Product Description
Adam Neder offers an exploration of the concept of “participation in Christ” in Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics and what it means for understanding Christian faith. He clarifies Barth’s claim that humanity as a whole, and human beings individually, participate in Jesus Christ; revelation, election, creation, reconciliation, and redemption all take place in Christ; and their meaning may only be comprehended in Christ. In these acts of inclusion and realization, the creature is incorporated into a fellowship that is nothing less than participation in the being of God. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Clarifying Barth
In this work, Adam Neder offers an excellent treatment of the theme of participation in Barth's work.He moves through all four volumes of the Dogmatics, then to a summarizing chapter on Christology and ends with a comparison of Barth's views of participation and Orthodox teaching on theosis.The book is well-written and well organized.It is easy to follow Neder's argument throughout as he clarifies Barth's approach and counters misunderstandings of those who think Barth has nothing helpful to contribute to the subject.

The central argument of the book is that Barth HAS a consistent position on human participation in Christ and it is worthy of the church's attention and reflection.Neder says of Barth in his conclusion "his teaching concerning the participation in Christ should be understood as a constructive contribution to the church's tradition of reflection on the meaning of human participation in the being of God and not merely a rejection of that tradition" (p. 88).

This book will be helpful to people who think Barth's theology has no room in it for humanity and for those who are interested in the notion of participation in theology. ... Read more

Product Description

The belief that Christ is the God-man is definitive of Christianorthodoxy and imperative to a right understanding of the gospel. Bythe middle of the fifth century, the church had wrestled with manychallenges to the biblical portrayal of Christ and, in response tothose challenges, had formulated the doctrine of Christ thatremains the standard to this day. This look to the past helps asChristians contend with present-day challenges and seek to answerChrist's question—"Who do people say that I am?"—forthose living in the twenty-first century.

For Us and for Our Salvation tells the very human story of theformation of the doctrine of Christ in those early centuries of thechurch. A glossary, numerous charts and timelines, and some helpfulappendices make the book accessible and user-friendly. Primarysource materials from key theologians and councils complement theengaging narrative.

Customer Reviews (5)

Essential Reading on the Person and Work of Christ
Stephen Nichols is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. Nichols (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary), is Research Professor of Christianity and Culture at Lancaster Bible College in Lacaster, PA. He is the author and editor of a number of books. He has the uncanny ability to turn difficult theological and historical issues into things interesting and even exciting for the average Christian reader. His, "Guided Tour" books are helpful introductions to the lives and theology of key Christian leaders in history. Now he is turning to issues of cultural history as well with his recent books on Blues music and his cultural history of Jesus in America. Nichols knows that the study of church history and historical theology is essential to the church and the believer today. His book on the doctrine of Christ in the early church is no exception.

We live in a day of historical anemia. People have absolutely no historical context in which to understand the theological trends of the day. Little do most know that much of what is considered "new" in theological trends and fads is hardly new but generally has been dealt with in the church before simply under different names. That is where looking at the person and work of Christ as discussed by the early church fathers is so important. Much of what we consider orthodox Christology was developed in the early church. The early church fathers had to deal with heresy as they attempted to understand issues like the divine and human natures in Christ, and other theological issues. The title of the book presents the reason why this is important. The true biblical nature of Christ is the basis for our salvation. Without a true picture of Christ, how can one truly be saved? Nichols addresses the importance of studying the fathers on these issues when he writes:

The early church fathers wrestled with the same problems presented by The Da Vinci Code phenomenon and its fanciful speculations about Jesus. They wrestled with the same problems presented by Islam and its adamant denial of the deity of Christ. And they wrestled with the same problems presented by the scholars working in the Jesus Seminar or in Gnostic texts like the Gospel of Judas who quickly dismiss the four canonical Gospels as God's true revelation to humanity. In the days of the early church, the names of the opponents were difference from those faced by us today, but the underlying issues bear a striking resemblance. When the church fathers responded with the orthodox view off Christ, they did the church of all ages a great service (p. 14).

