Hope College

Reading Assignments

inVocation Fellows enjoy a very unique opportunity to interact personally with some of the nation’s Christian thought leaders. These authors and activists are strong models of whole-life discipleship, living out their faith in the marketplace, the academy, the Church, and the public square. We cheerfully provide each Fellow with a copy of each major text selected for the program year. In order for our discussions with invited authors to be as rich and dynamic as possible, we ask Fellows to complete the assigned reading(s) before each Session. For those interested in diving more deeply into a particular topic, we have offered a curated list of additional resources to check out. Click here to view Fall 2023 reading assignments.

August 25 - 27, 2023

Kick-Off Retreat “Finding Our Place in the Big Story” with Dr. Amy Sherman & Laura McDaniel

REQUIRED PRE-READING: “Story,” chapter 1 of The Symphony of Mission by Goheen & Mullins (Baker, 2019).

OPTIONAL READING:
              Chapters 5 & 9 of Kingdom Calling by Sherman (IVP 2011)

              Chapter 1 of Agents of Flourishing: Pursuing Shalom in Every Corner of Society (IVP, 2022)

              Chapter 3 of Uptick by John P. Chandler (100 Movements Publishing, 2019)

 

September 16, 2023

“Discipleship & Cultural Liturgies” with Dr. James K.A. Smith

REQUIRED PRE-READING: Pages 1-26 of You Are What You Love by James K.A. Smith (Brazos, 2016)

OPTIONAL READING:

“You Can’t Think Your Way to God.” Interview with James K.A. Smith in Christianity Today

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/may/you-cant-think-your-way-to-god.html

 

October 7, 2023

“Called to the Body” with Rev. Dr. Tom Nelson

REQUIRED PRE-READING: Chapter 1 of ekklesia: rediscovering God’s design for the church by Tom Nelson (CrossTraining Publishers, 2009)

OPTIONAL READING:

“The Church Needs Reformation, Not Deconstruction,” by Tish Warren, Christianity Today (Oct 2021). https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/november/exvangelical-warren-guide-to-deconstruction-church.html

 

November 11, 2023

“Calling and Vocation” with Dr. Michaela O’Donnell 

REQUIRED PRE-READING: Chapters 3, 4, and 5 of Make Work Matter by Michaela O’Donnell (Baker, 2021).

OPTIONAL READING:

Myths of Vocation: “If I Check all the Boxes, I’ll Be Fulfilled” by Michaela O’Donnell   https://gallery.mailchimp.com/26727d66b832057a931976970/files/ae532c38-482e-414e-ad81-5aa3ea41a3a5/Myths_of_Vocation_Vol1.01.pdf?mc_cid=819b03f617&mc_eid=5ef54bc955