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Created for Community: Connecting Christian Belief with Christian Living
Makes theology accessible to a wider audience, introducing readers to the core doctrines of the Christian faith and encouraging them to connect belief with everyday life.
336 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1996
51 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Stanley J. Grenz
54 books32 followersStanley James Grenz was born in Alpena, Michigan on January 7, 1950. He was the youngest of three children born to Richard and Clara Grenz, a brother to Lyle and Jan. His dad was a Baptist pastor for 30 years before he passed away in 1971. Growing up as a “pastor’s kid” meant that he moved several times in his life, from Michigan, to South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Colorado.
After high school Stan began his undergraduate studies in 1968 with the idea that he would become a nuclear physicist. But God had other plans for him, and in 1971, while driving home to Colorado after a visit with his parents in Oklahoma, he received a definite call into full time Christian ministry.
In 1970-1971 Stan traveled in an evangelistic youth team where he met Edna Sturhahn (from Vancouver, BC), who then became his wife in December, 1971. Both Stan and Edna completed their undergraduate degrees at the University of Colorado and Stan went on to receive his M. Div from Denver Seminary in 1976, the same year in which he was ordained into the gospel ministry. During the years of study in Colorado he served as a youth pastor and an assistant pastor. From Denver, Stan and Edna moved to Munich, Germany where Stan completed his Doctor of Theology under the mentorship of Wolfhart Pannenberg. Their son, Joel was born in Munich in 1978.
During a two-year pastorate (1979-1981) in Winnipeg, MB, where daughter Corina was born, Stan also taught courses at the University of Winnipeg and at Winnipeg Theological Seminary (now Providence Seminary). His full time teaching career began at the North American Baptist Seminary in Sioux Falls, SD (1981-1990). Those years were followed by a twelve-year (1990-2002) position as Pioneer McDonald Professor of Baptist Heritage, Theology and Ethics at Carey Theological College and at Regent College in Vancouver, BC. From 1996 to 1999 he carried an additional appointment as Professor of Theology and Ethics (Affiliate) at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard IL. After a one-year sojourn as Distinguished Professor of Theology at Baylor University and Truett Seminary in Waco, TX (2002-2003), he returned to Carey in August 2003. In fall 2004, he assumed an additional appointment as Professor of Theological Studies at Mars Hill Graduate School, Seattle WA.
Stan has authored or co-authored twenty-five books, served as editor or co-editor for two Festschriften, contributed articles to more than two dozen other volumes, and has seen to print more than a hundred essays and an additional eighty book reviews. He had plans to write many more books. Two more of his books will appear in print within the next year.
In addition to writing and lecturing all around the world, Stan loved preaching. He admitted to “breaking into preaching” in some of his lectures. He served as interim pastor of several congregations and as guest preacher in many churches. He loved the Church, both locally and worldwide.
Stan wholeheartedly supported and encouraged his wife Edna in her pastoral ministry, her studies and in the enlargement of her ministry gifts. At First Baptist Church, he played the guitar and trumpet in the worship team and sang in the choir. He was proud of his children and their spouses, Joel and Jennifer and Corina and Chris, and delighted in his new granddaughter, Anika. Stan was a friend and mentor to many, always encouraging people to strive to new heights.
As a theologian for the Church Stan wrote from the deep, interior vision of the sure hope that we would enter into the community of God in the renewed creation. He articulated the reality of this new community as the compass for Christian theology: 'Now the dwelling of God is with human beings, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' (Rev. 21:3
After high school Stan began his undergraduate studies in 1968 with the idea that he would become a nuclear physicist. But God had other plans for him, and in 1971, while driving home to Colorado after a visit with his parents in Oklahoma, he received a definite call into full time Christian ministry.
In 1970-1971 Stan traveled in an evangelistic youth team where he met Edna Sturhahn (from Vancouver, BC), who then became his wife in December, 1971. Both Stan and Edna completed their undergraduate degrees at the University of Colorado and Stan went on to receive his M. Div from Denver Seminary in 1976, the same year in which he was ordained into the gospel ministry. During the years of study in Colorado he served as a youth pastor and an assistant pastor. From Denver, Stan and Edna moved to Munich, Germany where Stan completed his Doctor of Theology under the mentorship of Wolfhart Pannenberg. Their son, Joel was born in Munich in 1978.
