Biblioteca Digital (PDF / EPUB)

Church

Autor: William Henn

Número de Páginas: 176

Henn think that the Church is a uniquely distinctive grouping of people because its origins and aims fundamentally concern the relationship of humans with God. Because God initiates this relationship, the Church is rightly understood as the result of his redeeming activity. He argues that the encounter with Christ, which gave birth to the Church , is as necessary as ever for it to continue in existence now. Thus the Church today needs to be a community in which people can meet the living, risen Jesus. All those who know Christ should be friends to each other and should share the Eucharist which Jesus gave the Church to evening before his death. Therefore the great fruits of the ecumenical movement during the past century need to serve as the basis for realistic steps towards greater communion.

The Church of God

Autor: Louis Bouyer

Número de Páginas: 636

How does the Church perceive herself? Fr. Louis Bouyers "The Church of God" sets out to answer that question, in light of Tradition and theological reflection through the centuries, but especially by drawing on the teaching of the Second Vatican Council. This book is a highly-readable, thorough synthesis of ecclesiology after the Council, presented by one of the greatest theologians of the 20th century. The author, himself a former Lutheran minister, also explores Reformation views of the Church, as well as the Catholic Churchs deepened understanding of her distinctive identity and her imperfect but real communion with the Orthodox churches and Protestant ecclesial communities. The Church of God is a major contribution to the ecclesiology of communion fostered by the Second Vatican Council and continued by Pope Paul VI, but especially by John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Indeed, the book reflects the hermeneutic of reform Pope Benedict XVI insists should guide the interpretation of Vatican II.

The CHURCH of the LIVING GOD

Autor: Grace Otegbade

Número de Páginas: 159

This book is special, unusual, but not formidable. You can hardly fully read it without the bible; so it is designed to attract Christian world. Because of the long-standing Church controversies about "being under grace", and "not under the law, there are confl icting ideas of what bornagain Christians' obligations to the Lord are supposed to be if you are under grace. This book attempts to clarify this, in details, and should settle the matter for true truth seekers for good. Th is is one of the highlights of the book because this matter touches, not only life, but eternal life too. It points out (not with proud holier- than- thou attitude) areas of life Christians need examine & improve upon, with God's help- but it is not a book of doom and gloom. With every such area attention is drawn to, there are way outs and exhortation of what can be done. - pointing to God, (not the book's author) for the Answers. The author hopes you will not hate the book, but welcome it as Exhortations from a loving sister to her well-beloved fellow Christians, and prays it serves as ladder to Newness of life in the Lord Jesus Christ. The book enhances the loving kindness of God to us; and gently...

The CHURCH of the LIVING GOD

Autor: Grace Otegbade

Número de Páginas: 153

This book is special, unusual, but not formidable. You can hardly fully read it without the bible; so it is designed to attract Christian world. Because of the long-standing Church controversies about "being under grace", and "not under the law, there are confl icting ideas of what bornagain Christians' obligations to the Lord are supposed to be if you are under grace. This book attempts to clarify this, in details, and should settle the matter for true truth seekers for good. Th is is one of the highlights of the book because this matter touches, not only life, but eternal life too. It points out (not with proud holier- than- thou attitude) areas of life Christians need examine & improve upon, with God's help- but it is not a book of doom and gloom. With every such area attention is drawn to, there are way outs and exhortation of what can be done. - pointing to God, (not the book's author) for the Answers. The author hopes you will not hate the book, but welcome it as Exhortations from a loving sister to her well-beloved fellow Christians, and prays it serves as ladder to Newness of life in the Lord Jesus Christ. The book enhances the loving kindness of God to us; and gently...

The Body of Christ

Autor: Reinder Bruinsma

Número de Páginas: 226

With a clear, straightforward definition such as this, the subject of the church isn't one that most people would consider a "doctrine." For this reason, there aren't many books that deal with this crucial fundamental belief. This very readable and informative treatment of such a vital topic fills an important gap in Adventist literature. Reinder Bruinsma's far-ranging look at the doctrine of the church moves from Old and New Testament foundations for this doctrine up through church government and on to controversial issues such as ordination and church discipline. Fittingly, he concludes with the mission and future of the church. His fourfold approach-biblical and theological, historical, practical, and with an Adventist perspective-ensures that every facet of the doctrine is explored in detail. This thought-provoking discussion challenges those who call themselves "God's people" to examine their current understanding of the church and to prayerfully consider their roles as part of the body of Christ. Book jacket.

