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Life of the Church

At the Lord's Supper, Christians eat and drink together. We call it communion because by it we are unified in Christ. This togetherness—this community—is central to the life of the Church. Its distinguishing feature is not multiplicity, but oneness: "There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all" (Eph. 4:4-6).

Like all good stories there is unity to the story of the Church. It looks much different now than it did in the first century, but it's still the same Church. Part of its life is this story: where did it come from, who keeps it together, where is it going? While there are all kinds of interesting particulars, there is really only one answer to these questions: Christ. He is the founder of the Church, He is its sustainer, and He is the goal toward which it is progressing. History will culminate in the absolute glorification of Christ before all creation, and the Church's primary task is to prepare the way for Him. The Church is healthiest when Christians are most dedicated to this task. This doesn't mean the death of denominations, it simply means they will be working humbly together. Just as the men of Israel worked together to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem (Neh. 3), so all Christians regardless of denomination must build the kingdom together.

To be successful the Church must be healthy internally. Its worship must reflect the standards and guidelines found in the Bible, and its observance of the sacraments cannot be taken lightly or neglected. The Church is to be the one consistently safe place for Christians in a mostly hostile world. This is not to imply the Church is a location or building but that it is a spiritual presence providing refuge for the people of God.

The apostle John made it plain how the Church is to hold itself together. The world will know us by our love, he said. "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 John 4:11). The Church is at its best when it is filled with the selfless love of Christ and is sharing that love with the world.

It is the Church's responsibility to spread the kingdom Christ set up during His lifetime. This kingdom is spiritual and its citizenry is increased whenever someone is baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but it exists in a physical world and will lead to the transformation of all civilization and culture. While this goal often seems hopeless and beyond reach, God has promised that the Church will triumph:

"On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." — Matthew 16:18

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

 

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Active Filters: 9th grade (Ages 14-15)
"But Don't All Religions Lead to God?"
by Michael Green
from Baker Books
for 7th-Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$13.00
Against All Odds
by Jim Stier
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$14.99
Alphabet Makers
by Hyatt Moore
from Wycliffe Bible Translators
for 8th-Adult
in History of Books & Language (Location: HISV-BOOK)
$5.00 (2 in stock)
Atlas of the Islamic World
by Francis Robinson
from Facts On File
for 9th-Adult
in Historical & Cultural Atlases (Location: HISRF-ATLAS)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Blood of the Moon
by George Grant
from Wolgemuth and Hyatt
for 9th-Adult
in World Religions, Cults and Sects (Location: XAP-WRCS)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Body of Divinity
by Thomas Watson
from Banner of Truth Trust
Theology for 9th-12th grade
in Puritan Writings (Location: XCH-PUR)
Book of Psalms for Singing
by Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America
from Crown and Covenant
for 7th grade-Adult
in Hymnals & Psalters (Location: XWO-HYMN)
$21.00
Cell 58
International Adventures
by Dan Baumann
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$12.50
Christian Theology and Ancient Polytheism
by Marcia Brim
from Brimwood Press
for 6th-12th grade
in Tools for Young Historians (Location: BIBWV-TYH)
$35.00
Christianity, Cults & Religions
from Rose Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in World Religions, Cults and Sects (Location: XAP-WRCS)
$14.99
Coming of the Mormons
Landmark #37
by Jim Kjelgaard
from Random House
for 5th-9th grade
in Vintage & Collectible (Location: VIN-COL)
Compact Guide to World Religions
by Dean C. Halverson
from Bethany House
for 9th-Adult
in World Religions, Cults and Sects (Location: XAP-WRCS)
$16.00 $9.50 (1 in stock)
Created to Flourish
from HOPE International
for 7th-12th grade
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Cry from the Streets
International Adventures
by Jeannette Lukasse
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$9.00
Dayuma
by Ethel Emily Wallis
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$14.99 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Early Islam
Great Ages of Man
by Desmond Stewart
from Time-Life Books
for 9th-Adult
in Great Ages of Man (Location: ADU-HISGAM)
Face to Face
by Steve Wilkins
2nd edition from Canon Press
for 9th-Adult
in Hospitality (Location: SS-HOS)
$14.00
Five Pioneer Missionaries
by Various
from Banner of Truth Trust
Biography for 9th-Adult
in History of Missions (Location: XCH-MIS)
$13.00 $7.00 (1 in stock)
Great for God
by David Shibley
from Master Books
for 7th-12th grade
in History of Missions (Location: XCH-MIS)
$9.59
Handbook of Christian Apologetics
by Peter Kreeft & Ronald Tacelli
from InterVarsity Press
for 9th-Adult
in Beginning Christian Apologetics (Location: XAP-BEG)
$22.00
Hipster Christianity
by Brett McCracken
from Baker Books
for 9th-Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$15.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
How to Grow in Christ
by Jack Kinneer
from P&R Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
$6.80
Living on the Devil's Doorstep
International Adventures
by Floyd McClung
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$14.99 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Lords of the Earth
by Don Richardson
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$9.50 (1 in stock)
Man With the Bird on His Head
by Abbe Anderson, John Rush
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Mecca
by Desmond Stewart
from Newsweek Books
for 8th-Adult
in Clearance: History & Geography (Location: ZCLE-HIS)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Operation World
by Jason Mandryk, Patrick & Robin Johnstone
7th edition from Biblica Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
$15.00 (3 in stock)
Operation World
by Jason Mandryk, Patrick & Robin Johnstone
7th edition from InterVarsity Press
for 9th-Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
$25.00
Persuasions
by Doug Wilson
from Canon Press
for 9th-Adult
in Beginning Christian Apologetics (Location: XAP-BEG)
$12.00
Praying through the 100 Gateway Cities of the 10/40 Window
from YWAM Publishing
for 4th-Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Praying through the 100 Gateway Cities of the 10/40 Window
2nd edition from YWAM Publishing
for 4th-Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
$9.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Princess Adelina
by Julie Sutter
from Vision Forum
Historical fiction / Irish missions for 7th-10th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Publish Great Things
by H. Douglas Garland
from Bob Jones University Press
for 9th-12th grade
in BJU Bible Modular Series (Location: BIB-BJUMOD)
$13.33 $6.00 (1 in stock)
Religions Of The World
by Elizabeth Breuilly, Joanne O'Brien, Martin Palmer
Revised from Checkmark Books
for 3rd-9th grade
in Tools for Young Historians (Location: BIBWV-TYH)
Rule of St Benedict
by St. Benedict & Timothy Fry, editor
from Penguin Classics
Devotional Material for 9th-Adult
in Medieval Literature (Location: LIT2-MED)
$16.00
Rule of St. Benedict in English
by St. Benedict & Timothy Fry, editor
from Liturgical Press
Devotional Material for 9th-Adult
in Medieval Literature (Location: LIT2-MED)
Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind
by Suzanne Fisher Staples
Reprint from Laurel-Leaf Books
for 7th-9th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Story of Islam
by Suzanne Strauss Art
from Pemblewick Press
for 7th-10th grade
in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID)
$17.50
Story of Islam
by Suzanne Strauss Art
2nd edition from Pemblewick Press
for 7th-10th grade
in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID)
Student's Guide to Religious Studies
by D.G. Hart
1st edition from Intercollegiate Studies Institute
for 9th-12th grade
$12.99
Surprised by Hope
by N. T. Wright
from HarperOne
for 9th-Adult
in Eschatology & Prophecy (Location: XTH-ESCH)
$24.99
Tactics
by Gregory Koukl
10th Anniversary Edition from Zondervan
for 9th-Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$19.99
Taking the High Places
International Adventures
by Jemimah Wright, Terry Snow
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$14.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Tommorow You Die
International Adventures
by Reona Peterson Joly
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$7.50 (2 in stock)
Totally Surrounded
by Christina Davis
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$14.99
Understanding the Times
by David Noebel
2nd edition from Summit Ministries
for 9th-12th grade
in Summit Worldview Curriculum (Location: BIBWV-SUM)
$10.00 (5 in stock)
Understanding the Times
by Jeff Myers & David Noebel
3rd edition from David C. Cook
for 9th-12th grade
in Worldview Resources (Location: XWV-RES)
$40.00
Usborne Encyclopedia of World Religions
by Clare Hickman, Kirsteen Rogers, Susan Meredith
from Usborne
for 5th-9th grade
in World Religions, Cults and Sects (Location: XAP-WRCS)
Walking Miracle
by Art Sanborn
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$14.99
World Religions
by John Bowker
from DK Publishing
for 5th-12th grade
in World Religions, Cults and Sects (Location: XAP-WRCS)
$19.99
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