So, Nichols looks at the early church debates over the person and work of Christ. These were not trivial debates but were at the heart of our very relationship with God and our salvation. While looking at a number of church fathers he addresses the importance of the debates over Christ at the Councils of Nicea and Chaledon and the work of the great Athanasius and Leo. He looks at the theology of the opponents of the orthodox picture of Christ presented in the creeds that developed at the councils, the historical context that these debates occurred, and the major orthodox players who helped to shape what we consider the true picture of Christ today as evangelicals.

The biggest strength of the volume is that Nichols, as a historian, realizes that we cannot simply focus on secondary sources or that even Nichols own analysis is sufficient to understanding these issues. One must look to the original sources. To that end, Nichols offers the original writings of those on both sides of the debates. So you will read the works of Irenaeus, Athanasius, and Tertullian, but you will also read from the Gnostic texts and Arius. It is important to look at both sides to see how ultimately, the church came to the expression of Christology that we consider orthodox today as expressed in the Nicean and Chalecedonian creeds. No one can truly understand the issues unless they look at the writings of the times. This helps but those debates in historical context and helps us to see the importance for us today.

These issues are not just old ones. We are facing the same issues today under new names. Therefore it is important to read the works of the early church fathers who dealt with these issues before. These issues are not tangential to the Christian life. They are at the core! Without an orthodox view of the person and work of Christ our salvation rests on no foundation. Only the God-man Jesus Christ, fully divine, and fully human, has the power to forgive sin and restore fellowship with the Father. Therefore, Nichol's book is a clarion call to all believers in this day to know in whom they have believed, and are persuaded that He is able to keep that which they have committed unto Him against that day. Our very salvation rests upon the person and work of Christ. May we shake off our theological and historical confusion and look to the Scriptures and the work of those who have gone before us as we seek to live our life for the one that came to save us, Christ Jesus our Lord. This book is highly recommended to that end for everyone who names the name of Christ.

Sound Apologetic for the Deity of Christ
~For Us and for Our Salvation: The Doctrine of Christ in the Early Church~ is an erudite work of Christian theological study for laypersons by Stephen Nichols. Therein, Nichols offers a thoughtful exposition on the Doctrine of Christ and His Deity. He illustrates how the early church fathers wrestled with these very issues. The book's title itself emanates from the words of Athanasius and the Nicene Creed, Christ is God in the flesh "for us and for our salvation." The author Nichols shows how church history is just as relevant today, since Christians are constantly revisiting the same controversies again and again. As Christians too, we should see the sovereign hand of providence at work. Though, the Church was confronted with the spirit of error, those who denied the Deity of Christ and/or that Christ had come in the flesh. Such controversies provided the opportunity for the Apostle Paul to clarify matters, building on the truth of the Gospel.In a strange providence, God allowed the spirit of error to be manifest that the truth and light of the Gospel would shine brighter yet still. Within the few centuries of the nascent Christianity's ascendancy, the early church fathers faced similar controversies emanating from various pseudo-Christian sects. They confronted Arians, Gnostics, Judaizers, and Modalists.

Christ's Deity Defended...
Stephen J. Nichols hit a homerun in this book. As the title suggests, Dr. Nichols' goal is to establish what the early church thought of the Deity of Christ. He lays this out by going through a quick examination of who the "players" are, what and who they were fighting, and then laying out their arguments.

After this, he lets the men speak for themselves with their own writings. I really enjoyed this format. You get some explanation and then you get to read for yourself. Most books will either focus on just the explanation and yet others just lay out the entirety of a writing. This book is a great medium. Although it is short, it gets to the point and shows that the Council of Nicaea was definitely not the first time that Jesus' deity was brought forth in the church, but was orthodoxy handed down from the Apostles to those in the early church.

The book is broken down in chapters based on the different centuries and includes many men and their beliefs, from the early centuries all the way to the fifth century. You read from men like Ignatius, Irenaeus, Turtullian, Hippolytus, Athanasius, Leo the Great, and more. You also encounter some of the heretical writings so that you see what these men were fighting against.

