Ecclesiology

Best-selling author Scott Hahn sheds new light on the Mass, offering readers a deeper appreciation of the most familiar of Catholic rituals....

A thoughtful exploration of the intersection of faith and politics.

The human body holds endlessly fascinating secrets. The resilience of skin, the strength and structure of the bones, the dynamic balance of the muscles - your physical being is knit according to a pattern of stunning purpose....

In this book, McKnight and Barringer explore the concept of tov - unpacking its richness and how it can help Christians and churches rise up to fulfill their true calling as imitators of Jesus....

In this short audiobook, Matt Smethurst makes the case that deacons are model servants called to meet tangible needs, organize and mobilize acts of service, preserve the unity of the flock, and support the ministry of the elders....

The central claim in Christ Formed in You is that it is God's purpose to change us by progressively making us more like Jesus, and that this happens only as we understand and apply the gospel to our lives....

This is a book of wisdom and insight that explains how providential are the trials through which the Catholic Church is now passing. All these themes receive new clarity and depth from Cardinal Ratzinger.

Chris Wright offers a sweeping biblical survey of the holistic mission of the church....

Acclaimed teaching pastor Daniel Grothe speaks to the sense of loneliness that many feel in today's age of hypermobility and noncommittal wandering. He reminds us of the ancient vow of stability and teaches us how to lead a richer life of friendship, community, and purpose....

Jonathan Leeman presents a series of biblical, theological, and pastoral arguments to help reorient our minds to a scriptural definition of church....

The Heart of the Artist will give you a better understanding of yourself and your unique place in the body of Christ. You'll find wisdom and encouragement that can help you survive the challenges and reap the rich joys of a ministry in the creative arts....

What If Jesus Was Serious About the Church? looks at what the Bible really says about the church, its purpose, and the impact of its modern captivity to consumer values....

A cautionary look at 10 dangerously appealing half-truths. Not long ago, I came across a list of 10 principles set forth by proponents of progressive Christianity. They are, in effect, a new 10 commandments....

In this addition to the Union series, Daniel Hames and Michael Reeves argue that an individual’s relationship with God influences their evangelism and missions more than anything else....

Originally written in 1656 and endorsed by generations of leading pastors as an essential book on the work of ministry, this abridged version of The Reformed Pastor presents the best of Richard Baxter’s timeless advice in simple, modern language....

The office of deacon is God's gift to His church, but today it is often undervalued, misunderstood, and perceived to be of little importance. In The Deacon, the author considers the Old Testament background for this calling....

The D.R.E.A.M. Church shares the strategies that our church and thousands of others have used to experience healthy, long-term growth....

Using the classic Counterpoints forum of presentation-critique-response, this insightful book explores four prominent views of baptism held by different branches of Protestantism: Baptist, Christian Church/Church of Christ, Lutheran, and Reformed....

Every church, every organization, has experienced them: betrayal, deception, grumbling, envy, exclusion....

Dear. Precious. Lovely. The Bible describes the church in extraordinary ways, even using beautiful poetry and metaphors. Unfortunately, many believers focus more on its mission, structure, or specific programs than on its inherent beauty....

While God certainly cares for your deepest needs, Skye Jethani wants you to know that prayer is so much more than a two-way transaction with a heavenly vending machine....

Believers display the greatness of God’s kingdom to a hostile world when we selflessly serve each other and those around us. Matthew Emadi explains the roles we play within the church. Through acts of service including hospitality, ministry, and evangelism, we bless our communities....

The subject of the book of Ephesians is the church. There are seven aspects of the church revealed in Ephesians. The church is the Body, the new man, the kingdom, the family, the dwelling place, the bride, and the warrior....

Through engaging narratives, thoughtful reflection, and actionable steps, 5-Fold Identity challenges individuals and church communities to rethink their approach to ministry, discipleship, and relational dynamics.

Leading practical theologian Andrew Root shows that the church's crisis is not in the loss of resources; it's in the loss of life—and that life can only return when we remain open to God's encountering presence....

What comes to mind when you think of the word church? In this volume, Gregg R. Allison helps define the church and its mission by presenting an overview of the specific doctrines and practices of different churches and denominations. He lays a basic foundation for better understanding the common practices among local church communities (“mere ecclesiology”) and the ways that they diverge from one another (“more ecclesiology”).

From higly-respected professor Homer Hailey (author of popular commentaries on the Minor Prophets, Isaiah, John, and Revelation) comes a book perfect for understanding and defending the inspiration of the Bible! This easy-to-understand volume is designed both for personal study and for Bible class use, and will help grow your faith and confidence in the inspired word of God! Homer Hailey served as a Professor of Bible at Abilene Christian College (now University) and Florida College. His life story has been written by expert religious historian, David Edwin Harrell, "The Churches of Christ ...

In this book, we will explore the mystery of God; that is, the doctrine of the Trinity or Triune God. For years, the debate continues as to whether Jesus Christ and the Father are the same or if they are separate. Answers to this controversy are within the word of God which clearly reveals the truth. In this publication, we will plainly discuss the Godhead; that is, the divine nature of God. Through the presentation of biblical truth, we will bring clarity to this controversial subject.

