Discipleship in the Present Tense

In this accessible, insightful book, noted Christian scholar and award-winning author James K. A. Smith gathers together a range of his writing for popular audiences. Working at the intersection of faith and culture, past and present, church and world, Smith offers both incisive cultural criticism and winsome articulation of a robust Christian faith in our "secular age."

Whether he's making a case for the enduring treasures of the Christian tradition in postmodernity, talking about the virtues of "hipster" Christianity, inviting us to consider the poetry of Charles Wright or offering advice to young parents, Smith’s prose is always probing, provocative and illuminating.

Reviews

"Few people are as qualified as James K. A. Smith to write a book on the intersection of faith and culture. Whenever he speaks, I listen. In this book, you’ll find winsome but profound essays on following Jesus in the 21st century. Read it and be challenged."
— Jonathan Merritt, faith and culture writer; author of A Faith of Our Own: Following Jesus Beyond the Culture Wars.

"Delivering profound insight in stunningly lucid prose, Smith focuses on the importance of both imagination and embodiment, not only in worship and education, but also through the arts. Drawing attention to beauty in architecture, poetry and music, as well as through sacramental practices, Smith celebrates 'creational abundance,' which he beautifully presents as our 'culture-making mandate.'"
— Crystal Downing, distinguished professor of English and film studies, Messiah College

"Discipleship in the Present Tense reflects on the intersections of faith and culture in our contemporary world. 'Intersections' may bring to mind two roads meeting at right angles, with stop signs. The intersections in this book are more like freeway cloverleafs: the traffic keeps moving. Suggestion: start at the end, with two interviews that are real conversations, not perfunctory Q&As. Then pick and choose, tapas-style, from the tasty selection of essays."
— John Wilson, editor, Books & Culture