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"I do heartily encourage you to re-publish this unique work by James Bannerman on 'The Church of Christ.' Especially in our day of great ignorance about the subject of the authority of the Church, this volume is inestimable. It bears close study by elders, seminarians (and seminaries!), and by all others who sincerely desire to honor Christ, the only King and Head of the Church." -Pastor Bill Shishko, "James Bannerman's 'The Church of Christ' is the most extensive, standard, solid, Reformed treatment of the doctrine of the church that has ever been written. It is indisputably the classic in its field. Every minister and elder should own a copy, and church members would also be much better informed if they perused it carefully. How many church problems would be alleviated if churches used Bannerman as their primary textbook for their understanding of what the church is and for their modus operandi! - Joel R. Beeke ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

A great ending
Having read all of Daniel Rops books on the history of the Catholic Church, and having enjoyed all of them, I could not resist the reading of the last of them, about our true brothers in Christ, which is, as the title suggests a history of the beginning and development of reformed religions, including some that did not reach actual times, in a perfect example of what the author calls the inherent call for digregation of protestant churches. I imagine that for those who practice these faiths, there is nothing new in this book, and indeed at first it might seem as just another compendium of religions and their beliefs.
But the book is more than that. Although it correctly marks the differences between Catholic and protestant churches (after all this is yet another volume of his history of the catholic church), it also stresses the common points in a true and enlightning ecumenical effort, showing the common bonds of christian churches, calling all of them (and rightly so) "Our brothers in Christ". To me, it was revealing and comfortable to learn through those wise pages, the common bond I have, as catholic, with the up to then almost ignored religions. A perfect end to a very good history of the church. ... Read more

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'One of the nation's best known churches, Fourth Presbyterian is a thriving mainline church housed in an elegant Gothic building in Chicago's wealthy Gold Coast neighborhood. Less than a mile to the west is another world: the Cabrini-Green low- income housing projects. In this evenhanded account, James Wellman surveys the church's history of balancing its theological aims and its social boundaries and sheds light on the strengths and weaknesses of liberal Protestantism as a modern religious institution. Wellman shows how Fourth Presbyterian has moved from an establishment congregation to what he calls a lay liberal church working to overcome class and race inequality in its urban context while carving out its institutional identity in an increasingly pluralistic environment'.'By examining the church's four main leaders over the course of the century, Wellman tracks Fourth Presbyterian's gradual shift away from an evangelical role and toward the current focus on service, epitomized in the church's main outreach program, an extensive volunteer tutoring program that serves hundreds of Cabrini-Green residents each week.In documenting Fourth Presbyterian's struggle to meet the needs of its privileged congregants while challenging them to move beyond exclusive boundaries of race and class, "The Gold Coast Church and the Ghetto" opens a window into the past, present, and future of the Protestant mainline'. ... Read more

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Love Your Neighbor in Action
Chicago's Fourth Presbyterian Church bucks several trends: it is a successful church in an urban setting; its affluent members are involved in hands-on help with people in a nearby ghetto; it espouses a decidedlyliberal theology.Wellman seeks to explain how Fourth Presbyterian hasboth accommodated to and transformed culture.

Wellman studies theministries of Fourth Church's four 20th century pastors.Each pastorministered to an affluent congregation and addressed the social issues thatkept near neighbors of the church in poverty.Each pastor was able torally the members of the congregation to take action on behalf of theless-privileged.

Wellman combines historical investigation andsociological analysis to explain Fourth Presbyterian's success.The bookis a revised Ph.D. dissertation but doesn't read like one.Wellman writesin a fluid, engaging style and keeps the academic excursions intosociological theory to a minimum.

