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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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"Atheism" of the Early Church
by Rousas John Rushdoony
from Chalcedon / Ross House Books
for Adult
in Christianity and the State (Location: XWV-STA)
$12.00
"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
Against Christianity
by Peter Leithart
from Canon Press
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$15.00
Against the Church
by Doug Wilson
1st edition from Canon Press
for Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$15.00
Already Gone - DVD
by Ken Ham
from Answers in Genesis
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$4.00
At the Edge of the Village
by Lisa Leidenfrost
from Canon Press
Biographies for Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$17.00
Baptized Body
by Peter J. Leithart
from Canon Press
in Baptism (Location: XWO-SAC1)
$15.00
Biblical Eldership
by Alexander Strauch
Rev Exp from Lewis and Roth Publishers
Historical Non-Fiction for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$18.50 $8.00 (4 in stock)
Blessed Are the Hungry
by Peter Leithart
from Canon Press
in Communion (Eucharist) (Location: XWO-SAC2)
$15.00 $9.00 (1 in stock)
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
Built Upon the Rock
by Mark Dever
1st edition from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$6.50 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Carved in Ebony
by Jasmine L. Holmes
from Bethany House
for 10th-Adult
in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH)
$17.99
Case for Covenantal Infant Baptism
by Gregg Strawbridge, editor
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Baptism (Location: XWO-SAC1)
$16.99
Celebrating Biblical Feasts
by Martha Zimmerman
from Bethany House
for Adult
in Jewish Holidays & Traditions (Location: HOLIDAY)
$16.99
Celebrating the Sabbath
by Bruce Ray
from P&R Publishing
for 11th-Adult
in Worship & Sabbath (Location: XWO-SABB)
$6.99
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International Adventures
by Dan Baumann
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$12.50
Children of the Promise
by Robert Booth
from P&R Publishing
for 11th-Adult
in Baptism (Location: XWO-SAC1)
$14.99
Christian Baptism
by John Murray
from P&R Publishing
in Baptism (Location: XWO-SAC1)
$5.95 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Christianity, Cults & Religions
by Rose Publishing
7th edition from Rose Publishing
for 10th-Adult
in World Religions, Cults and Sects (Location: XAP-WRCS)
$4.99
Christianity, Cults & Religions
from Rose Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in World Religions, Cults and Sects (Location: XAP-WRCS)
$14.99
Church Discipline
9marks: Buliding Healthy Churches
by Jonathan Leeman
1st edition from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$14.99
Church Membership
9marks: Buliding Healthy Churches
by Jonathan Leeman
1st edition from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$14.99
Committing to One Another
by Mark Dever
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$6.50
Community
Re:Lit Books
by Brad House
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Discipleship & Community (Location: XCL-DIS)
$15.99 $6.00 (3 in stock)
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)
Confronting the Cults
by Gordon Lewis
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in World Religions, Cults and Sects (Location: XAP-WRCS)
$7.00
Creature of the Word
by Matt Chandler, Josh Patterson, Eric Geiger
from B&H Books
for 11th-Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$14.99
Creeds of the Churches
by John Leith
3rd edition from Westminster John Knox Press
for 10th-Adult
in Creeds, Confessions & Catechisms (Location: XTH-CREED)
$26.50
Crisis, Opportunity, and the Christian Future
by James Jordan
1st edition from Athanasius Press
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$6.00
Critique of Modern Youth Ministry
by Chris Schlect
2nd edition from Canon Press
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$7.00 $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
Dangerous Calling
by Paul David Tripp
1st edition from Crossway Books
for 11th-Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$22.99 $9.50 (2 in stock)
Dayuma
by Ethel Emily Wallis
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$14.99 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Desiring the Kingdom
Cultural Liturgies Volume 1
by James K.A. Smith
from Baker Academics
for 11th-Adult
in Art & Culture (Location: XCU-ART)
$17.50
Dynamic Heart in Daily Life
by Jeremy Pierre
for Adult
in Christian Counseling (Location: XCL-COU)
$21.00
Elder and His Work
by David Dickson
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$8.50
Face to Face
by Steve Wilkins
2nd edition from Canon Press
for 9th-Adult
in Hospitality (Location: SS-HOS)
$14.00
Family-Integrated Church
by J. Mark Fox
from Xulon Press
for Adult
in Family Worship (Location: BIB-FAWO)
$14.99
Feed My Lambs
by Tim Gallant
from Pactum Reformanda
for 11th-Adult
in Communion (Eucharist) (Location: XWO-SAC2)
$15.95
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)
For the Life of the World
by Alexander Schmemann
from St. Vladimir's
for 11th-Adult
in Communion (Eucharist) (Location: XWO-SAC2)
$16.50
From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya
by Ruth Tucker
2nd edition from Zondervan
History of missions for 11th-Adult
in History of Missions (Location: XCH-MIS)
$32.99 $14.00 (3 in stock)
From Silence to Song
by Peter Leithart
from Canon Press
in Worship & Sabbath (Location: XWO-SABB)
$12.00
From the Village to the Ends of the Earth
by Lisa Leidenfrost
from Canon Press
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$16.95
Generous Justice
by Timothy Keller
from Dutton Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$19.95 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Get Real
by John S. Leonard
1st edition from New Growth Press
for Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$13.00
Given for You
by Keith Mathison
from P&R Publishing
in Communion (Eucharist) (Location: XWO-SAC2)
$27.99
Glorious Church
by Robert Andrews
from Sentinel Press
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$12.50
God Gave Wine
by Kenneth Gentry
from Oakdown Books
for 11th-Adult
