Increasingly, Christian churches have become echo chambers that only amplify a given leader’s viewpoint. Their messages resemble denominational perspectives or, recently, boost an interdenominational framework loosely resembling political ideologies. To many, like myself, such a framework conveniently forgets about the diverse, historic nature of Christian theology.
Englewood Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, was once a megachurch but shrank in membership as decades wore on. It revived itself through becoming a conversational center where people participated in church more than followed one particular sermonizer. Not only did their numbers increase, but they also impacted their surrounding neighborhood by, say, revitalizing housing for those experiencing homelessness or recovering from mental illness.
This short book, less than one hundred pages long and written in relatable English, tells their story. It’s formatted so that other churches can use it as a discussion guide to converse with each other. Questions accompany each chapter, and a list of suggested resources can guide further conversation. It’s meant to inspire those in the Christian faith. In popular news sources, Christianity can resemble a militant mob or a set of emotional outbursts; this book appeals to history by suggesting that we become a community where disagreements can happen without vilification. Who knows? Maybe our respectful dialogue might become an example to a hyper-partisan nation, too.
The Virtue of Dialogue: Becoming a Thriving Church Through Conversation
By C. Christopher Smith
2nd Edition
Copyright (c) 2025
Englewood Press
ASIN B0DZD28R9N
Page Count: 79
Genre: Christianity
www.amazon.com