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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's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and 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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"But Don't All Religions Lead to God?"
by Michael Green
from Baker Books
for 7th-Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$11.05 $3.60 (1 in stock)
Agape Leadership
by Robert L. Peterson and Alexander Strauch
from Lewis and Roth Publishers
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
Alphabet Makers
by Hyatt Moore
from Wycliffe Bible Translators
for 8th-Adult
in History of Books & Language (Location: HISV-BOOK)
$4.00 (1 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 (2 in stock)
Anointed Expository Preaching
by Stephen F. Olford, with David L. Olford, Foreword by Adrian Rogers
from Broadman & Holman
for Adult
in Preaching the Word (Location: XWO-PRE)
$23.20 (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)
$4.00 (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 End of the Santa Fe Trail
by Sister Blandina Segale
4th Printing from Bruce Publishing Co.
for Adult
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Atlas of the Islamic World
by Francis Robinson
from Facts On File
for 9th-Adult
in Historical & Cultural Atlases (Location: HISRF-ATLAS)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
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)
$6.40 (2 in stock)
Biblical Theology
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in General Theology (Location: XTH-GEN)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church
by Michael Lawrence
from Crossway Books
for 10th-Adult
in General Theology (Location: XTH-GEN)
$6.80 (1 in stock)
Blessed Are the Hungry
by Peter Leithart
from Canon Press
in Communion (Eucharist) (Location: XWO-SAC2)
$12.75 $7.20 (1 in stock)
Blood of the Moon
by George Grant
from Wolgemuth and Hyatt
for 9th-Adult
in Islam & Sharia Law (Location: XAP-ISL)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Built Upon the Rock
by Mark Dever
1st edition from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$6.79 $2.40 (1 in stock)
Call of Grace
by Norman Shepherd
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in General Theology (Location: XTH-GEN)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Celebrating Biblical Feasts
by Martha Zimmerman
from Bethany House
for Adult
in Jewish Holidays & Traditions (Location: HOLIDAY)
$16.99 $8.50 (1 in stock)
Children of the Promise
by Robert Booth
from P&R Publishing
for 11th-Adult
in Baptism (Location: XWO-SAC1)
$12.74 $6.40 (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)
$4.24 $2.40 (1 in stock)
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)
Commandments of Christ
by Robert C. Beasley
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Community
Re:Lit Books
by Brad House
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$13.59 $4.80 (3 in stock)
Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross
by Dr. Nabeel T. Jabbour
from NavPress
for Adult
in Islam & Sharia Law (Location: XAP-ISL)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Critique of Modern Youth Ministry
by Chris Schlect
2nd edition from Canon Press
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$5.95 $2.40 (2 in stock)
Dayuma
by Ethel Emily Wallis
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$12.74 $6.00 (2 in stock)
Dispatches From the Front
by Tim Keesee
from Crossway Books
for 10th-Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
DK Eyewitness: Mythology
by Neil Philip
from DK Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in Diversity & Multicultural Books (Location: HISMC-MUL)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Don't Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart
by Kenneth Haugk
from Stephen Ministries
for Adult
in Suffering & Hope (Location: XCL-SUF)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
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)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Exhortations
by Doug Wilson
from Charles Nolan Publishers
for Adult
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)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Fit Bodies, Fat Minds
by Os Guinness
from Baker Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$4.80 (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)
Giving Wisely?
by Jonathan Martin
2nd edition
for 12th-Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$3.00 (4 in stock)
God Gave Wine
by Kenneth Gentry
from Oakdown Books
for 11th-Adult
in Drinking With Discernment (Location: XCU-WIN)
$11.86 $5.60 (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)
$6.40 (1 in stock)
Gospel Wakefulness
by Jared C. Wilson, foreword by Ray Ortlund
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Gospel Worship
by Jeremiah Burroughs
from Soli Deo Gloria
for Adult
in Puritan Writings (Location: XCH-PUR)
$28.00 (1 in stock)
Greatness of the Great Commission
by Kenneth Gentry
for Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Hipster Christianity
by Brett McCracken
from Baker Books
for 9th-Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$13.59 $4.80 (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 Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$3.50 (3 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 to Reach the West Again
by Timothy Keller
from Redeemer City to City
for Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
I Will!