During a two-year pastorate (1979-1981) in Winnipeg, MB, where daughter Corina was born, Stan also taught courses at the University of Winnipeg and at Winnipeg Theological Seminary (now Providence Seminary). His full time teaching career began at the North American Baptist Seminary in Sioux Falls, SD (1981-1990). Those years were followed by a twelve-year (1990-2002) position as Pioneer McDonald Professor of Baptist Heritage, Theology and Ethics at Carey Theological College and at Regent College in Vancouver, BC. From 1996 to 1999 he carried an additional appointment as Professor of Theology and Ethics (Affiliate) at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard IL. After a one-year sojourn as Distinguished Professor of Theology at Baylor University and Truett Seminary in Waco, TX (2002-2003), he returned to Carey in August 2003. In fall 2004, he assumed an additional appointment as Professor of Theological Studies at Mars Hill Graduate School, Seattle WA.
Stan has authored or co-authored twenty-five books, served as editor or co-editor for two Festschriften, contributed articles to more than two dozen other volumes, and has seen to print more than a hundred essays and an additional eighty book reviews. He had plans to write many more books. Two more of his books will appear in print within the next year.
In addition to writing and lecturing all around the world, Stan loved preaching. He admitted to “breaking into preaching” in some of his lectures. He served as interim pastor of several congregations and as guest preacher in many churches. He loved the Church, both locally and worldwide.
Stan wholeheartedly supported and encouraged his wife Edna in her pastoral ministry, her studies and in the enlargement of her ministry gifts. At First Baptist Church, he played the guitar and trumpet in the worship team and sang in the choir. He was proud of his children and their spouses, Joel and Jennifer and Corina and Chris, and delighted in his new granddaughter, Anika. Stan was a friend and mentor to many, always encouraging people to strive to new heights.
As a theologian for the Church Stan wrote from the deep, interior vision of the sure hope that we would enter into the community of God in the renewed creation. He articulated the reality of this new community as the compass for Christian theology: 'Now the dwelling of God is with human beings, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' (Rev. 21:3
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 13, 2018
An outstandingly simple, yet thouroughly supported book on Theology. If you are wanting to take a second step into deeper Theology studies I highly recommend this
December 3, 2019
A good book for personal or group study. My favorite portions were Chapter 3 when he discusses how we are the bearers of the image of God and Chapter 7 when he lays out the interconnection of the Holy Spirit and the scriptures.
July 30, 2016
Good introduction to conservative systematic theology. So yeah, that's like two of my least favourite things. At the same time it wasn't too bad ✌
August 24, 2018
Finished this book with a group of my teammates. I enjoyed the insights into God's designed for community. It is rich in theological depth for the scholar but also practical enough for a new believer to understand.
There were a few things I wrestled with in this book that I was able to have conversations around. This will be a book I can referenced in regards to understanding community, creation, eschatology and the new heavens and new earth.
There were a few things I wrestled with in this book that I was able to have conversations around. This will be a book I can referenced in regards to understanding community, creation, eschatology and the new heavens and new earth.
November 11, 2024
3.5 stars.
Created for Community is a solid introduction to evangelical theology. There's not much pizazz to it, but it provides the intellectual joists upon which one can further build. I first read it as a textbook for a course at Columbia Bible College in 2020!
Created for Community is a solid introduction to evangelical theology. There's not much pizazz to it, but it provides the intellectual joists upon which one can further build. I first read it as a textbook for a course at Columbia Bible College in 2020!
November 17, 2020
A truly helpful theological resource.
June 26, 2022
Well written, easy to navigate and covers relevant topics for all Christians. I think it could have benefited from some additional material and different choices in language.
July 14, 2023
A textbook that I throughly enjoyed to read. Concise and easy to read.
September 25, 2025
Very conservative with their beliefs and very pushy about what is right and wrong about God and the Bible.
April 4, 2025
This book was for my theology class! I loved how this book connected theological ideas to the need for community. Though this was for a class, I found interest in finishing this book. WHenever I have to read something for a class, I usually lose interest due to the fact it is for a grade rather than for personal enjoyment to read said book.
Nevertheless, I loved this book!
Nevertheless, I loved this book!
February 24, 2011
Probably the best systematic theology I've read, and certainly the most accessible. Grenz is on solid theological ground, but unlike many in his profession, he knows how to write so most anybody can understand him without an accompanying headache. A nice thing to find for a seminary student to get assigned once in a while.
December 3, 2015
Cool introduction into systematic theology. I found his concepts easy to grasp and understand, yet there was definitely a level of complexity and depth to Grenz's writing that I enjoyed.
I would recommend this to any Christian that is interested in studying theology, but isn't quite sure where to start.
I would recommend this to any Christian that is interested in studying theology, but isn't quite sure where to start.
September 23, 2012
Very good book on the core beliefs of Christianity. Explains, from a Biblical perspective, that we are created for community.
January 28, 2016
Really good breaking down Christian theology down to its easy enough bite sized chunks. Questions that have been nagging me for a lifetime were answered through the reading of this book.
May 5, 2012
This book taught me so much about the Church I've been a part of my whole life.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews