Fifty-two readings on living in intentional Christian community to spark group discussion.

Gold Medal Winner, 2017 Illumination Book Awards, Christian Living
Silver Medal Winner, 2017 Benjamin Franklin Award in Religion, Independent Book Publishers Association

Why, in an age of connectivity, are our lives more isolated and fragmented than ever? And what can be done about it? The answer lies in the hands of God’s people. Increasingly, today’s Christians want to be the church, to follow Christ together in daily life. From every corner of society, they are daring to step away from the status quo and respond to Christ’s call to share their lives more fully with one another and with others. As they take the plunge, they are discovering the rich, meaningful life that Jesus has in mind for all people, and pointing the church back to its original calling: to be a gathered, united community that demonstrates the transforming love of God.

Of course, such a life together with others isn’t easy. The selections in this volume are, by and large, written by practitioners—people who have pioneered life in intentional community and have discovered in the nitty-gritty of daily life what it takes to establish, nurture, and sustain a Christian community over the long haul.

Whether you have just begun thinking about communal living, are already embarking on sharing life with others, or have been part of a community for many years, the pieces in this collection will encourage, challenge, and strengthen you. The book’s fifty-two chapters can be read one a week to ignite meaningful group discussion.

Contributors include: John F. Alexander, Eberhard Arnold, J. Heinrich Arnold, Johann Christoph Arnold, Alden Bass, Benedict of Nursia, Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt, Leonardo Boff, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Joan Chittister, Stephen B. Clark, Andy Crouch, Dorothy Day, Anthony de Mello, Elizabeth Dede, Catherine de Hueck Doherty, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Jenny Duckworth, Friedrich Foerster, Richard J. Foster, Jodi Garbison, Arthur G. Gish, Helmut Gollwitzer, Adele J Gonzalez, Stanley Hauerwas, Joseph H. Hellerman, Roy Hession, David Janzen, Rufus Jones, Emmanuel Katongole, Arthur Katz, Søren Kierkegaard, C. Norman Kraus, C.S. Lewis, Gerhard Lohfink, Ed Loring, Chiara Lubich, George MacDonald, Thomas Merton, Hal Miller, José P. Miranda, Jürgen Moltmann, Charles E. Moore, Henri J. M. Nouwen, Elizabeth O’Connor, John M. Perkins, Eugene H.Peterson, Christine D. Pohl, Chris Rice, Basilea Schlink, Howard A. Snyder, Mother Teresa, Thomas à Kempis, Elton Trueblood, and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove.

Eberhard Arnold's profile page

Dietrich Bonhoeffer's profile page

Joan Chittister est une bénédictine d'Érié aux États-Unis. Sa compétence en spiritualité, en sciences humaines et en communication lui permet d'utiliser et de partager cette expérience qui est d'abord une expérience d'ouverture à la vie.

Joan Chittister's profile page

Dorothy Day's profile page

Fyodor Dostoyevsky's profile page

Richard J. Foster's profile page

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove's profile page

David Janzen's profile page

Søren Kierkegaard's profile page

C.S. Lewis' profile page

Chiara Lubich's profile page

Thomas Merton's profile page

Henri J.M. Nouwen's profile page

John M. Perkins' profile page

Eugene H. Peterson (1932–2018) was a longtime pastor and professor of spiritual theology at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia. His many acclaimed books include Tell It Slant, The Jesus Way, Eat This Book, and the contemporary translation of the Bible titled The Message.

Eugene H. Peterson's profile page

Christine D. Pohl's profile page

Howard A. Snyder's profile page

Mother Teresa's profile page

Saint Benedict's profile page

Charles E. Moore is a member of the Bruderhof community and teaches at the Mount Academy in New York. He writes for Plough Quarterly and has compiled and edited several acclaimed books, including Provocations: Spiritual Writings of Kierkegaard, Everyone Belongs to God: Discovering the Hidden Christ, and Bearing Witness: Stories of Martyrdom and Costly Discipleship.

Charles E. Moore's profile page

Member of Madonna House Apostolate, a Catholic community based in Ontario, Canada.

Jeremiah Barker's profile page

Irish missionary to India and founder of Dohnavur Fellowship.

Amy Carmichael's profile page

Early Anabaptist whose theological writings influenced later Anabaptism.

Hans Denck's profile page

A leader and bishop in the Hutterite communities in Slovakia.

Andreas Ehrenpreis' profile page

American Quaker mystic and educator.

Thomas R. Kelly's profile page

Anglican nun in the Community of Saint Mary the Virgin in Wantage, England.

Penelope Lawson's profile page

Jesuit scholar who taught at the Oriental Pontifical Institute in Rome, Italy.

Juan Mateos' profile page

Kathleen Norris is the author of two books of poetry, Falling Off (1971) and The Middle of the World (1981) and has received awards from the Guggenheim and Bush foundations. She lives in Lemmon, South Dakota, with her husband.

Kathleen Norris' profile page

Founder of All Addicts Anonymous and of East Ridge recovery community in Hankins, New York.

Thomas E. Powers' profile page

Early Anabaptist writer and key Hutterian leader.

Peter Riedemann's profile page

Member of Englewood Christian Church and founding editor of The Englewood Review of Books.

Christopher C. Smith's profile page

Early Hutterite leader known for his many written tracts.

Ulrich Stadler's profile page

Founder of the Moravian Church.

Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf's profile page

• Winner, Illumination Book Awards, Gold
• Winner, Illumination Book Award, Gold
• Winner, Benjamin Franklin Award, Silver

"This volume, organized into 52 chapters that may be used by groups over a year, . . . seems the perfect resource for a group who wants to go deeper in community, whether they have formed a more intentional community or not. One of the things that commends this collection is its catholicity, and the stature of those whose writings are included. To listen to those who have lived community across the centuries is to drink at a deep well of wisdom. This is not just the latest “new monastics” thinking or the latest offerings from the Emergent Church. The call to community is challenging, and yet the recognition of the real challenges of community both tempers naive enthusiasm and offers wise counsel to those who pursue intentional communities out of faithfulness to Christ." —InterVarsity Emerging Scholars Network

"A 2016 Englewood Honor Book – one of the thirty best books of the year for the life and flourishing of the church." —Englewood Review of Books

"This is a stellar contribution to our understanding of the whys and wherefores of Christian community. The 52 selections seem perfect for a year of weekly group study and the detailed discussion guide in the appendix is particularly useful for this purpose. Called to Community: The Life Jesus Wants for His People is a thoughtfully compiled and well edited guide to the subject." —Nancy Roberts, Catholic Sentinel

"This is one meaty, yet very accessible, book for those who love the Church enough to give it some serious thought, knowing that serious thought can lead to serious action. Whether in small groups or individually, as we read Called to Community, we will be hearing voices from the road, people with trail dust on their faith. They know what they’re talking about. And this invitation to come alongside them is a great place to start finding some new roads in an old faith of our own." —David Swartz, Patheos

"This book is both informative and practical—written with a short chapter for each week of the year. Designed to spark conversation within a group devotion setting, readers can dive deep into community together. … This book delves into the nitty-gritty details of Christian community living and encourages readers to confront the dissatisfaction stirred up by its challenging pages. Though not a light text by any means, this book is ideal for those seeking to approach Christian community more intentionally and comprehensively." —Evangelical Church Library Association