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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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Aaron's Rod Blossoming
by George Gillespie
from Sprinkle Publications
for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
Alphabet Makers
by Hyatt Moore
from Wycliffe Bible Translators
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in History of Books & Language (Location: HISV-BOOK)
$5.00 (2 in stock)
Already Gone
by Britt Beemer, Ken Ham, with Todd Hillard
from New Leaf Press
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$4.00 (1 in stock)
Approved Unto God with Facing Reality
by Oswald Chambers
from Discovery House Publishers
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in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Ashamed of the Gospel
by John F. MacArthur jr.
First Printing, Underlining from Crossway Books
for 10th-Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Asia: A Christian Perspective
by Mary Ann Lind
from YWAM Publishing
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$1.00 (1 in stock)
Atlas of the Islamic World
by Francis Robinson
from Facts On File
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$5.00 (1 in stock)
Being the Body
by Charles Colson, Ellen Santilli Vaughn
First Edition from Word Publishing
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$6.00 (2 in stock)
Biblical Eldership
by Alexander Strauch
Rev Exp from Lewis and Roth Publishers
Historical Non-Fiction for Adult
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$18.50 $8.00 (4 in stock)
Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church
by Michael Lawrence
from Crossway Books
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$8.50 (1 in stock)
Blessed Are the Hungry
by Peter Leithart
from Canon Press
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$15.00 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Blood of the Moon
by George Grant
from Wolgemuth and Hyatt
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$4.00 (1 in stock)
Built Upon the Rock
by Mark Dever
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$6.50 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Call of Grace
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$4.00 (2 in stock)
Christian Baptism
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$5.95 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Christianity: A Very Short Introduction
Very Short Introduction series
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from Oxford University
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$6.00 (1 in stock)
Church Planting Is For: Wimps
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$4.00 (1 in stock)
Church: The Gospel Made Visible
by Mark E. Dever
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$7.00 (1 in stock)
Commandments of Christ
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from P&R Publishing
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$3.00 (2 in stock)
Community
Re:Lit Books
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from Crossway Books
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$15.99 $6.00 (3 in stock)
Compact Guide to World Religions
by Dean C. Halverson
from Bethany House
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$16.00 $9.50 (1 in stock)
Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross
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from NavPress
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$5.00 (1 in stock)
Critique of Modern Youth Ministry
by Chris Schlect
2nd edition from Canon Press
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$7.00 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Dangerous Calling
by Paul David Tripp
1st edition from Crossway Books
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$22.99 $9.50 (2 in stock)
Dayuma
by Ethel Emily Wallis
from YWAM Publishing
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$14.99 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Discipling
by Mark Dever
from Crossway Books
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$6.50 (2 in stock)
Discourse Concerning Love
by Nathaniel Vincent, Edited by Don Kistler
from Soli Deo Gloria
for Adult
in Puritan Writings (Location: XCH-PUR)
$8.00 (2 in stock)
Dispatches From the Front
by Tim Keesee
from Crossway Books
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in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Elders of the Church
by Lawrence R. Eyres
from P&R Publishing
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$2.00 (1 in stock)
Encountering the World of Islam
by Keith E. Swartley, ed.
from Authentic Media
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$8.00 (1 in stock)
Europe: Restoring Hope
by Deborah Meroff
for Adult
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$6.00 (1 in stock)
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God
by J. I. Packer
from InterVarsity Press
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$4.00 (1 in stock)
Exhortations
by Doug Wilson
from Charles Nolan Publishers
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in Worship & Sabbath (Location: XWO-SABB)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Faith Worth Sharing
by C. John Miller
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Fight for Jerusalem
by Dore Gold
from Regnery Publishing, Inc.
for Adult
in History for Adults (Location: ADU-HIS)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Fit Bodies, Fat Minds
by Os Guinness
from Baker Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
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)
Friendship: The Master-Passion
by Henry Clay Trumball
from Solid Ground Christian Books
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
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)
Generous Justice
by Timothy Keller
from Dutton Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$19.95 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Giving Wisely?
by Jonathan Martin
2nd edition
for 12th-Adult
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$3.00 (4 in stock)
God Gave Wine
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for 11th-Adult
in Culture of Drinking & Wine (Location: XCU-WIN)
$13.95 $7.00 (1 in stock)
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from Harvest House
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in World Religions, Cults and Sects (Location: XAP-WRCS)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Gospel
9marks: Buliding Healthy Churches
by Ray Ortlund, Foreword by J.I. Packer
1st edition from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$8.00 (2 in stock)
Gospel Wakefulness
by Jared C. Wilson, foreword by Ray Ortlund
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Greatness of the Great Commission
by Kenneth Gentry
for Adult
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$10.00 (1 in stock)
Hipster Christianity
by Brett McCracken
from Baker Books
for 9th-Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$15.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
Hole in Our Gospel
by Richard Stearns
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$4.00 (2 in stock)
Hole in Our Gospel
by Richard Stearns
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$3.50 (3 in stock)
Holy Baptism
by Duane Spencer & James Jordan
from Geneva Ministries
in Baptism (Location: XWO-SAC1)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Hospitality Commands
by Alexander Strauch
from Lewis and Roth Publishers
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$4.75 $3.00 (1 in stock)
I Dared to Call Him Father
by Bilquis Sheikh & Richard H. Schneider
25th Anniversary from Chosen Books
Biography for Adult
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$15.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
I Suffer Not a Woman
by Catherine Clark Kroeger, Richard Clark Kroeger
from Baker Books
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
I Will!
