"A leadership network publication."

Includes bibliographical references (pages 167-182) and index.

Introduction: Following Jesus into the far country, the winter of our discontent -- Post-Christendom : Into the far country: the journey into post-Christendom -- Missio dei : With the prodigal God: the journey into God's mission -- Incarnation : On the ground: the journey into everyday life -- Witness : In the world: the journey into the world -- Scripture : Living our story: journeying by the book that is more than a book -- Gospel : Making all things right: the journey into redemption -- Church : In kingdom communities: the journey as the body of Christ into the world -- Prodigal relationships : With our brokenness: the journey toward sexual redemption -- Prodigal justice : Among our neighborhoods: the journey toward local justice -- Prodigal openness : For the good news: the journey into diverse worlds -- Epilogue: The prodigal returns.

Prodigal Christianity offers a down-to-earth, accessible, and yet provocative understanding of God's mission of redemption in the world, and how followers of Christ can participate in this work. It speaks into the discontent of all those who have exhausted conservative, liberal, and even emergent ways of being Christian and are looking for a new way forward. It offers building blocks for missional theology and practice that moves Christians into a gospel-centered way of life for our culture and our times. Offers a compelling and creative vision for North American Christians. Puts forth a theology and ten critical signposts that must be observed to follow a missional way of life: post-Christendom, missio Dei, incarnation, witness, scripture, gospel, church, sexuality, justice, pluralism. Asks questions and points to issues that trouble many leaders in the post-modern, post-denominational, post-Christendom church. This book can fill the gap for the average Christian left discontented with the current options "after evangelicalism."