The Churches of God

Autor: G. H. Lang

Número de Páginas: 232

If you've ever wondered what the churches of the New Testament looked like - how they functioned, how they were governed, how they conducted their evangelistic and missionary enterprises, what ordinances they observed, what their liturgy consisted of, how decisions were made, how discipline was administered; if you've ever wondered how far modern churches have drifted from the New Testament pattern; if you've ever wondered what it would take for your church, and others like it, to return to the New Testament model, or if such a thing is even possible or desirable - then this book is for you G. H. Lang's ability to elucidate Biblical truth was never more evident than in this small treatise on the constitution, government, discipline and ministry of the church of God. His gifts as a diligent Bible student, expositor, and precise thinker, together with his many years of experience as an itinerant Bible teacher in many different countries and cultural settings, all combine to make this a go-to reference on many issues relating to the local church. About the Author G. H. Lang (1874-1958) was a gifted Bible teacher and prolific author who in his early life was associated with the...

The Church of God

Autor: George M. Newlands

Número de Páginas: 132

The Church of God is a compact yet comprehensive account of the nature and activity of the Christian Church. George Newlands provides a most reliable guide to the main features of doctrinal development, considering the development of the Church, ministry, and sacraments up to the present day, and beyond this to consider requirements for effective ministry of the Church in the future.

What Is Church?

Autor: Dub Karriker

Número de Páginas: 212

An informative and emotional voyage of exploration for those active, hurt by, leaving, looking at or curious about the Church. Amid worldwide upheaval, believers and non-believers alike are asking profound questions. One can’t help but do that when something or someone they have depended on for guidance, structure, community, comfort, identity, and meaning has been exposed to the light, shaken to the core, and found to be unreliable and untrustworthy. What is Church? is for believers in Jesus, as well as those deconstructing their faith, seekers, skeptics, and opponents, to inform and help resolve the innate longing for answers, truth, meaning, and belonging by plumbing the depths of divinely revealed knowledge. Drawing on scripture, history, personal relationships, experience, and a deep love for Jesus and the Church, Dub Karriker shares valuable insights that provide a different perspective on the Church and its role in the past, present, and future. Rather than walking a well-worn path of two thousand years of best intentions and church misdeeds, Karriker reveals the Church as intended by its founders, Jesus and His Apostles. No matter what your relationship is with the...

The Church of Christ

Autor: Everett Ferguson

Número de Páginas: 468

By systematically examining the New Testament's teaching, Ferguson unveils a comprehensive model of the church that is boh biblically centered and relevant to a world on the verge of the twenty-first century.

The Church and the Churches, Or, The Church of God in Christ, and the Churches of Christ Militant Here on Earth

Autor: Hugh Mcneile

Número de Páginas: 435

A Closer Look at God's Church

Autor: Mark R. Jackson

Número de Páginas: 260

The Church of God Reformation Movement began in the early 1880s under the leadership of D. S. Warner and those who joined with him in search of a unified church. Their goal was simply to be God's holy people free from all denominational division. After more than 135 years of existence, this movement has grown so that it has congregations located around the world. Those affiliated with the Church of God have included well-known individuals such as Charles Schulz, the creator of Charlie Brown, and singers and songwriters Bill and Gloria Gaither. So what is the Church of God? What are its beliefs and have those beliefs changed since its inception? In this book, Mark Jackson examines ten key beliefs of the Church of God and evaluates them in light of Scripture. These beliefs are the authority of Scripture, salvation and church membership, the assurance of salvation, church ordinances, victory over sin, the work of the Holy Spirit, conditional security, divine healing, Christian unity, and the kingdom of God. Whether affiliated with the Church of God or not, this book offers to readers a clear and biblical presentation of beliefs that should be important to all Christians. "I only wish ...