This book will be a welcome read for a)folks who love Chicago; b) people who worship in urban churches; c) liberalChristians who wonder if they are any others left on the planet; d)cultural historians; e) folks who wonder if the church still cares forothers. ... Read more

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The Divine Right of Church Government by Sundry Ministers Of Christ Within The City Of London. please visit www.valdebooks.com for a full list of titles ... Read more

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In striving for the way of Christ without denominationalism, most have many of the basic principles right. We teach people the correct way to be in fellowship with God in the universal church. When it comes to the local church, we talk a good game by telling folks to avoid denominational allegiance in their service of Christ, but we have serious problems in executing it ourselves. During eight years of live, call-in radio programs, Sam Dawson learned not only to question the teaching of all denominations, but, to be consistent, to also question everything he had learned and had taught himself. He quickly found that many traditions did not stand up to careful examination. He learned to say, I don't know, I'll have to study that some more. His dedication to questioning and technical background helped him reduce many controversies to core issues and to refine them to be easily understood. In 1988, Sam tackled a foundation controversial subject with Fellowship: With God and His People: The Way of Christ Without Denominationalism. It exposes that Christians often don't really understand what the church is or the differences between the universal and local church. As a result, they have allowed denominational thinking to creep into their own practices. Then in 2004, Sam showed that we don't even know what the New Testament is when he wrote The Teaching of Jesus: From Mount Sinai to Gehenna: A Faithful Rabbi Urgently Warns Rebellious Israel. Because many Christians have a simplistic view of the life of Christ and fail to realize his mission to the Jews, they often misapply much of his teaching. Thus, other than the fact that, generally, members of churches of Christ aren't clear about what the church is or what the New Testament is, their claim to be the New Testament church is exactly right. Now after 40 years of serious Bible study, Sam has turned his insight to showing how Christians are still missing some of the most basic teaching of the Bible in his latest book What Is Wrong with Most Churches of Christ & How They Can Avoid Extinction. For too many years, Christians have been comfortable in the name ""Church of Christ"" on the front of the building and have focused all of their righteous indignation on those outside, all the while decaying from within. This new book not only exposes eight problems, but also offers attainable solutions. ... Read more

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In this ""how-to"" book, Paul Winslow and Dorman Followwill offer scripturally sound, hands-on advice for elder-led churches. The reader of Christ in Church Leadership can rest assured knowing this book holds a wealth of helpful information that is rooted in God's Word and based on years of commitment to and experience with an elder-led form of church-governance. Chapters include: Organization, Eldering Not Deaconing, Discipleship, Stewarding the Finances, and much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Especially helpful for real-life examples
This book is a valuable addition to the growing number of books on eldership. The authors explain the basic scriptural teaching of churches being led by a team of elders, but the book doesn't provide an in-depth examination of the doctrine of church elders. I don't think this was their intent. (For such a book, I recommend Alexander Strauch's "Biblical Eldership.") This book gives us more of an overview of many of the issues involved in the real-life ministry of a church elder.

Along the way, they give us a number of excellent illustrations and examples from their own experiences in church leadership. These accounts alone are worth the price of the book. It's almost as if we become a fly on the wall, watching godly leaders strive to serve wisely and faithfully. (And there are also sobering cautionary tales of what can happen when we are not committed to leading God's people God's way.) There are many wonderful, memorable, insightful anecdotes.

The authors cover most of the key areas related to this ministry: elder qualifications, selecting and appointing elders, the decision-making process, delegation, handling church finances, evaluating elders, interaction with the rest of the body, church discipline, etc. There are many nuggets of wisdom on these pages that elders (or potential elders) will benefit from. One that stands out for me is the balance of "hard minds and soft hearts" in chapter three. A great principle, very well explained. Of course, when authors give their views on the intricacies of church leadership, there are bound to be details with which some will take exception (as did I). But even if we don't completely agree with a certain application, the principles they are presenting can spur our own reflection and growth.

I am somewhat confused regarding the apparent distinction between elders and pastors. The subtitle of the book is: A Handbook for Elders and Pastors. But they never seem to clearly define what they mean by pastor. In some places they stress a two-office NT church with elders and deacons, with the elders responsible for shepherding or pastoring the whole church. But at other times they seem to assume a distinction between "the pastor" and the elders (or even "his elders"), and assume that "the pastor" is the one primarily doing the preaching. It would have been helpful for the authors to have explained how they're using the term. Is a pastor simply a vocational ("full-time") elder? Is a pastor anyone with a shepherding ministry in the congregation? Or does "the pastor" constitute a specific church function in distinction to that of the elders? I'm not necessarily disagreeing with their approach, but I think it needs to be clarified. If churches utilize this book in training leaders, this is one significant area where they will need to make things clear for their people.

