Introducing: The Form of the Word
The next title in our Cultivating Communities Series!
The third book in our Cultivating Communities Series is available now!
In this series of books, we’ve set out to create a library of resources for congregations who want to reflect on and converse about congregational formation. We so often conceive of spiritual formation as a personal, private, and individualistic process, and this has been to the detriment of the American church. The church is meant to be a body—a group of diverse parts operating together toward a common goal and purpose. The current state of the church illustrates how it is insufficient to assume that a church will be well-formed if enough of her members simply take personal responsibility for their individual formation and practice the correct spiritual disciplines in their daily quiet times.
In light of that, we’re asking: How is a body formed into the image of Jesus together? This is the idea of congregational formation.
The first book in this series was The Shape of Our Lives: A Field Guide for Congregational Formation. It explores the often-hidden and subconscious factors that contribute to our spiritual formation. This book lays a foundation for congregations and communities to be transformed more into the image of Christ–together.
The second book in the series is The Virtue of Dialogue: Becoming a Thriving Church through Conversation by
. This slim and accessible book tells the story of Englewood Christian Church—a once-struggling congregation that has since employed conversation to bring transformation to its community. This book casts a vision for why open and honest dialogue is key to the flourishing of church bodies and the neighborhoods in which they are embedded.
And that brings us to our third book, out today in both paperback and ebook! The Form of the Word: Making Sense of Scripture in the Body of Christ by Stephen E. Fowl.
The Form of the Word is intended for congregations and groups to work through together—helping build a framework for understanding the narrative of Scripture that is accessible to all.
Steve Fowl is the President and Dean of the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, engaged in the formation of the next generation of priests for the Episcopal Church. He is an internationally recognized scholar of the New Testament, focusing in the relationships between Scripture and Christian doctrine. In this new book, Steve offers both the expertise of a teacher and the guidance of a pastor to help readers breathe new life into their reading of the Bible.
As Chris discussed in his recent post, it is worth giving deep and careful thought to the way we read scripture as groups of people who are trying to follow Jesus together. In our current climate, if Bible reading has grown divisive or stale in our church community, The Form of the Word will help breathe new life into this practice.
Get your copy:
Today, you can grab a copy of The Form of the Word most places books are sold!
Purchase from Amazon. (This is an affiliate link, which means we will receive a small commission on your purchase.)
Click here to see everywhere else the book is available online! Paperback copies will continue to become available from more vendors in the days to come.
Request a copy from your local library.
Ask your favorite independent bookstore to order you a copy! If you are looking for an independent bookstore to support, we recommend our friends at Hearts & Minds Books in Pennsylvania.
Praise for The Form of the Word:
“Christians and congregations are always being formed—by culture, by habits, by stories. The Form of the Word helps ensure we’re formed by Scripture. With clarity and pastoral depth, Stephen Fowl invites leaders and communities into the drama of salvation—not as spectators, but as participants shaped by God’s story. This is a timely, practical guide for churches hungry to grow in biblical literacy, theological imagination, and Christlike formation.” –Lisa Rodriguez-Watson (National Director, Missio Alliance)
“Too often we read a verse, a passage, or even an entire book of Scripture in isolation. Steve Fowl gives all Christians an important framework for understanding the Bible as a whole. Especially designed for congregations, this perceptive and readable volume from an eminent scholar with a pastoral heart includes appropriate prayers and discussion questions. Highly recommended!” –Michael J. Gorman, Ph.D. (Raymond E. Brown Chair in Biblical and Theological Studies; St. Mary’s Seminary & University, Baltimore)
In Case You Missed It:
It’s not too late to join our first-ever Summer Reading Challenge! Completing the challenge will enter you into a giveaway to win one of 3 gift cards to Bookshop.org!
Chris wrote about personal scripture reading as a tool for resisting abuse and tyranny.
Our friend
reshared an interview with Walter Brueggemann, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 92. The interview originally ran in The Englewood Review of Books print magazine.
Again, you can purchase a copy of The Form of the Word from Amazon, your local independent bookstore, or most places books are sold!
Thank you for your support and enthusiasm for the Cultivating Communities Series!
Dr. Fowl was one of my favorite professors as an undergraduate student. He is an outstanding scholar and teacher. I'm so happy to hear that his work will be more widely available in this book!