For many modern Christians, the regulative principle is a foreign concept. The question of how one is to go about the worship of God in the assembly of the saints is one that has never occurred to them. One does not have to look very far in order to notice the consequences of neglecting this subject. From the more extreme examples of preachers on trampolines to the more widely accepted practices of skits and solos, the modern church has found itself outside the boundaries of biblically prescribed worship. The Lord has given us His blueprint for His worship. He has commanded us not to add to...

Jesus loves the sheep he leads, and he leads the sheep he loves. For most pastors, shepherding a local church is far more than their day job. The local church signifies the place a pastor’s heart loves to be, even though leading a church often involves more than a little suffering. In Shepherd & Sheep, Benjamin Vrbicek gives color and texture to one pastor’s love for the church. The twenty-five essays in this book first appeared in places such as Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, 9Marks, For The Church, Gospel-Centered Discipleship, and Desiring God. Excerpt Despite the ...

Comfort and Joy? Advent season is desperate for true peace and real spiritual light. These carols are singable Psalms. They offer real comfort and joy. While all of us understand the feeling of waiting on God, these musical carols are grounded in true hope and human faith. If you enjoy Keith and Kristyn Getty's Awaken the Dawn Songbook, or their Kid's Hymnal, try singing these Psalm carols. Teachers, pastors, ministers will appreciate their audience being able to sing a Psalm passage together before it is explained. History's witnesses recorded their experiences in holy meditations and raw ...

The modern church is falling apart at the seams. We have abandoned the practice of the sufficiency of Scripture. Instead of following the pattern of Scripture, we have evolved, morphed, and adjusted in order to keep up with the culture. We have done so to the point that the church in the last century would be unrecognizable to the church of the last 2,000 years. The focus of the church in our current cultural climate should be reformation. We should stop trying to integrate the ways of a collapsing culture into our practices in order to draw people. We should stop trying to force revival to...

Like a fresh wind in the heat of a summer day, this masterpiece of a book will surely refresh the spirits of true disciples of Jesus and bring understanding to the body of Christ in this hour. As with many of Bert’s books, wisdom screams out to us from these golden pages and acts as another plumb line to those who cannot be bought by the religious systems of this world, which tend to be confined by its fleshly restrictions and the limitations of the mere wisdom of man, human thinking, and human agendas. The true disciples of Jesus are losing their taste for the shallow and superficial, ...

Ecclesiology is the study of the church, which is God’s people throughout the world. God has chosen the church to be his global representative (Matt 28:19) and to glorify him throughout eternity (Eph 3:21). The church is God’s temple (1 Cor 3:16) and his family (Gal 6:10). It is Christ’s body, including various members with different spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:12-28). It is the salt and light of the world (Matt 5:13-14). While on earth, Christ promised to build his church and that the gates of hades will not prevail against it (Matt 16:18). It is the most important institution in the ...

'Welcoming the World' courageously addresses potential pitfalls and offensive habits within North American churches while celebrating positive surprises and commendable attitudes. This book stands as a sincere endeavor to foster understanding and elevate the welcoming practices of American churches.

Danny Steyne takes you through the questions that must be raised, and that most of us have. What truly defines the Church? An encounter with God changes your understanding of what He wants in a moment. All your training, opinions, and plans can be thrown away when you have an encounter that begins to reveal The Church that Jesus initiated and is building, particularly when it’s very different than what you might have been doing and experiencing. Using history and practical leadership experience, Danny lays before you some much needed truth and wisdom about where we go from here. Let the ...

The fuse has been burning in Syria for five years. Now the powder keg is about to explode! Isaiah 17 predicts the destruction of Damascus, Syria. Isa 17:1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. Now more than ever it is important for Christians to be alert to the bible prophecy that is unfolding in Syria. For that reason I have edited and compiled all of my commentaries about Syria into this one book. These commentaries appear throughout several of my other books. This book contains everything that you need to know about ...

A thoughtful exploration of the intersection of faith and politics, Exiles asks: What if we considered ourselves “exiles in Babylon” and turned to Scripture, not political parties, to shape our most passionate values?

5-Fold Identity: Getting Down to the Foundation of an Atomic Faith That Transforms Character, Relationships, Habits, and Well-Being offers a compelling exploration of the transformative power of identity, inviting listeners on a journey to discover and live out the fullness of their roles as Beloved, Learner, Friend, Guardian, and Steward. Rooted in the fivefold ministry gifts from Ephesians 4:11-13, this book provides a fresh perspective on individual spiritual growth, blending biblical insights with practical applications.

The reality that rampant dysfunction exists in evangelical churches today should be no mystery when one recognizes that churches typically fail to function according to the metaphor of Christ as the head of the body. Through this metaphor we can observe how dysfunction can be avoided by cultivating several types of functionality that God included in the human body. This book outlines five types of functionality that operate in the human body releasing it to fully express the character of the head: unified functionality, distinctive functionality, systemic functionality, expressive ...