The People of God

Autor: Paul Basden , David S. Dockery

Número de Páginas: 369

The term Believers' Church refers to those who regard the church as the fellowship of regenerate followers of Jesus Christ. Membership in these churches is founded on a voluntary confession of Jesus as Lord. Each member has access to God in worship and prayer and accepts responsibility for carrying the gospel to the world. The Word of God serves as the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. Written by capable thinkers in the Believers' Church tradition, The People of God addresses key issues in the area of ecclesiology. The contributions represent a wide variety of mature theological reflection. Exploring these ecclesiological concerns from a theological, biblical, historical, and contemporary perspective, these essays reflect the unity and diversity of the Believers' Church heritage.

The House Where God Lives

Autor: Gary D. Badcock

Número de Páginas: 379

In a culture dominated by the individualistic values of political and social liberalism, Gary Badcock says that we seldom hear of the church as the creature of the Word of God. The church has been entrusted to us by God and belongs to the structure of the Christian faith itself. Ecclesiology is first of all theology because it is primarily about the presence of God, Badcock maintains, and is thus biblical and creedal ( one, holy, catholic, and apostolic ) something that we believe which is what undergirds its empirical, sociological, and even pastoral function. Rather than a hollow shell where humans dream moral dreams and do good deeds, the church is the house where God lives.

The Household of God

Autor: Lesslie Newbigin

Número de Páginas: 156

This book discusses the question that the author regards as central in the present ecumenical debate: the nature of the Church itself. He thus describes the plan of the book: The First chapter sketches the present context of the discussion and touches on the Biblical meaning of the word "Church." The next three chapters examine the three answers to the central question, which may be roughly categorized as Protestant, Catholic, Pentecostal. The last two chapters argue that the Church is only to be understood in a perspective that is at once eschatological and missionary, the perspective of the ends of the earth. Bishop Newbigin's evaluations are provacative, scholarly, and filled with profound passion and insight. He is concerned with the searching questions men today are asking: Is there in truth a family of God on earth to which I can belong, a place where all men can be truly at home? If so, where is it to be found and how is it that those who claim to be spokesmen of that holy fellowship are themselves at war with one another as to the fundamentals of its nature? I think there is no more urgent theological task than to try to give plain and simple answers. This he does, drawing ...

The Church - Its Nature, Ordinances and Offices

Autor: John W Keddie

Número de Páginas: 398

This book covers most aspects of the Christian Church as an institution, in its nature, government, worship, sacraments and offices. It is written from a perspective which is both Reformed and Presbyterian. The study is designed to be informative and of practical help to all Church office-bearers and to those who may enquire as to the nature and functions of a Christian Church as an institution for the public worship of God and the advance of the gospel of God's grace.

The Church Called to be God's Salt & Light

Autor: R. Page Shelton

Número de Páginas: 266

Have you ever thought that the work of the church you attend seems at times to be different from and in conflict with the church's mission described in the Scriptures as God's Kingdom of grace, love, justice, mercy, and reconciliation? In The Church Called to be God's Salt and Light, Dr. Shelton describes those conflicts as he has observed them for almost fifty years. He discusses the conflicts by contrasting the teachings of Cultural Religion and the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Dr. Shelton invites readers to theological reflections on the life and mission to be the sald of God's justice and light of God's love in the world. He encourages the church to reclaim her life through the Spirit of Christ as the community of God's Kingdom of grace, mercy, love, compassion, and justice.

Church Affairs

Autor: Watchman Nee

The purpose of God is to establish Christ—and not just the personal Christ but also the corporate Christ, which is the Church: “as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is the Christ” (1 Cor. 12.12 Darby). The work of the Holy Spirit in these past two thousand years has been centered on building this body of Christ. We will fail God in seeing His purpose and fail the Holy Spirit in cooperating with His work if we are not “holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God” (Col. 2.19). The body of Christ is not only most spiritual but also most practical. It is an earthly testimony as well as a heavenly body. All its spiritual principles must be and can be practiced in a local assembly. Here in these pages, therefore, we shall find that Watchman Nee shares with us the practical aspects of the assembly life. He touches on such practical matters as authority in the church, ministry in the church, church fellowship, church meetings, and the boundary of a local assembly. It is important for the reader to remember...

