Return from Exile

"e;Return from Exile is a profound gift to God's people. It speaks clearly,directly, and above all gently to the diversity of human experiences ofexile-through the pandemic and beyond. It is richly and carefullytheological in dealing with the challenges of online church andcommunion. It invites us to engage our imagination and hearts withGod's revelation in the Bible, tracing themes of exile and return acrossdifferent eras and cultures. Best of all, it will help individuals andcongregations to reflect deeply on the griefs, gifts, challenges,opportunities, and surprising work of God in our own situations. Indoing all this, it draws us gently but insistently to find our true home inthe Lord Jesus Christ."e; Rev Dr Chris Swann, Director of Church Planting,City to City Australia"e;Return from Exile provides an insightful and well-crafted reflection onthe disruption, and associated grief, caused by the pandemic and felt byindividuals and churches. The text asks Christians what needs to changeand what can remain when they return from exile to a world that hasaltered significantly. The reader is challenged to embrace the digital spaceand consider these spaces as the Areopagus of our day (Acts 17) - thegathering place of ideas, discussion and commerce, and the place whereChrist is present. Read the reflections, dwell in the Scripture readings,and you will be encouraged."e;Dr Tania Nelson, Executive Officer - Local Mission, LutheranChurch of Australia and New Zealand"e;Nathan Hedt combines his many years as a missional practitioner witha dexterity in the biblical text to coax the reader back from exile into thefields of harvest. Rather than writing for the Academy this worksucceeds in appealing to the person in the pew wondering how to find away back from isolation to community, from exile to Kingdomfruitfulness. Highly recommended for small groups throughout theChurch, this will be a tonic for the soul of the Church so much in needof both nurture and courage to face the challenges ahead."e;Dean Eaton, Director of Community Impact,Korus Connect."e;This resource is both timeless and timely. Exile is a healthy experiencefor Christians who live in this world and yet are also citizens of heaven.This is a place of blessing that the people of God have been gifted sinceour first parents were expelled from Eden. Nathan Hedt helps us, whohave perhaps grown too comfortable in this world, to step back andlearn from those who have gone before us. He reminds us that we arethe church, we don't go to church, and that all worship and Christianfellowship is provisional-real, but not yet complete. Importantly, thisbook raises as many questions as it answers and enables discussion. Itleads us to reflect on God's word and the experience of his churchthrough the ages. We need to hear and heed Nathan's call not to simplytry to go back to the way things were. I love the way he teases out theopportunities God gives us to join his mission to the people of theworld he loves. I encourage Christians everywhere to use this resource toreflect on the times in which we live, and indeed all times during ourearthly sojourn. It is both timeless and timely."e;Rev Dr Steen Olsen, emeritus Lutheran pastor,bishop and mission director