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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
Aaron's Rod Blossoming
by George Gillespie
from Sprinkle Publications
for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
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
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)
Already Gone
by Britt Beemer, Ken Ham, with Todd Hillard
from New Leaf Press
for 11th-Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Already Gone - DVD
by Ken Ham
from Answers in Genesis
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$4.00
Approved Unto God with Facing Reality
by Oswald Chambers
from Discovery House Publishers
for Adult
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
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$1.00 (1 in stock)
At the Edge of the Village
by Lisa Leidenfrost
from Canon Press
Biographies for Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$17.00
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)
Baptized Body
by Peter J. Leithart
from Canon Press
in Baptism (Location: XWO-SAC1)
$15.00
Being the Body
by Charles Colson, Ellen Santilli Vaughn
First Edition from Word Publishing
for Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$6.00 (2 in stock)
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)
Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church
by Michael Lawrence
from Crossway Books
for 10th-Adult
in Biblical Theology (Location: XTH-BIB)
$8.50 (1 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)
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)
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)
$6.39 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Call of Grace
by Norman Shepherd
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Covenant Theology (Location: XTH-COV)
$4.00 (2 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
Cell 58
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
Christianity: A Very Short Introduction
Very Short Introduction series
by Linda Woodhead
from Oxford University
for Adult
in World Religions, Cults and Sects (Location: XAP-WRCS)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Church Discipline
9marks: Buliding Healthy Churches
by Jonathan Leeman
1st edition from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$11.99
Church Membership
9marks: Buliding Healthy Churches
by Jonathan Leeman
1st edition from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$11.99
Church Planting Is For: Wimps
by Mike McKinley
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Church: The Gospel Made Visible
by Mark E. Dever
for Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Commandments of Christ
by Robert C. Beasley
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Committing to One Another
by Mark Dever
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$6.39
Community
Re:Lit Books
by Brad House
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Discipleship & Community (Location: XCL-DIS)
$12.79 $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
Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross
by Dr. Nabeel T. Jabbour
from NavPress
for Adult
in Islam & Sharia Law (Location: XAP-ISL)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
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)
$18.39 $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
Discipling
by Mark Dever
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$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
for 10th-Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
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
Elders of the Church
by Lawrence R. Eyres
from P&R Publishing
for 10th-Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Encountering the World of Islam
by Keith E. Swartley, ed.
from Authentic Media
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Europe: Restoring Hope
by Deborah Meroff
for Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God
by J. I. Packer
from InterVarsity Press
for 10th-Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Exhortations
by Doug Wilson
from Charles Nolan Publishers
for Adult
in Worship & Sabbath (Location: XWO-SABB)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Face to Face
by Steve Wilkins
2nd edition from Canon Press
for 9th-Adult
in Hospitality (Location: SS-HOS)
$14.00
Faith Worth Sharing
by C. John Miller
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
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
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)
For the Life of the World
by Alexander Schmemann
from St. Vladimir's
for 11th-Adult
in Communion (Eucharist) (Location: XWO-SAC2)
$16.50
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)
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
Giving Wisely?
by Jonathan Martin
2nd edition
for 12th-Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$3.00 (4 in stock)
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 Makers
by Ed Decker & Dave Hunt
from Harvest House
for 10th-Adult
in World Religions, Cults and Sects (Location: XAP-WRCS)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
God's Good News
by Mark Dever
Stg from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$6.39
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
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Guarding One Another
by Mark Dever
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$6.39
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)
$6.39
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)
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
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)
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 His Service
by R. J. Rushdoony
from Chalcedon / Ross House Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$19.50
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)
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