Rediscover What It Means to Be Human in a Disconnected World Through the Ancient Practices of the Church

Modern life has left many of us feeling isolated, purposeless, and spiritually adrift. Technology promises connection but delivers loneliness. We are held hostage to the lie that our best lives are found when we focus on ourselves. If you find yourself weary and longing for more, Church Matters offers a compelling invitation back to the transformative practices that have sustained the Christian community for centuries.

Jake Meador optimistically yet honestly invites us to consider how our lives can be changed by the ancient practices of the holy catholic church. The waters of baptism, the bread and wine of the Eucharist, the reading of Scripture, and more, all invite us into a deeper, more meaningful life with God and with others. Meador argues that these practices offer a distinctly human form of communal life in a time when many of us feel uncertain about the importance and possibility of community or even about what it means to be human.

What you'll find in Church Matters:



- Insight into how the church and the practices of following Jesus can be the antidote to modern issues like isolation, meaninglessness, and disconnection

- Exploration of seven core church practices: baptism, confirmation, confession, Eucharist, Scripture, prayer, and last rites

- A hopeful vision for human flourishing through authentic community and shared spiritual practices that help unite us with God and love our neighbor

This book shows how the church and its practices help us lead truly meaningful lives and stay human together. Whether you are curious about the life the Christian church can offer in today's day and age or you are a lifelong follower of Jesus Christ, Church Matters casts a much-needed vision for life together in a throwaway culture. Discover how the ancient way forward might be exactly what our modern world needs.



Jake Meador is the editor-in-chief of Mere Orthodoxy, a contributing editor with Plough, and a contributing writer at The Dispatch. He is the author of What Are Christians For? and In Search of the Common Good. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Commonweal, National Review, First Things, Books and Culture, and Christianity Today. He lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with his wife and children.



Church Matters: Staying Human Together in a Dehumanizing Culture



Introduction: Why We Need Church

Part 1: The Church's Life in the 21st Century



1. The Cruelty of Throwaway Culture



2. Speaking 'Christian'



3. Start Here: Go to Church

Part 2: The Church's Practices



4. Baptism: Rescued from Chaos



5. Confirmation: Living Toward Something



6. Confession: Crushed and Made Whole



7. Eucharist: Death and Desire



8. Scripture: A Light in the Dark



9. Prayer: The Heartbeat of Christian Practice



10. Visitation and Last Rites: How Do We Die?



Conclusion: The World to Come



Acknowledgements