All and all, I would use this book as a resource for any that doubt the doctrine of Christ's divinity in relation to the early church. No doubt the Bible speaks of the divinity of Christ, but now we are getting attacked that it was a foreign concept to the church fathers. This book puts that to rest in a quick and easy read on the subject that Jesus Christ was no doubt God, and was For Us and Our Salvation. Highly Recommended.

A Clear, Brief and Helpful look into church history
Whenever I read something from church history I have the same approach and the same reaction. I approach the book thinking that I am going to have to jump into a time machine to relate to the subjects and issues of the day. However, I am quickly reminded that aside from the cool names there is very little that we do not have in common today with them.

In reading For Us and For Our Salvation I had the same response. Stephen Nichols does an admirable job of contextualizing the issues of yesterday while also helping us to see the commonality of what we are facing today. From the introduction Nichols writes:

The early church fathers wrestled with the same problems presented by The Da Vinci Code phenomenon and its fanciful speculations about Jesus. The wrestled with the same problems presented by Islam and its adamant denial of the deity of Christ. And they wrestled with the same problems presented by the scholars working in the Jesus Seminar or in Gnostic texts like the Gospel of Judas who quickly dismiss the four canonical Gospels as God's true revelation to humanity. In the days of the early church, the names of the opponents were different from those faced by us today, but the underlying issues bear a striking resemblance. When the church fathers responded with the orthodox view of Christ, they did the church of all ages a great service.

Nichols begins his book under the shadow of the completion of the New Testament and traces the development of the attacks and defense of the doctrine of Christ through the first four centuries. We are introduced to valiant defenders of a biblical Christology such as Tertullian, Ignatius, Irenaeus, and Hippolyteus. We learn of their battles against the Ebionites, Marcion, Sabellius and others. Furthermore, Nichols provides helpful detail concerning Athanasius and his battles with Arius.

In effort to help us see, feel and better understand the gravity of the issue at hand in these days Nichols intermixes chapters containing selections of the original documents written by both the "good guys" and the "bad guys". This is helpful in that it helps us remember that these were `regular' guys just living their lives, aiming to exalt Jesus by standing firm to what he Bible teaches. They had their 60-70 years to live and this is what they chose to fight for.

Nichols' book is a helpful look into the past for encouragement in the present. I really appreciated Nichols' ability to be both clear and brief in his chronicling of the doctrine of Christ in the early church. The book weighs in at more than manageable 172 pages which includes a couple of appendixes and a helpful glossary. For Us and For Our Salvation will doubtless prove helpful to all--pastors, teachers, students, and `laymen'.

Church History Today
Stephen Nichols is quite the prolific author. A professor at Lancaster Bible College and Graduate School and a graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary, Nichols has written several notable books in the past few years and it seems that he always has at least one title on the "Coming Soon" lists at Crossway or P&R Publishing. Nichols has a gift for presenting church history in a way that is interesting and in a way that appeals to those who may not otherwise know (or care) about the long, storied history of the church. He shows how church history is relevant precisely because the controversies we face today are strikingly similar to ones the church has dealt with long ages ago.

The early church fathers wrestled with the same problems presented by The Da Vinci Code phenomenon and its fanciful speculations about Jesus. They wrestled with the same problems presented by Islam and its adamant denial of the deity of Christ. And they wrestled with the same problems presented by the scholars working in the Jesus Seminar or in gnostic texts like the Gospel of Judas who quickly dismiss the four canonical Gospels as God's true revelation to humanity. In the days of the early church, the names of the opponents were different from those faced by us today, but the underlying issues bear a striking resemblance. When the church fathers responded with the orthodox view of Christ, they did the church of all ages a great service.

Nichols' latest effort is titled For Us and for Our Salvation and it examines the doctrine of Christ in the early church. "This book explores [the] controversies over Christ faced by the early church. This book also looks to tell the story of the people involved." The timing of this title is no coincidence. In the past few years we have seen several attacks on the doctrine of Christ, most of the accusers claiming that the doctrine of Jesus' divinity was a fabrication of those who followed centuries after His death.

This book tells the story of how the doctrine of Christ was formulated by the early church and how this doctrine was forged in the fires of controversy. It relies, as do many of Nichols' books, on primary source materials from the key councils and theologians. Nichols offers compelling proof that the divinity of Jesus Christ was not fabricated by his followers centuries later, but was central to the church from its earliest days.

