Intentional Community
WANT TO DO FURTHER RESEARCH?
Here are a few resources to study Intentional Community a bit further:
1. When the Church Was a Family by Joseph Hellerman
In this book, Professor Hellerman is able to welcome us into the biblical world to understand the weight and vision of God's family.
Dive Deeper (Lectures):
Dr. Joseph Hellerman also had a handful of lectures guiding leaders in how to take the learnings from his book and practically live it out.
Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Session 4 Session 5
2. Sacred Companion by David Benner
David Benner helps us understand how friendship is one of the highest callings in God's eyes. If that is the case, how can we as followers of Jesus learn how to steward our sacred friendships with one another.
3. Life Together by Dietrich Boenhoffer
Boenhoffer introduces us to the highs and lows of what a true Christian community should look like.
4. Discipleship That Fits by Alex Absalom & Bobby Harrington
Discipleship and community are expressed uniquely in different contexts. Alex & Bobby do an amazing job of overlapping discipleship with group-size dynamics. Helping us understand how we are discipled in the: public, social, personal, transparent, and divine.
5. Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
Read Guidara's story of changing his restaurant to the highest-rated restaurant in the world through his pursuit of unreasonable hospitality.
6. Culture of Honor by Danny Silk
The Culture of Honor is a book of reformation. It is intended to disrupt our current model of authority. Jesus put it like this in Matthew 20:25-26 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. Those with power must learn to empower those around them or we will never build Heaven on the Earth.
Group Resources:
1. Always & Nevers
Garden Staff commit to one another through a common covenant that transcends our responsibilities to the Garden. These Always & Nevers give us a framework for how we conduct life with each other.
Use them with your House Church or Discipleship Groups to help create a culture of honor.
2. Group Guidelines
Our Group Guidelines serve as a roadmap for how we should conduct ourselves and show respect to one another in a group setting. They are designed to foster a culture of honor and respect.