In this introduction to ecclesiology, respected scholars Brad Harper and Paul Louis Metzger offer a solidly evangelical yet ecumenical survey of the church in mission and doctrine. Combining biblical, historical, and cultural analysis, this comprehensive text explores the church as a Trinitarian, eschatological, worshiping, sacramental, serving, ordered, cultural, and missional community. It also offers practical application, addressing contemporary...

In Explorations in Ecclesiology and Ethnography Christian Scharen and several other contributors, explore empirical and theological understandings of the church. Like the first volume in the Studies in Ecclesiology and Ethnography series, this second volume seeks to bridge the great divide between theological research and ethnography (qualitative research). The book's wide-ranging chapters cover such fascinating topics as geographic habits of American...

The explosion of the church in Nigeria is phenomenal, with a forward momentum that is as remarkable as the missionary optimism of the first century Church. The history reveals a tightly woven narrative of the process of beginnings, growth, and change.

Michael Horton writes, "Some Christians so stress the 'kingdom living' of individual believers in the world that the church and its partial manifestation of the kingdom of God through the means of grace become subordinate. Others confuse the church with that kingdom in its fully realized form." In his development and delineation of a theology of both the kingdom and the church, Horton seeks to show that they are interrelated but not identical. Along...

Reformed Forum is a Christian non-profit organization that exists to assist the church in her call to discipleship. We serve the church by communicating the riches of our theological tradition and advancing it according to our confessional boundaries through in-depth research and scholarly discourse. In this collection of essays, the authors set forth the salient features of their shared Reformed identity, a distinct theological voice. Lane G. Tipton...

Many historic Protestant churches lost their way when the ground beneath their feet began to shift in the last part of the 20th century. Back then, congregations became confused about why so many Americans had become indifferent toward church-going. They became anxious about their shrinking numbers and aging membership. How would they survive? They could not see the way forward. But now, a few ordinary congregations are finding their way into the...

PRISM: A Theological Forum for the United Church of Christ is sponsored by the seminaries of the United Church of Christ. As a journal for the whole church, its goals is to offer serious theological reflection from a diversity of viewpoints on issues of faith, mission, and ministry.

This book traces one of themes that runs throughout the different dispensations of the Bible. CHAPTER ONE: THE WAY OF GOD IN GENESIS CHAPTER TWO: THE WAY OF GOD IN EXODUS CHAPTER THREE: THE WAY OF GOD IN THE LAW CHAPTER FOUR: THE WAY OF GOD AND BAPTISMS CHAPTER FIVE: THE WAY OF GOD IN THE NEW COVENANT CHAPTER SIX: THE WAY OF GOD IN ISRAEL'S FUTURE

Have you ever wanted to know more of what the Bible says about the church? These six studies are deceptively short, simple, and clear. Each one can be read quickly, but if you really delve into them – checking the Scriptures, working through the Bible studies, thinking through the reflection questions – you will find a rich study resource. The Bible Themes resource at the end is a useful alphabetical listing of key Bible themes that gives practical...

Qu'elle église? À quoi cela ressemble-t-elle? À quoi devrait-elle ressembler? Pour répondre à ces questions, David Alan Black se penche sur l'église du premier siècle et sur nos documents des fondateurs dans le Nouveau Testament. Quelles étaient les caractéristiques d'une assemblée chrétienne au premier siècle? Dans son étude, il trouve sept éléments qui définissent ensuite l'église: Prédication évangélique Baptême chrétien Enseignement...