Distinguishing the Church

Autor: Greg Peters , Matt Jenson

Número de Páginas: 192

As the Protestant Reformers did, so twenty-first-century Christians also recognize the need to distinguish between the true and false church. Thus, they find themselves looking closely at the modern church to determine whether it is a true and faithful church. Today’s Christians know that proper criteria are necessary to discern the true church. The most common criteria, wrote John Calvin, are that the Word of God is rightly preached and heard and that the sacraments are administered according to Christ’s institution. Moreover, Martin Luther said that suffering is a telltale sign of God’s people, while Anabaptist and Reformed Christians included discipline among the distinguishing marks of the church. These standards take on particular poignancy today: The global church continues to live under severe persecution, and the American church, characterized by a lack of discipline, has been wounded by its own sins of chasing sex and power. In this collection of essays, first given at annual meetings of the Evangelical Theological Society, the authors take time to reflect on the Reformational marks of the church in order to help reform Christ’s bride. With contributions from:...

The Church and the Churches; Or, the Church of God in Christ and the Churches of Christ Militant Here on Earth.

Autor: Hugh Macneile (dean Of Ripon.)

The Church as the Body of Christ

Autor: Witness Lee

Número de Páginas: 278

These messages speak of what the church is and has, the building of the church, and the coordination, order, and authority of the Body of Christ.

The Church in Crisis

Autor: Ron Auch , John Cronce

Número de Páginas: 145

The Church of Jesus Christ in America is in great need of a revival. Currently revival is sweeping many parts of the world with the exception of America, Japan, and Western Europe, the three materialistic societies. In this book the author looks at the role prayer has played and will play in reviving the Church. Without a powerful move of God, our nation has no hope.

The Church of the Living God

Autor: Grace Otegbade

Número de Páginas: 150

This book is special, unusual, but not formidable. You can hardly fully read it without the bible; so it is designed to attract Christian world. Because of the long-standing Church controversies about being under grace, and not under the law, there are conflicting ideas of what born-again Christians obligations to the Lord are supposed to be if you are under grace. This book attempts to clarify this, in details, and should settle the matter for true truth seekers for good. This is one of the highlights of the book because this matter touches, not only life, but eternal life too. It points out (not with proud holier- than- thou attitude) areas of life Christians need examine & improve upon, with God s help- but it is not a book of gloom and doom. With every such area attention is drawn to, there are way outs and exhortation of what can be done. pointing to God, (not the book s author) for the Answers. The author hopes you will not hate the book, but welcome it as Exhortations from a loving sister to her well-beloved fellow Christians, and prays it serves as ladder to Newness of life in the Lord Jesus Christ. The book enhances the loving kindness of God to us; and gently tries to...

The Reality of the Church

Autor: Claude Welch

Número de Páginas: 255

Here is an attempt to define the reality of the church, to answer the question: Wherein does the church have its being? One of the central themes in this analysis is the relation of the church to Christ and the Holy Spirit. And this motif is set in the context of the wide variety of ways in which the New Testament describes the church, with Dr. Welch taking account of several oft-ignored elements. He seeks to view the church in the wholeness of its being, as an historical community of human beings existing in response to the creative and redemptive work of God. Fundamental features of such related problems as the Incarnation, the sacraments, the ministry, and church discipline are touched upon as well in this highly competent scholarly work.

A Glorious Church

Autor: Mike Gass

Número de Páginas: 327

The Church

Autor: Hans Küng

Número de Páginas: 654

The Church by Hans Kung (1976).

The People of God's Presence

Autor: Terry L. Cross

Número de Páginas: 320

In an age when the church is sometimes viewed as irrelevant and inauthentic, leading Pentecostal theologian Terry Cross calls the people of God to a radical change of structure and mission based on theological principles. Cross, whose work is respected by scholars from across the ecumenical landscape, offers an introduction to ecclesiology that demonstrates how Pentecostals can contribute to and learn from the church catholic. A forthcoming volume by the author, Serving the People of God's Presence, will focus on the role of leadership in the church.

I Saw the Church

Autor: Merle D. Strege , Barry L. Callen

Número de Páginas: 424

Our official historian traces the movement's message of holiness and Christian unity as it developed across the years.