He ultimately has to conclude that

The early church was right in spending so much time and effort on the doctrine of Christ. They were right to contend that Christ is the God-man, very God of very God and at the same time truly human with flesh and blood. They were right to content that Christ is two natures conjoined in one person without division, separation, confusion, or mixture, to use the language of the Chalcedonian Creed. They were also right to contend that the gospel collapses without this belief. In the words of Athanasius and the Nicene Creed, Christ is the God-man "for us and for our salvation."

I've long believed that church historians do not receive their due in today's church. But a man like Stephen Nichols shows what an integral role they can (and should!) play. Historians have a unique perspective on contemporary struggles in the church and are able to show, to borrow a great little phrase from French, "plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose." Or, to translate, "the more things change, the more they stay the same." There is a sense in which history seems cyclical--controversies arise and are put to rest for a time, but seem to rise again. Those with a view to the church's past are specially equipped to see these controversies for what they are and to teach how the church dealt with them in the past. Nichols does just this in For Us and for Our Salvation. He leaves no doubt that the answers to these contemporary issues lie in the past. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A very welcome collection
"Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church: Documents on the Blessed Virgin Mary" from Pauline Books & Media is, indeed, a very welcome collection. This work of general editor Sr. Marianne Lorraine Trouve,FSP, and featuring introductions for each of the Marian pronouncements by M. Jean Fisk, S.T.L., brings together all of the most important papal documents on the Blessed Virgin Mary over a period of 140 years, from the defining of Her Immaculate Conception by Blessed Pope Pius IX in 1854, to Pope John Paul II's letter "Tertio Millenio Adveniente" in 1994. Also included is chapter eight from the Vatican II Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, "Lumen Gentium," which properly set the Church's teachings on Mary in contextwith what the Fathers of the Council taught on the Church in total. Having all these important statements on Mary together in one book makes this volume a God-send for believers, theologians and scholars alike.
As we approach the 29th anniversary of the passing of the unforgettable Pontiff Paul VI, it is particularly pleasing to see so many of that Pope's Marian writings included. It is very difficult to find any of Paul VI's teachings on any subject available these days. He is all but forgotten in many scholarly circles in recent decades. Many of his letters and pronouncements onMary, such as "Marialis Cultis" and "Guadete in Domino" have not been in print for many years. Any copies are virtually impossible to find, as are many of his other important works, especially the encyclical"Populorum Progressio," reviewed so favorably here on Amazon.com.
"Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church" is an important and invaluable resource on the Church's teachings on the Ever Virgin Mother God, Mary of Nazareth. Having this volume in your library will allow you to know and love Mary as the Church has come to know and love her- as the Mother of God and our Mother.

Understanding the Mother of God
This was mandatory reading for a course that I took. I found the book to be enlightening and I learned much more that I ever knew about Mary, the Mother of God. ... Read more

Product Description
While many manuals advise clergy and congregants on tactics for church survival or thriving, few address the deepest identity, shape, and imperatives of the church in its identity in Christ and the tradition of discipling that stems from his life, work, death, and resurrection.



As compelling as it is clear, Craig Nessan's important new work retrieves biblical metaphors of the body of Christ and, following Dietrich Bonhoeffer, sees church today as "Christ existing as community."The theological-probing Nessan then adds contextual analysis and describes the four chief imperatives that mark Christ's presence in the world today: peacemaking, justice-making, care for creation, and engagement with the other. He then unfolds the real-life implications of this paradigm of Christian community for local church structure, strategies for partnering, public witness, and interreligious engagement. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (4)

Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
The book is exactly what i needed and wanted. It has a wrtie up of each temple andbeautiful pictures of the temple. I appreciated recieving it.

A Most Magnificent an d Glorious History of LDS Temples!!!!

