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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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Aaron's Rod Blossoming
by George Gillespie
from Sprinkle Publications
for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
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)
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 Theology
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in General Theology (Location: XTH-GEN)
$6.00 (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)
$17.85
Built to Last
by David Macaulay
from Houghton Mifflin
for 4th-6th grade
in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER)
$31.44
Cantus Christi
by Canon Press
from Canon Press
in Hymnals & Psalters (Location: XWO-HYMN)
Church Discipline
9marks: Buliding Healthy Churches
by Jonathan Leeman
1st edition from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$12.74
Church Membership
9marks: Buliding Healthy Churches
by Jonathan Leeman
1st edition from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$12.74
Coming of the Mormons
Landmark #37
by Jim Kjelgaard, illustrated by Stephen J. Voorhies
from Random House
for 5th-9th grade
in American Landmark Books (Location: VIN-LAND)
Counterfeit Revival
by Hank Hanegraaff
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for 11th-Adult
in Christian Cults & Sects (Location: XAP-CCS)
Dangerous Calling
by Paul David Tripp
1st edition from Crossway Books
for 11th-Adult
in Church Government (Location: XWO-GOV)
$19.54
Davita's Harp
by Chaim Potok
Book Club Edition from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
Dragon Tales
by Celia R. Brines
3rd edition from Pacific Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Early Islam
Great Ages of Man
by Desmond Stewart
from Time-Life Books
for 9th-Adult
in Great Ages of Man (Location: ADU-HISGAM)
Exhortations
by Doug Wilson
from Charles Nolan Publishers
for Adult
in Worship & Sabbath (Location: XWO-SABB)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Experience Jesus Today
by Charles Singer
from Oregon Catholic Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Bible Study & Reference for Kids (Location: BIBR-STU)
$2.40 (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)
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
Gashmu Saith It
by Douglas Wilson
from Canon Press
for Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$14.41
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 Comes with a House Key
by Rosaria Butterfield
from Crossway Books
for 11th-Adult
in Hospitality (Location: SS-HOS)
$21.24
Gospel Worship
by Jeremiah Burroughs
from Soli Deo Gloria
for Adult
in Puritan Writings (Location: XCH-PUR)
$28.00 (1 in stock)
Holy Baptism
by Duane Spencer & James Jordan
from Geneva Ministries
in Baptism (Location: XWO-SAC1)
Home Fires
by Mally Ham, introduction by Ken Ham, foreword by Heidi St. John
from Master Books
for Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$18.69
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 His Service
by R. J. Rushdoony
from Chalcedon / Ross House Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$19.55
Jesus the Evangelist
by Richard D. Phillips
from Reformation Trust Publishing
for Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$4.80 (2 in stock)
Knots Untied
by J. C. Ryle
from Banner of Truth Trust
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$24.65
Minister's Treasury of Funeral & Memorial Passages
by Jim Henry
from Broadman & Holman
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
Operation World
by Jason Mandryk, Patrick & Robyn Johnstone
7th edition from InterVarsity Press
for 9th-Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$25.00
Preaching and Preachers
by David Martyn Lloyd-Jones
40th Anniversary from Zondervan
for Adult
in Preaching the Word (Location: XWO-PRE)
Preaching and Preachers
by David Martyn Lloyd-Jones
from Zondervan
for Adult
in Preaching the Word (Location: XWO-PRE)
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)
Religion of Peace?
by Robert Spencer
from Regnery Publishing, Inc.
for Adult
in Islam & Sharia Law (Location: XAP-ISL)
$19.00
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)
Religious Worlds
by Max Charlesworth, Robert Ingpen
from Paper Tiger
for 4th-7th grade
in World Religions, Cults and Sects (Location: XAP-WRCS)
Rise of Islam
Modern Knowledge Library
by Anton Powell, edited by Frances Clapham
from Warwick Press
for 4th-8th grade
in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID)
Scary Close
by Donald Miller
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$6.00 (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)
Stories of the Saints
by Carey Wallace, Illustrated by Nick Thornborrow
from Workman Publishing
for 3rd-6th grade
in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
$22.91
Surprised by Hope
by N. T. Wright
from HarperOne
for 9th-Adult
in Eschatology & Prophecy (Location: XTH-ESCH)
$21.24
Tale of Two Rice Birds
by Adapted by Clare Hodgson Meeker, Illustrated by Christine Lamb
from Sasquatch Books
for 1st-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$7.20 (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)
To Far Places
by Eva K. Betz, illustrated by Peter Landa
from Hawthorn Books, Inc.
for 4th-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
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)
Twelve Challenges Churches Face
by Mark Dever
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$15.99
Unconditional Surrender
by Gary North
4th edition from Dominion Press
for Adult
in Ecclesiology (Location: XTH-ECC)
$25.46
Understanding the Times
by Jeff Myers & David Noebel
3rd edition from David C. Cook
for 9th-12th grade
in Worldview Resources (Location: XWV-RES)
$34.00
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)
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)
Window on the World (old)
by Daphne Spraggett & Jill Johnstone
from Paternoster
for 2nd-7th grade
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$4.00 (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)
Zeal Without Burnout
by Christopher Ash, foreword by Alistair Begg
from Good Book Company
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$5.20 (1 in stock)
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