The Churches of Christ

Autor: Richard T. Hughes

Número de Páginas: 366

This volume tells the story of the Churches of Christ, one of three major denominations that emerged in the United States from a religious movement led by Alexander Campbell and Barton W. Stone in the early 19th century. Beginning as an effort to provide a basis on which all Christians in America could unite, the leaders of the movement relied on the faith and practice of the primitive church. Ironically, this unity movement eventually divided precisely along the lines of its original agenda, as the Churches of Christ rallied around the restorationist banner while the Disciples of Christ gathered around the ecumenical cause. Yet, having begun as a countercultural sect, the Churches of Christ emerged in the 20th century as a culture-affirming denomination. This brief history, together with biographical sketches of major leaders, provides a complete overview of the denomination in America. The book begins with a concise yet detailed history of the denomination's beginnings in the early 19th century. Tracing the influence of such leaders as Stone and Campbell, the authors chronicle the triumphs and conflicts of the denomination through the 19th century and its reemergence and renewal ...

"The Church of the Living God"

Autor: Raymond Kenneth Campbell

Número de Páginas: 330

The Church in the Eternal Purpose of God

Autor: Watchman Nee

"My Father worketh even until now, and I work," declared the Lord Jesus while on the earth (John 5:17). Having thus laid the foundation of the work, Christ commands His church to fulfill it in the power of the Holy Spirit. We Christians who are the many-membered body of Christ have a pressing need to know how to serve according to God.Among this collection of twelve messages delivered by brother Watchman Nee, the first four of them were spoken in English while he was in Europe during the year 1938-39 and appear here in an edited form for the sake of clarity. The remaining eight messages were delivered in Chinese when he was in Kowloon, Hong Kong during the year 1950. Their texts have now been newly translated into English from the original transcriptions in Chinese which were made available to the translator for translation and inclusion in the present volume.Despite the difference in years when these messages were given, brother Nee's burden was the same: How can we who are members of Christ's church best serve God's purpose?May God use this compilation to help us to serve His will and purpose more effectively.

What Is the Church and Why Does It Exist?

Autor: David Fitch

Número de Páginas: 78

What is the church? And why does it exist? These are essential questions for those who seek to follow Jesus in community. David Fitch delves into the origins of the church, exploring the identity and calling of the body of Christ in scripture and church history. Learn about the Christian practices that shape the church and how our understandings of church might change in light of the life of the church through the centuries. At a time when the church in the US is losing credibility and cultural privilege, Fitch calls us to embrace historic Anabaptism as a model for thriving as God’s people in our own time and place. The Jesus Way: Small Books of Radical Faith delve into big questions about God’s work in the world. These concise, practical books are deeply rooted in Anabaptist theology. Crafted by a diverse community of internationally renowned scholars, pastors, and practitioners, The Jesus Way series helps readers deepen their faith in Christ and enliven their witness.

Rediscovering Church

Autor: Lynne Hybels , Bill Hybels

Número de Páginas: 228

Rediscovering Church is the candid story of Willow Creek Community Church's phenomenal growth, from 100 members meeting in a Palatine, Illinois, movie theater to its present Sunday morning attendance of 15,000. Bill Hybels and his wife, Lynne, tell about Willow Creek's beginnings, its struggles, the philosophy behind its success, and the strategies that have made it a model for church growth. The first half of the book, written by Lynne Hybels, explores the early years of Willow Creek and the personal accounts behind one of this century's most remarkable church stories. It offers an honest look at the ways God has used both the strengths and weaknesses of His people, creating a church of believers who have had tremendous impact for Christ in their community. In the second half of Rediscovering Church, Bill Hybels helps you apply the strengths of Willow Creek's ministry philosophy to your own congregation's mission. From mission statements to developing leadership, making sound financial decisions, and handling growth, Bill stresses that God wants to build His church to be an effective and committed community of faith that reaches out to a hurting world, to be the body of Christ in ...

