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When the Church Was a Family

Recapturing Jesus' Vision for Authentic Christian Community

by Joseph Hellerman


Trade Paper
August 2009
$19.99

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Spiritual formation occurs primarily in the context of community. But as the modern cultural norm of what social scientists call “radical American individualism” extends itself, many Christians grow lax in their relational accountability to the church. Faith threatens to become an “I” not “us,” a “my God” not “our God” concern.

When the Church Was a Family calls believers back to the wisdom of the first century, examining the early Christian church from a sociohistorical perspective and applying the findings to the evangelical church in America today. With confidence, author Joseph Hellerman writes intentionally to traditional church leaders and emerging church visionaries alike, believing what is detailed here about Jesus’ original vision for authentic Christian community will deeply satisfy the relational longings of both audiences.

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Dr. Joe Hellerman is Professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Talbot School of Theology. He also serves as a team pastor at Oceanside Christian Fellowship, El Segundo, CA, a church that has become a laboratory, of sorts, for Joe’s vision for the church as a family. Joe’s education includes an M.Div. and Th.M. from Talbot, and a Ph.D. in History of Christianity from UCLA.

Learn more about Joseph H. Hellerman...

Product Details

ISBN: 9780805447798 Trim Size: 9.00 x 6.00 x 0.50 in
Page Count: 240
Binding: Trade Paper
Status: Active Publication Date: August 2009

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Endorsements:

When the Church was a Family “well resourced and easy to read… should be required reading in seminary classes”

“I do not know of a single resource on the New Testament and the contemporary importance of community and family that is so well resourced and easy to read as Hellerman’s When the Church was a Family.  But this book is not simply a detailed factual and biblical analysis of Western individualism and biblical community.  [...]

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“Family is a beautiful metaphor for the church…”

“Community is a word that can mean so many different things to different people. Family is a beautiful metaphor for the church, yet it is often not experienced by the church. In When the Church was a Family Joe raises a hopeful look at how the church today can glean what biblical community was from [...]

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