in Culture of Drinking & Wine (Location: XCU-WIN)
$13.95 $7.00 (1 in stock)
God's Good News
by Mark Dever
Stg from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$6.50
Guarding One Another
by Mark Dever
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$6.50
Handbook of Christian Apologetics
by Peter Kreeft & Ronald Tacelli
from InterVarsity Press
for 9th-Adult
in Beginning Christian Apologetics (Location: XAP-BEG)
$22.00
Hearing God's Word
by Mark Dever
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$6.50
Help for the Caregiver
by Michael R. Emlet
from New Growth Press
in CCEF Counseling booklets (Location: XCL-CCEF)
$2.79
Hipster Christianity
by Brett McCracken
from Baker Books
for 9th-Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$15.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
Hospitality Commands
by Alexander Strauch
from Lewis and Roth Publishers
for 10th-Adult
in Hospitality (Location: SS-HOS)
$4.75 $3.00 (1 in stock)
How I Know God Answers Prayer
by Rosalind Goforth
Revised from Evangel Publishing House
for Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
$5.99
How to Grow in Christ
by Jack Kinneer
from P&R Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
$6.80
I Dared to Call Him Father
by Bilquis Sheikh & Richard H. Schneider
25th Anniversary from Chosen Books
Biography for Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$15.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
In His Service
by R. J. Rushdoony
from Chalcedon / Ross House Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$19.50
In the Land of the Blue Burqas
by Kate McCord
from Moody Press
for 11th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$15.99
Islam and Terrorism
by Mark Gabriel
from FrontLine
for Adult
in Islam & Sharia Law (Location: XAP-ISL)
$10.00
Kingdom and the Power
by Peter Leithart
from P&R Publishing
in Biblical Theology (Location: XTH-BIB)
$9.50
Knots Untied
by J. C. Ryle
from Banner of Truth Trust
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$29.00
Leaders Who Last
by Dave Kraft
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$10.00
Leadership
by Stephen Viars
from New Growth Press
for Adult
in CCEF Counseling booklets (Location: XCL-CCEF)
$2.79
Leading One Another
by Mark Dever
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$6.50
Lectures to My Students
by Charles H. Spurgeon
from Canon Press
for Adult
in Preaching the Word (Location: XWO-PRE)
$28.95
Let The Nations Be Glad!
by John Piper
2nd edition from Baker Books
for 10th-Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$10.00 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Let The Nations Be Glad!
by John Piper
3rd edition from Baker Books
for 10th-Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$16.99
Life Together
by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
from HarperOne
for Adult
in Discipleship & Community (Location: XCL-DIS)
$11.99
Liturgy Trap
by James Jordan
3rd edition from Athanasius Press
in Worship & Sabbath (Location: XWO-SABB)
$8.95 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Living Church
by John Stott
from InterVarsity Press
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$10.00 $5.00 (1 in stock)
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)
Lord's Service
by Jeffrey Meyers
from Canon Press
for 11th-Adult
in Worship & Sabbath (Location: XWO-SABB)
$25.00
Loving Life
by Paul E. Miller
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Discipleship & Community (Location: XCL-DIS)
$12.99
Loving the Way Jesus Loves
by Philip Graham Ryken
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Discipleship & Community (Location: XCL-DIS)
$15.99
Loving Well
by William P. Smith
from New Growth Press
for Adult
in Discipleship & Community (Location: XCL-DIS)
$13.50
Meaning and Mode of Baptism
by Jay Adams
from P&R Publishing
in Baptism (Location: XWO-SAC1)
$5.00
Ministries of Mercy
by Tim Keller
3rd edition from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$16.99
Mother Kirk
by Doug Wilson
from Canon Press
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$21.00
Music & Ministry
by Calvin Johannson
2nd edition from Hendrickson Publishers
for Adult
in Worship & Sabbath (Location: XWO-SABB)
$9.50 $5.00 (1 in stock)
Muslims and Christians at the Table
by Bruce A. McDowell & Anees Zaka
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Islam & Sharia Law (Location: XAP-ISL)
$10.00
Narrow Road
by Brother Andrew, Elizabeth Sherrill, Jars of Clay, John Sherrill
from YWAM Publishing
for 10th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$14.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
New Testament Deacon
by Alexander Strauch
from Lewis and Roth Publishers
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$15.95
Next Christendom
by Philip Jenkins
Revised and Updated from Oxford University
for Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$9.95
Nine Marks of a Healthy Church
by Mark Dever
3rd edition from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$17.99
On Church Leadership
by Mark Driscoll
1st edition from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$7.50 $3.00 (1 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
Parenting in the Pew
by Robbie Castleman
from InterVarsity Press
in Parenting (Location: XFA-PAR)
$12.00
Peace Child
by Don Richardson
4th edition from Regal Books
Biography for 10th-Adult
in History of Missions (Location: XCH-MIS)
$15.99
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
2nd edition from YWAM Publishing
for 4th-Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
$9.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Priesthood of the Plebs
by Peter Leithart
from Wipf and Stock Publishers
for Adult
in Baptism (Location: XWO-SAC1)
$24.00
Primer on Worship and Reformation
from Canon Press
in Worship & Sabbath (Location: XWO-SABB)
$10.00
Principles of Biblical Eldership - CD
by Alexander Strauch
from Vision Forum
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$10.00
Principles of War
by Jim Wilson
from Canon Press
for Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$12.00
Prodigal Church
by Jared Wilson
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$15.99
Puritan Five
from Canon Press
for Adult
in Preaching the Word (Location: XWO-PRE)
$20.00
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