The Church of All Ages

Autor: Howard A. Vanderwell

Número de Páginas: 249

Many congregations today experience collisions between parents who ant to spend time with their children and age-segregated church programming, as well as between the children worshiping in their pews and the increasing number of seniors in the same pew. Among the questions these congregations struggle to address are these: Should we try to hold the generations together when we worship/ Is it even possible? Led by pastor and resource developer Howard Vanderwell, nine writers--pastors, teachers, worship planners, and others serving in specialized ministries--offer their reflections on issues congregational leaders need to address as they design their worship ministry. In addition, numerous sidebars illustrate the diversity of practices in the church today. Contributors do not propose easy answers or instant solutions. Rather, they guide readers as they craft ministries and practices that fit their own community, heritage, and history. Each chapter includes questions for reflection and group discussion, and an appendix provides guidelines for small group use. The thread that connects these varied contributions is the belief that there is no greater privilege for Christians than...

God's Glorious Church

Autor: Tony Evans

Número de Páginas: 288

Tony Evans defines the church in vibrant terms: it is a continuation of Christ's incarnation. As such, it is the most important spiritual institution in human history. He helps the church discover its identity and purpose for existence, and provides believers a biblically healthy context in which to grow and live out their lives. This book will inspire you to help make your place of worship all that God intends it to be.

Church emerging from the cracks

Autor: Johann-albrecht Meylahn

Número de Páginas: 77

The drawing, Christ of the Breadlines, by Fritz Eichenberg (1953) probably says all that this book wants to say about being church. The church is a space in this world where heaven and earth reach out to each other. It is a space in the world, but not of the world, as it is touched by heaven. Christ is in the breadline, yet one can recognise Him as He stands out in the breadline. One can recognise him, because of the hallow that surrounds him. He is the incarnation within reality and through the incarnation the place within reality becomes holy, not sacred as in separated, but sanctified as differentiated offering an alternative within reality. He brings a space that is marked, not by the darkness and the vicious cycles of the world which dominate and enslave creation, such as poverty, but a space that breaks into this darkness with light as it is hallowed in hope. What more can the church hope for than to be allowed to be a space of hallowed hope in the vicious systems of death in a postmodern and post-Christian world? This book would like to propose that it does not really matter if you start with theory (Scripture and tradition) or with context and practice because theology is...

The Church

Autor: John Stott

Número de Páginas: 88

The church lies at the centre of God's purpose. Christ gave himself 'to purify for himself a people that are his own'. But when we think about church, there's the tension between the ideal and the reality. The former is beautiful: God's special treasure, the covenant community, a haven of love and peace. The latter? A motley rabble needing constant rebuke and exhortation. Here we focus on the ideal, on what God intends his church to be, while all the time keeping in view the reality, so that we can grasp the changes that need to be made.

The Church of God and Its Human Face

Autor: Martin Madar

Número de Páginas: 210

The Church of God and Its Human Face is the first comprehensive study of perhaps the most original U.S. ecclesiologist of our times, Joseph A. Komonchak. In language accessible to a wide audience, the author offers an exposition of Komonchak's thought on the church and explores its distinctive features, including its implications for church practice.

Quest to Restore God's House

Autor: Wade H. Phillips

Número de Páginas: 694

In this first volume of a projected three-volume set, Bishop Wade H. Phillips offers the most comprehensive examination to date of the origins, early history, and theological development of the Church of God (Cleveland, TN). Meticulously researched, this work breaks new ground at nearly every turn. Offering the most extensive analysis of the ministry and thought of Richard Spurling, Phillips places Spurling's emerging thought and identity within the context of his theological influences. Along the way he demonstrates Spurling's indispensible role in the creation of the Church of God while identifying never before revealed details about his ministry, including the fact that he helped establish not one but at least four Christian Union congregations. Turning his attention to A.J. Tomlinson, Phillips offers what is clearly the most detailed examination to date of Tomlinson's life and ministry through 1923. Identifying his Quaker origins, Phillips traces and documents Frank Sandford's direct influence upon Tomlinson and the developing Church of God. Drawing on a vast array of resources, including thousands of pages of legal depositions and over one hundred photographs, Phillips...

The Church and the Kingdom

Autor: Leslie John

Número de Páginas: 146

This book brings out the marvelous truth about the mystery that was hidden in the Old Testament period now made known by the revelation through Apostle Paul. The mystery is that Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the Church, upon Him is the Church built, and all the believers in Him, are the members of His body. Salvation is by Grace through Faith in Lord Jesus Christ.