The Better Way: The Church of Agape in Emerging Corinth

Description: When Paul came to Corinth he found a culture emerging from the ashes of Roman power. As Julius Caesar rebuilt the fallen city he brought Roman culture to this Greek community. Likewise Pauls message of salvation in Jesus rebuilt the fallen lives of people dominated by a culture of power. This power was displayed in violence discrimination sexuality and spirituality. As this city emerged from the ashes of humiliation the church emerged by Gods hand from of the humiliation of Jesus and the cross. Today the church emerges in a culture of power humiliation and fear. Pauls challenge for the church is to be mature and practice unconditional love. This love is permanent. This love develops and empowers others. This love causes us to be in relationship with God and others. Through this love Gods people see face to face. The church can emerge to radiate love peace and empowerment. Endorsements: In Ron Clarks experienced hands the problematic Corinthian church becomes a laboratory where the twenty-first century church learns again how to be a kingdom of love. The Apostle Paul and Ron Clark join hands to help us find our way to church in the twenty-first century USA. --Kent L. Yinger George Fox Evangelical Seminary I read and learned from Ron Clarks study of I Corinthians because he took care to study the original context of this important letter but also took on the more difficult task of bringing the important discussion of difficult topics into the present context. It will be a useful study for ministers. --Wendell Willis Abilene Christian University This book clearly reflects Dr. Ron Clarks abiding commitment to contextual theology and an incarnational model for Christian ministry . . . The book is especially designed for those involved with or exploring urban ministry in a Post-Christian world . . . Those wanting to see how this Pauline text of Scripture might inform current Kingdom ministry in an urban landscape will profit from reading The Better Way. --Rick Oster Harding University About the Contributor(s): Ron Clark is the lead church planter for the Agape Church of Christ in Portland Oregon where he is active in community organizations in domestic violence sexual assault and homeless issues. He is the author of Setting the Captives Free: A Christian Theology of Domestic Violence.