Surprisingly, this book is better balanced than I expected. I was glad to see articles criticizing the church for not creating the proper community as well as ones extolling what the church does well. What I didn't see that I would have liked to have read was community without church. I know that's the basis of this. But you can be a community without it just being Christian. Jesus would have wanted us to bring everyone to the table. The book addresses this only within the Christian sphere.
The book has essays from various times, places, and sexes (I won't say gender because it's not that well-balanced).
Christians will enjoy the enlightenment and even the Christians that are written in an understandable and relational way.

I was drawn to this title because our church is studying the topic of communion of the saints. This book is a collection of short essays by a variety of Christian thinkers on the topic of Christian community. There are 52 essays which lend themselves to being read one a week, pondered, and possibly discussed with others in the community of faith. Whether or not you agree with every concept presented, this book is valuable in encouraging Christians to consider the biblical mandate for believers to be closely connected to other members of the body of Christ on this earth. This is particularly challenging for we Americans who pride ourselves on our independence, self-sufficiency, and individualism. But scripture states that the world will know we are Christians by our love for one another—and we need to know one another more than superficially in order to love well. Lots of food for thought (and action) here. I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

"Called To Community : The Life Jesus Wants For His People" is the perfect answer to all the loneliness in the world, in an age of hi-tech internet connectivity, when individual lives are sadly even more isolated and fragmented than ever before. The answer lies in the hearts of God’s people who respond wholeheartedly to Christ’s call to share their lives more fully with others, discovering the rich, meaningful life that Jesus gives everyone, restoring the Church to its original calling: to be a united Christian community. The selections in this book are by pioneers in community life, who have nurtured a Christian community through a sustained period of time. I highly recommend this deeply inspiring book to all people who aspire to live meaningful lives, reaching out to others with the life-transforming love of Christ.

"Called to Community" is a collection of essays that explore the concept of intentional Christian community. It is edited by Charles E. Moore, and contributors include theologians, writers, and practitioners who share their experiences and insights on living in community.

The book delves into various aspects of intentional community, such as the biblical foundation for community, the challenges and joys of communal living, and practical guidance for seeking and cultivating community in one's own life. It offers a rich tapestry of perspectives and experiences, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of the communal way of life.

Overall, "Called to Community" has received positive feedback from readers who appreciate the diverse range of voices and the thoughtful exploration of community living. It offers inspiration, encouragement, and practical advice for those interested in exploring intentional community or deepening their understanding of this way of life.

This is a book that will contribute to understand the whys of Christian community. The 52 selections included in this book will be useful for a year of weekly group study. There is a detailed discussion guide in the appendix is useful. This book is well written and an edited guide for living a life in a Christian community.

One of God’s greatest commandments to his people is “Love one another.” In this book from Plough Publishing, contains 52 essays on creating communities based on the concept of living this ideal. One of the things I like most about this book is that there are so many different authors, ranging from Mother Teresa to C.S. Lewis to Fyodor Dostoevsky. They each offer their own interpretation and advice for living a life that creates Heaven on Earth. It’s an excellent book that makes you think, not only about the people around you and how to reach out to them, but also about yourself and your relationship with God and your fellow human beings. I cannot recommend it enough.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

This topic has been on my heart, and this book brings it all to the table. Community is so important. Whether you have one person or a group, we are meant to do life-- in particular religious life in community. This book is a compilation of amazing wisdom that will benefit readers of all levels. I would love to share this with my small group at church.

This was a very timely read for me, as I have been thinking a lot lately about how the nature of the community of the church has changed just in the past twenty years or so. We are living in a "church hopping/church shopping" culture that has almost made us numb to folks coming and going in our congregations, but there's something inside of us that can't help but feel the ache when that happens - and this book helps us to understand why. We were created for community, and more than that, we were called to it. Jesus says very plainly that the world will know we are Christians by how we love one another. Period. And somewhere, I think we've forgotten that.

I appreciate the diversity of voices in this book because it helps to illustrate exactly what it's talking about - how different voices and perspectives come together to shape one big picture. It also helps to see what community looks like with skin on it in a diversity of places, in a number of ways. That kind of diversity limits our excuses - for everyone who reads this book and says, "Sure, but that could never happen HERE," there is a voice in this book that declares, oh, yes, it could. You just have to choose it. And far too many are not choosing it.

At the same time as this book comforts and encourages me, it also makes my heart hurt because I know how far we have fallen from God's design for us...together. He said so much about "one another," and I ache because I recognize how often most of us stop after "one" and forget the "other."

My hope is that many will read this book and be not inspired, but convicted. That's really what we need here.

A very solid, diverse, and at times challenging collection of voices on what it means to be the church, the family of God, the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. I would enjoy the experience of reading this with a group of people over the course of a year and discussing all of the sections in greater detail.

It would be impossible to read this book without it stretching your understanding of Christian community in some significant ways.

Called to Community
Pub Date: Jan. 2024
Thanks to the authors, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
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.
Good book!

"Called to Community" is a great text for groups who want to learn more about forming intentional communities. It includes essays from authors such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Richard J. Foster, and C.S. Lewis whose faithful writings have influenced seekers of all ages. I will use this as a resource for both my church and classroom. Highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.