by Thom S. Rainer
from B&H Books
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$4.00 (2 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)
$4.80 (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)
$8.80 (1 in stock)
Jesus the Evangelist
by Richard D. Phillips
from Reformation Trust Publishing
for Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$4.80 (2 in stock)
Johannic Baptism
by James W. Dale
2nd edition from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Baptism (Location: XWO-SAC1)
$4.00 (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)
$6.40 (1 in stock)
Liturgy Trap
by James Jordan
3rd edition from Athanasius Press
in Worship & Sabbath (Location: XWO-SABB)
$7.61 $3.60 (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)
$12.74 $6.00 (2 in stock)
Love or Die
by Alexander Strauch
from Lewis and Roth Publishers
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$4.80 (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)
Mission-Minded Child
by Ann Dunagan
from InterVarsity Press
for Adult
in Parenting (Location: XFA-PAR)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Multiply
by Francis Chan with Mark Beuving, foreword by David Platt
from David C. Cook
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$4.80 (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)
$7.20 (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)
$12.74 $6.00 (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)
One Lord, One Faith
by Rex A. Koivisto
from Wipf and Stock Publishers
for Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Operation World
by Jason Mandryk, Patrick & Robin Johnstone
7th edition from IVP Academic Press
for 9th-Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$16.80 (1 in stock)
Praying through the 100 Gateway Cities of the 10/40 Window
2nd edition from YWAM Publishing
for 4th-Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$8.49 $3.60 (2 in stock)
Preaching the Cross
by C. J. Mahaney, J. Ligon Duncan, Mark Dever, R. Albert Mohler Jr.
1st edition from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Preaching the Word (Location: XWO-PRE)
$6.40 (1 in stock)
Pulpit Aflame
by Joel R. Beeke & Dustin Benge, editors, numerous contributors
from Reformation Heritage Books
for Adult
in Preaching the Word (Location: XWO-PRE)
$7.20 (1 in stock)
Radical
by David Platt
1st edition from Multnomah Books
for 11th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Radical Together
by David Platt
1st edition from Multnomah Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$14.99 $8.00 (2 in stock)
Reverberation
by Jonathan Leeman
from Moody Press
for 11th-Adult
in Scripture & Hermeneutics (Location: XBI-HERM)
$4.80 (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)
$8.00 (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)
Scary Close
by Donald Miller
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$6.00 (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)
$28.90 $16.00 (1 in stock)
Spiritual Leadership
by Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby
from B&H Books
for 10th-Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Stronger Than the Strong
by Louise Morris
from OMF
for 10th-Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$3.20 (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)
Teatime Discipleship
by Sally Clarkson
from Harvest House
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$9.60 (1 in stock)
The Koran
by Anonymous
Revised from Penguin Classics
for 10th-Adult
in Medieval Literature (Location: LIT2-MED)
$13.60 $6.80 (1 in stock)
There's a Sheep in My Bathtub
by Brian Hogan
10th Anniversary Edition from Asteroidea Books
for 10th-Adult
in History of Missions (Location: XCH-MIS)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Tithing and Dominion
by Edward A. Powell & R. J. Rushdoony
from Chalcedon / Ross House Books
for 11th-Adult
in Biblical Law (Location: XTH-LAW)
$8.00 $4.00 (4 in stock)
To Transform a City
by Eric Swanson and Sam Williams
from Zondervan
for Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$8.00 (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 (1 in stock)
Torches of Joy
International Adventures
by John Dekker & Lois Neely
from YWAM Publishing
Missionary Biography for 10th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$14.99 $8.00 (3 in stock)
Uniting Church and Home
by Eric Wallace
from Solutions for Integrating Church & Home
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$5.00 (4 in stock)
Welfare Reformed
by David W. Hall, ed.
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Christianity and the State (Location: XWV-STA)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
What Christian Parents Should Know About Infant Baptism
by John Sartelle
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Baptism (Location: XWO-SAC1)
$2.00 $1.00 (16 in stock)
What is a Healthy Church Member?
by Thabiti M. Anyabwile
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
What is the Mission of the Church?
by Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
What Is Your Church's Personality?
by Philip D. Douglass
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
When Helping Hurts
by Steve Corbett
from Moody Press
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Who is Jesus?
9marks: Buliding Healthy Churches
by Greg Gilbert, Foreword by Trip Lee
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Jesus Christ (Location: XTH-JES)
$5.60 (1 in stock)
World's Religions
by Huston Smith
50th Anniversary Edition from HarperOne
for 10th-Adult
in World Religions, Cults and Sects (Location: XAP-WRCS)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Worshiping Church Hymnal - Grey
by Donald P. Hustad, hymnal editor
3rd edition from Hope Publishing Company
for 3rd-Adult
in Hymnals & Psalters (Location: XWO-HYMN)
$4.80 (1 in stock)
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