Mark Noll, the Francis McAnaney Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame, and author of such works as The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind and the controversial Is the Reformation Over? (co-written by Carolyn Nystrom) has written a new book entitled The New Shape of World Christianity . Noll is sure to be a fascinating, if not controversial, read. We should be aware of what God is doing in other parts of the world and Noll gives us one take on that. Noll argues that what is happening with Christianity in the world mirrors in a non-causal way what has happened to the faith in the US. It is arguable, if true, whether this is good or bad. I would also recommend the works of Philip Jenkins as helpful to American readers to bring them up to speed with what is happening to Christianity in other parts of the world. You can find his books here , here , and here . At the very least reading these kinds of books will help us to pray intelligently for the various needs of the church in the world.
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve. (Romans 16:17-18)