As Christians, we pray for God’s kingdom to come “on earth as it is in heaven.” But what does that even mean? Would we recognize God’s kingdom if it moved in next door?
Learn to see God’s work in your neighborhood, city, and the world—and learn how to join it. With stories from his own city of Houston, Texas, author Marty Troyer introduces a theology of place that empowers us to truly see the work of God where we live, work, and play. The Gospel Next Door unpacks the gospel through the lenses of following Jesus, making peace, and overcoming injustice. Those seeking to connect more deeply with the world that God so loved will find compelling stories and practical ideas for healing brokenness and imagining new life.
Stop reading the gospel as if it only pertained to the mission field and didn't hold meaning for the place you live. Start living out the kingdom of God here and now.
- Introduction: Following Jesus into a Neighborhood Near You
- Part I: The Gospel as Lens
- 1. How Jesus’ Gospel Clarifies Pretty Much Everything
- 2. Borrowing the Eyes of God
- 3. Tell Them about the Dream!
- Part II: The Gospel Gift Of Jesus
- 4. Look like Jesus
- 5. Evangelizing Peace
- 6. Form a New Disciple-Making Culture
- Part III: The Gospel Gift Of Peace
- 7. Shalom and the Common Good
- 8. Three Trillion Dollars of Potholes
- 9. Read the Bible with Black Lives Matter
- Part IV: The Gospel Gift Of Restoring Justice
- 10. Houston, We Have a Problem
- 11. Congratulations, You’ve Been Called!
- 12. Worship the God of Mission
- Epilogue: Ship of Theseus
- The Author
| Format: | Paperback book |
|---|---|
| Product code: | MM00387 |
| Dimensions: | 5.4" x 8.4" |
| Length: | 250 pages |
| Publisher: |
MennoMedia / Herald Press
|
| ISBN: | 9781513800387 |
Written by Marty Troyer
Praise
‘Love God and love your neighbor’ was Jesus’ grand Scripture summary. Marty Troyer paints a picture of what loving God as loving your neighbor can actually look like in the everyday stuff of life. Troyer’s important book is part of a large and growing movement of Christians rediscovering the practices of ‘local-church.’ This book points toward collaboration more than competition, and discovering God’s Shalomic dream for your place and its people more than pursuing your own vision. Be careful, The Gospel Next Door may mess with your plans because it’ll invite you to listen deeply, to join humbly, and to learn to love your real neighbor and the neighborhood within which God has placed you.
Dwight Friesen, Associate professor of Practical Theology at the Seattle School of Theology & Psychology; co-author of The New Parish, Routes and Radishes, and author of Thy Kingdom Connected. Co-founder of the Inhabit Conference and Leadership
Troyer’s book is much needed and timely. Pastoral and engaging, he makes following the teachings and examples of Jesus so accessible. The Gospel Next Door is a mixture of powerful storytelling, practical discipleship, and a winsome call to be kingdom people who seek the shalom of our cities, our communities, and our churches.
Osheta Moore, founder of Shalom in the City
The Gospel Next Door is an important read for everyone who takes Jesus’ teachings seriously. Troyer is a trailblazer, and this book contains practical examples of how believers can make an impact in their communities. Implement the principles in this book and start living out the kingdom here and now!
Dave Runyon, coauthor of The Art of Neighboring
The world God loves, the one Jesus died for, is right under your nose, and you won’t see it the same way after reading this book.
Margot Starbuck, award-winning author and speaker
The Gospel Next Door shows us how we can be part of God’s transformational work right where we are, every day. This is a powerful book with life-changing lessons. Read it, and watch the gospel come alive.
Michael Emerson, author of Divided by Faith
Troyer’s The Gospel Next Door is a much needed work for the church, because it challenges us to be missional in our own backyards. This work gives believers a blueprint for how the gospel of justice can change not only our local communities but our walk with Yahshua through experiences of radical love.
Onleilove Alston, executive director, Faith in New York
Marty Troyer has taken on the enormous task of helping us reframe the story we tell about what it means to do the work of the kingdom of God. He does that by thoughtfully examining the Scripture in the context of the mission field of Houston and by casting the story as both personal and community transformation. He does that with a pastor’s heart and a prophet’s urgency. And he does it as a wise, thoughtful participant in what God is doing in one of our nation’s great cities. I highly commend The Gospel Next Door to you.
Jim Herrington, coauthor of Leading Congregational Change and founder of Faithwalking
