The Tangible Kingdom

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.

About Leadership Network xi

Foreword by Reggie McNeal xiii

Acknowledgments xv

An Invitation . . . xvii

1. Fiona 1

2. Elvis Has Left the Building 9

3. Tremors 15

4. U-Haul 23

5. Moving Violations 29

6. Posture 37

7. The 1,700-Year Wedgie 49

8. Paradigm 59

9. Jipped 83

10. Another Angle 93

11. Lift Up the Hood 101

12. Tip It Over 107

13. The Hello Experiment 123

14. Leaving 127

15. Listening 131

16. Living Among 135

17. Loving Without Strings 141

18. Inviting In 147

19. Togetherness 157

20. Oneness 163

21. Otherness 171

A Day in the Life . . . 177

Notes 181

The Authors 185

The Missional Church Apprenticeship Practicum 187

Church Resource Ministries 189

Index 191

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).

ABOUT LEADERSHIP NETWORK – The mission of Leadership Network identifies and connects innovative church leaders, providing them with resources in the form of new ideas, people, and tools. Contact Leadership Network at www.leadnet.org.

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.