Contents

Chapter 1. Creation -- p.1

God and Certainty, Shannon Craigo-Snell -- p.1

“The Why Chromosome”: Genesis 1 -- p.20
Shawnthea Monroe

Chapter 2. Christ -- p.27

Jesus Saves, Shannon Craigo-Snell -- p.27

Location, Location, Location -- p.59
Shawnthea Monroe

Chapter 3. Sin -- p.69

The Work That Sin Can Do -- p.59
Shannon Craigo-Snell

Grace and Sin-- p. 96
Shawnthea Monroe and Shannon Craigo-Snell

“Warts and All” -- p.100
Shawnthea Monroe

Chapter 4. Church -- p.107

Why Ecclesiology Matters: The Question of Silver Shawnthea Monroe -- p.107

The Empty Church -- p.123
Shannon Craigo-Snell

Chapter 5. Heaven -- p.143

Q&A -- p.143
Shannon Craigo-Snell and Shawnthea Monroe

Living Conversation -- p.173

Notes -- p.177

Bibliography 187

Index -- p.191

Unique in format, this thoughtful volume takes seriously the need for accessible, pastorally relevant theological reflection on the chief mysteries that inform Christian living today.
Addressing five specific Christian doctrines—creation, Christ, sin, church, and heaven—the volume offers historical background and systematic framework for understanding what is at stake in these doctrines for contemporary Christians. Then each chapter brings those insights to bear on the lived reality of church communities. In that process, each chapter also presents the reader with a discussion, and an example, of a basic tool used in thinking through the Christian faith theologically. The chapter on creation involves biblical hermeneutics, for example, while the chapter on Christology explains what systematic theology is. In the end, Craigo-Snell and Monroe demonstrate how a postliberal narrative theology can offer a theological vision profoundly pertinent to the lives of Christians.