What makes a church a church?
Is it "where three or more are gathered"? Is it songs and a sermon on Sunday? Does it require structure and leadership? How do you know?
The Character of the Church dispels confusion by describing the five elements of a biblical church. Concise, accessible, and historically informed, it teaches God's design for church so you know what to look for in one--or even how to lead one.
Useful for training in membership classes, discipleship groups, and elder boards--and even for devotional reading--The Character of the Church is at once theological, practical, and experiential. Readers will not simply be informed, but led to a deeper appreciation of the church of God and its essential marks:
- The word of God is faithfully preached
- The sacraments are rightly administered
- Leadership is biblically formed and functioning
- Discipline is practiced with grace
- The mission of the church is shared by all
This book will bring churches and Christians back to the biblical picture of a local body, perfect for any believer eager to grow and help others do likewise.