The authors also seem to to feel that a unanimity among the elders---one that is properly arrived at---equates the mind of Christ. While I am also a proponent of decisions by unanimous consensus of the elders, I'm hesitant to state this principle as strongly as this book does. I've recently been challenged by Howard Snyder's foreword of Jerram Barr's "Shepherds & Sheep," where he writes, "no way of grouping fallible leaders together ever makes them infallible!" I think there is a lot of room for caution here.

Finally though, this is an incredibly helpful book for showing wise examples of experienced elders, bringing out the key issues for church leadership, and triggering deeper thought and discussion. I highly recommend it.

Christ in Church Leadership
Winslow and Followwill have written an excellent book on proper leadership in the church.

Among the important points the authors cover include:

1.Excellent points on spirit vs. fleshly leadership.
2.Characteristics of hard-minded and soft-minded leadership.
3.The differences between spritual and secular leadership.
4.Roles of elders in the church.
5.Apart from Christ, we are nothing!
6.Excellent notes on the importance of listening to God and why we need to spend enough time for this.
7.Points on achieving unity in important decisions.
8.Principles for discipling elders.

The book has an excellent scriptural foundation.Read and be encouraged and challenged to lead by the Spirit instead of the flesh! ... Read more

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A hands-on resource for both large and small churches

It has been predicted that in the twenty-first century extremely large churches would emerge in America that resemble neither an elephant nor a field of mice. Which is better? At one time the answer would have been either/or. Now it's both/and. We want both the intimacy of smallness and the impact of bigness-we want a hybrid of the two. Hybrid Church is a practical guide for clergy and leaders who want to have the best of both church worlds: the intimacy of small "house church" groups and the impact of very large mega-churches.

• Offers a guide for churches who want to capitalize on their strengths to build intimacy with impact
• Written by the pastor of one of the "fastest growing" and "most innovative" churches in America with thousands of members organized in small house groups
• Outlines a vision for how the church of tomorrow could look like the early church. Given that the trend is toward very large and very small, with few churches in the middle, this book will be a welcome resource for both large and small churches.

... Read more

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The only reference work that cross references topics between the four standard works recognized by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; the Bible, the Pearl of Great Price, the Book of Mormon and the Doctrines and Covenants. An invaluable tool for the student of Mormon theology. ... Read more

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This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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While many models have been proposed for understanding the nature of the church,the primary biblical image is that of the body of Christ. Decoding the Churchtakes this organic metaphor and examines its DNA to find the key to churchstructure and mission. The authors suggest that the classical understanding of the church as defined bythe Nicene Creed-one, holy, catholic, apostolic church-comprises only one strandof the church's DNA. They propose a more complex, living model for structuringthe church and understanding its mission, and then explore how a biblicallystructured church can transform the world. Decoding the Church evaluates modelsbased in hierarchy, psychology, and ecology, and stresses the biblical andcontemporary reality of globalization. Includes discussion questions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fascinating -- Yet Leaves One Floundering
Howard Snyder and Daniel Runyon state that "the question underlying this whole book is, What makes the church a healthy organism?" Underlying this question, however, would appear to be a deeper one. The authors refer many times to "mission". Mission,they write, relates to "the reign of God that is in some way the reconstitution of the whole creation through God's work in Jesus Christ." That is, the scope of mission is all-encompassing. They ask, "How does everything hold together?" How does everything "cohere"? Perhaps (in my own words): "What is it that holds together a holistic understanding of Church? How does the Church relate to EVERYTHING?"

Our point of departure as a Church, they suggest, is the poor: "Here is the true church! The gospel for the poor is the test that shows whether the church is apostolic." This is "a key test" of the Church's apostolicity. In fact, "God's special concern for the poor [...] is grounded in the Trinity". Regrettably, however, they deposit this as a given, without offering a satisfactory theological foundation, or much interpretation. I decided to obtain a little background through Howard Snyder's Church and his personal website. I searched on "poor". I searched on "poverty". His Church listed thirty ministries -- yet there was not a single reference to the poor. His own website had a single reference to the poor at the bottom of a page (I did not view his sermons).