by Thom S. Rainer
from B&H Books
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$5.00 (3 in stock)
In the Beginning
by Chaim Potok
1st edition from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
for 10th-Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
In the Shadow of Plenty
by George Grant
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 11th-Adult
in Christianity and the State (Location: XWV-STA)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Invocations and Benedictions for the Revised Common Lectionary
by John M. Drescher
from Abingdon Press
for Adult
in Worship & Sabbath (Location: XWO-SABB)
$11.00 (1 in stock)
Jesus Among Other Gods
by Ravi Zacharias
from W Publishing Group
for 10th-Adult
in Evidential Apologetics (Location: XAP-EVI)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Jesus the Evangelist
by Richard D. Phillips
from Reformation Trust Publishing
for Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$6.00 (2 in stock)
Jewish Literacy
by Joseph Telushkin
from William Morrow & Company
for 11th-Adult
in World Religions, Cults and Sects (Location: XAP-WRCS)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Johannic Baptism
by James W. Dale
2nd edition from P&R Publishing
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in Baptism (Location: XWO-SAC1)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Judaism: A Very Short Introduction
Very Short Introduction series
by Norman Solomon
from Oxford University
for Adult
in World Religions, Cults and Sects (Location: XAP-WRCS)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Law of Kindness
by Mary Beeke
from Reformation Heritage Books
for 10th-Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
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)
Life in the Father's House
by Wayne A. Mack, David Swavely
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$3.00 (3 in stock)
Life of Muhammad
by Hadrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad
from Islam International Publications Ltd
for Adult
in Islam & Sharia Law (Location: XAP-ISL)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
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)
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)
Mark of Jesus
by Timothy George & John Woodbridge
New from Moody Press
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Master's Perspective on Pastoral Ministry
by Richard L. Mayhue, Robert L. Thomas, eds.
from Kregel Publications
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$4.00 (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)
Minister's Treasury of Funeral & Memorial Passages
by Jim Henry
from Broadman & Holman
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Mission-Minded Child
by Ann Dunagan
from InterVarsity Press
for Adult
in Parenting (Location: XFA-PAR)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Mistakes Leaders Make
by Dave Kraft
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Multiply
by Francis Chan with Mark Beuving, foreword by David Platt
from David C. Cook
for Adult
in Discipleship & Community (Location: XCL-DIS)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
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)
Narrow Road
by Brother Andrew, Elizabeth Sherrill, Jars of Clay, John Sherrill
from Revell Publishing
for 10th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
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)
Note to Self
by Joe Thorn
from Crossway Books
for 11th-Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$3.00 (3 in stock)
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)
One Lord, One Faith
by Rex A. Koivisto
from Wipf and Stock Publishers
for Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$10.00 (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)
Peace Making Pastor
by Alfred Poirier
from Baker Books
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
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)
Preaching with Purpose
by Jay E. Adams
from Zondervan
for Adult
in Preaching the Word (Location: XWO-PRE)
$5.50 (1 in stock)
Radical
by David Platt
1st edition from Multnomah Books
for 11th-Adult
in Sacrificial Living (Location: XCL-SAC)
$5.00 (2 in stock)
Radical Disciple
by John Scott
from InterVarsity Press
for Adult
in Discipleship & Community (Location: XCL-DIS)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Radical Together
by David Platt
1st edition from Multnomah Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$8.00 $8.00 (2 in stock)
Relation Between Christian Liberty and Neighbor Love in the Church
by Nelson D. Kloosterman
from Inheritance Publications
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Reverberation
by Jonathan Leeman
from Moody Press
for 11th-Adult
in Scripture & Hermeneutics (Location: XBI-HERM)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Sacramental Teaching and Practice in the Reformation Churches
by Geoffrey W. Bromiley
from Wipf and Stock Publishers
for Adult
in Reformed Theology (Location: XTH-REF)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Same Lake, Different Boat
by Stephanie O. Hubach
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Singing and Making Music
by Paul S. Jones
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Worship & Sabbath (Location: XWO-SABB)
$8.00 (3 in stock)
Sociology of the Church
by James Jordan
from Wipf and Stock Publishers
for Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$34.00 $20.00 (1 in stock)
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)
The Church
by Edmund P. Clowney
from InterVarsity Press
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in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$18.00 (1 in stock)
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