"Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations" - Inroduction

Our group decided to take up this book in order to increase our understanding of the Five Practices, but also as a vehicle for personal growth. The foundation of the book is that the Five Practices are what the church is all about - they fulfill its purpose to make disciples of Jesus Christ and are rooted in the second chapter of Acts. The failure to perform them in an exemplary way leads to decline and decay in the church. We can use them to examine the way we do business in the church, but we can also use them to examine our own deeply held beliefs, prejudices, fears, discomfort... and actions. Are we looking to excel in the ways we follow Christ? Do we personally seek the superlative, extreme adjectives associated with the Five Practices - Radical Hospitality; Passionate Worship; Intentional Faith Development; Risk-Taking Mission and Service; Extravagant Generosity. What kind of adjectives would you use to describe your faith journey?