One of the major themes of the book is -- what is it that constitutes the health of the Church? Snyder and Runyon state that the Church is "a complex organism", and that "most nonbiblical models of the church are REDUCTIONISTIC in some harmful way." The Church needs to be viewed as "a totality of complex factors, not a linear cause-and-effect system". But thankfully, "complex systems appear to be self-organizing". Presumably the pastor can have faith in complex systems. Having said this, however, they fail to convince that their own view should differ significantly from a "linear cause-and-effect system". It is certainly more differentiated, more nuanced -- yet is it anything more than linear or "horizontal"? There is little in the book to suggest this. There seems little concept in the book of transcendence - that is, of a sovereign God who sustains and grows His Church in every aspect.

Another major theme of the book is the MISSION of the Church. In this regard, it is hardly possible to resort to any summary quotes. Snyder and Runyon state that we need to "peel back the layers of culture so that we can see the church's mission the way God intends". That is, the Church's mission is concealed beneath layers of culture. In short, however, "the gospel [...] promises a new world order of global peace, health, and prosperity -- an order whose power and endurance saturate space and time yet stretch beyond them". What would this mean in more detail? Here the plot unravels. The authors state that this is "in some way" the reconstitution of the whole creation through God's work in Jesus Christ.

It is an interesting book, which tackles some vitally important themes, of broad scope -- and it makes many observations which are well worth considering. However, it leaves one largely floundering.

Toward a Biblical Ecclesiology--Decoding the Church
Decoding the Church seeks to present a biblical ecclesiology that emphasizes the organic and biotic images rather than static or institutional images. Just as DNA determines what a living organism becomes when appropriately developed, the authors contend that the church has DNA or genetic predispositions for its identity and health.In addition to the historic descriptions of the church: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic, this book seeks a broader perspective that reveals the "missing half" of the church's genetic code that the church is also diverse, charismatic, local, and prophetic.

Viewing the church as a complex organism, this book affirms small actions, interrelationships and structure, uniqueness, and "emergent structures."Emphasizing the church as organism in community, this book focuses on the DNA of church structure, the DNA of mission, and the DNA of public discipleship. To recover the dynamism of the New Testament Church, Scripture must be our primary source along with learning from the history of renewal movements and utilizing an ecological model that emphasizes interrelationship and interdependence. Christian mission emphasizing community, simplicity, and humanity must provide creative alternatives to the effects of globalization.The authors call for public discipleship built on love and grace and active in issues of economic justice, responsible earth-keeping, and prayer for governments and global concerns.

Decoding the Church is a valuable resource combining several themes from Snyder's earlier writings regarding church renewal, mission, church ecology, culture, and futurism. Readers may not agree with every insight or critique but should appreciate the rich combination of biblical and historical insight with cultural awareness and church life.The material is presented in a helpful format that provides insights, implications in principle and practice, the ongoing story of a fictitious though realistic Heartland Evangelical Church, and questions for group discussion and personal reflection. This book will be especially valuable for North American pastors, educators, and church leaders seeking a biblical ecclesiology giving primary attention to the biotic images of the church. ... Read more

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"I do heartily encourage you to re-publish this unique work by James Bannerman on 'The Church of Christ.' Especially in our day of great ignorance about the subject of the authority of the Church, this volume is inestimable. It bears close study by elders, seminarians (and seminaries!), and by all others who sincerely desire to honor Christ, the only King and Head of the Church." - Pastor Bill Shishko,"James Bannerman's 'The Church of Christ' is the most extensive, standard, solid, Reformed treatment of the doctrine of the church that has ever been written. It is indisputably the classic in its field. Every minister and elder should own a copy, and church members would also be much better informed if they perused it carefully. How many church problems would be alleviated if churches used Bannerman as their primary textbook for their understanding of what the church is and for their modus operandi! -Joel R. Beeke ... Read more