not a trendy act of benevolence but a lifestyle of authentic community and spiritual transformation. In Barefoot Church, he explains: Practical ideas for creating service-based, missional communities How the organizational structure of a church can be created or restructured for mission in any context How any church can truly be a catalyst for individual, collective, and social renewal Whether you are a leader or a layperson, this book is meant to renew your passion for the church and inspire you to take your affections off yourself, place them on people who have nothing to offer you, and lead others to do the same. People are hungry to make a difference, yet most don't know where to start. In fact, 'serving the least' is often one of the most neglected mandates of Jesus. Barefoot Church shows readers how today's church can be a catalyst for individual, collective, and social renewal in any context. Whether pastors or laypeople, readers will discover practical ideas that end up being as much about the Gospel and personal transformation as they are about serving the poor. Here they will see how the organizational structure of the church can be created or redesigned for mission in any context. Drawing from his own journey, Brandon Hatmaker proves to readers that serving the least is not a trendy act of benevolence but a lifestyle of authentic community and spiritual transformation. As Hatmaker writes, 'My hope is that God would open our eyes more and more to the needs of our community. And that we would see it as the church's responsibility to lead the charge.' "Barefoot Church shows us how today's church can be a catalyst for individual, collective, and social renewal in any context. Drawing from his own journey, Brandon Hatmaker reminds us that serving the least is not a trendy act of benevolence but a lifestyle of authentic community and spiritual transformation. Whether you are a leader or a layperson, you will discover practical ideas that are as much about the gospel and personal life change as they are about serving the poor."--Back cover Foreword Acknowledgements There's Got To Be More A Call and A Response Where Gathering and Scattering Collide Serving Through Missional Community Good News For The Unchurched and Dechurched Expanding our Understanding of Discipleship Embracing the Tension Partnering with the Nonprofit World A New Metric For Success Becoming a Barefoot Church Notes Jesus called us to ""serve the least"" as a way of life. Yet we often reduce serving to a once a month program or seasonal event. Whether you are a pastor or a layperson, here you will find simple, reproducible strategies that will move your church from good intentions to compassionate action