The whole argument of this book is this: in order to renew our personal and corporate walks in the contemporary church we must simply return and rediscover our Sacred Roots, i.e., the core beliefs, practices, and commitments of the Christian faith.  These roots are neither sectarian nor provincial, but are rather cherished and recognized by all believers everywhere, at all times, and by everyone.  Paul exhorted the Thessalonians to “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter” , 2 Thess. 2.15.  Our Sacred Roots necessarily suggests that all who believe (wherever and whenever they have lived) affirm their common rootedness in the saving work of God, the same Lord who created, covenanted with Israel, was incarnate in Christ, and is being witnessed to by his people, the Church.  This history and bond is one; those who believe share a single hope and faith, a common, shared Christian spirituality spoken of in Scripture as a shared journey, occurring in community (Eph. 4.1-6).

Our recognition of our common Sacred Roots can enable us, whatever our tradition, to empathize with our Christian brothers and sisters of other traditions.  This understanding of our common roots can revive in our personal and corporate lives the strength of the disciplines of Christian remembrance and celebration both alone and together.  Recognizing our shared roots we can begin to rediscover our common devotion to Jesus Christ expressed in community in liturgy, sacrament, and discipleship (Taken from Don L. Davis, Sacred Roots: A Primer On Retrieving the Great Tradition).

Visit our Sacred Roots page for additional articles, resources, and teachings on how to enrich your spiritual formation and ministry.

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New Releases Helping Urban Churches to Rediscover Vital Spirituality!

Jesus Cropped from the Picture: Why Christians Get Bored and How to Restore them to Vibrant Faith, by Rev. Don Allsman.  Why are many churches shrinking? Why are so many Christians bored? Could it be that the well-meaning attempt to simplify the gospel message for contemporary culture has produced churches full of discouraged people secretly longing for something more? Jesus Cropped from the Picture describes this phenomenon and proposes a return to our sacred roots as a guard against spiritual lethargy and a way to enhance spiritual vibrancy.

Sacred Roots: A Primer on Retrieving the Great Tradition, by Dr. Don L. Davis.  The Christian Faith is anchored on the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, whose incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection forever changed the world. Between the years 100 and 500 C.E. those who believed in him grew from a small persecuted minority to a strong aggressive movement reaching far beyond the bounds of the Roman empire. The roots this era produced gave us our canon (the Scriptures), our worship, and our conviction (the major creeds of the Church, and the central tenets of the Faith, especially regarding the doctrine of the Trinity and Christ). This book suggests how we can renew our contemporary faith again, by rediscovering these roots, our Sacred Roots, by retrieving the Great Tradition of the Church that launched the Christian revolution.