Temples Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints by Christopher Bigelow
When I received the great news that this most anticipated book was out, and who the author was, I had to purchase a copy from Chris. The book is everything I hoped it would be. This book is exquisite,the pictures absolutely beautiful. I was contacte last Jan of '09 to send some photos we'd taken of some Temples, but they weren't used, but that was ok.
This unique book has a fold out section at the front that shows and tells in detail what the symbols on the exterior of the Salt Lake Temple. It up close and personal the cloudstones, sunstones, all seeing eyes, earthstones, alpha and omega scrolls, handclasps, moonstones, big dipper, battlements, doors, starstones, capstones and terminals and dedication plaque, towers and pinnacles and keystones.
This book talks about the purpose of Latter-day Temples, that they are The House of the Lord, that they provide the basic Ordinances of the deceased. They also provide higher Ordinances for both living and dead and they can draw families together eternally and not just for time. Chris gives an overview of the architecture of the Temples. He describes the two Temples Joseph Smith had built and tells about the early Temple Architects.
It talks about the four nineteenth century Temples, the three spireless Temples, our modern Center-spired Temples, traditional single-spired Temples, smaller single-spired Temples, six-spired slope-roofed Temples, single-spired Classic-Modern Termples and then the era of smaller Temples. Chris tells us about Modern-Day Temples with Unique Designs and that the Temple is a "Class of Its Own."
Each Temple is in chronological order and you can read special tidbits about each, especially by me finding that the Newport Beach California Temple in Orange County where my mom lives, tells that the Temple Spire was shortened from 124 feet to 100 feet and to turn off the Temple's flood lighting by 11:00 pm. Before the Newport Beach City Council gave final approval, they had to shorten the spire's height again to 90 feet.
The Columbia River Washington Temple is my Temple and I'd never seen such a more peaceful and spiritual shot of my Temple It is a night shot.
I've had the opportunity of being inside 14 Temples, which are as follows: Los Angeles Temple (where I was endowed and married to Bob), Salt Lake Temple, Jordan River Temple, Oakland Temple, Seattle Temple, Portland Temple, San Diego Temple, Idaho Falls Temple, Boise Temple, Spokane Temple, Provo Temple, Columbia River Temple, Nauvoo Temple and St. Louis Temple. Bob had been inside the same amount of Temples, but he'd been inside the Manti Temple and not the San Diego Temple. We attended the Capstone, Open House and Dedication of both the Jordan River and Columbia River Temples, were specially chosen by our bishop to represent our ward with 4 other couples the day our Los Angeles Temple celebrated its 25th Anniversary. I took my mom to the San Diego Temple's Open House in '93, and we attended the Open House of the Spokane Temple and attended via satellite, the Palmyra Temple Dedication. I still have those two tickets from both the dedication and Open House.
This book should be in every Latter-Day Saint home's library. It would be a great Missionary tool. I very highly recommend it. It is well worth the price, though I got it at a good discount from Chris.

Forever Friends Rating A very big 5 stars by Teri
Until Next Time, See You Around The Book Nook.
Published by: Thunder Bay Press
Published Date: November 2009
ISBN: 978-1-59223-990-0
224pp
I purchased this Temple book from Chris Bigelow, the author.

TEMPLES
This book not only depicts the beauty of all the Mormon Temples of today, it provides factual data about LDS Temples and their purpose.It is a beautiful book that should give lasting pleasure.

Beautiful
I received this book as a Christmas gift.I recommend it to anybody with any interest in Latter-day Saint temples.The author explains what temples are used for and traces the builing of temples chronologically.He explains the symbolism on the Salt Lake Temple.The photography is beautiful. ... Read more

Product Description
General Books publication date: 2009Original publication date: 1909Original Publisher: Deseret Sunday School UnionSubjects: MormonsMormon ChurchReligion / Christianity / Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free.Excerpt: CHAPTER I1THE OTHER SHEEPFrom the spring of 1820 to the autumn of 1823 -- a period of nearly three years and a half -- Joseph received no further communication from heaven.An Interval of Three Years.During this time, he tells us, he "frequently fell into many foolish errors, and displayed the weakness of youth and the foibles of human nature." We need not be at all surprised at this. He was persecuted by those who, according to the principles they affected so devoutly to believe, should have endeavored, in a teachable spirit, to convince him that he was wrong in crediting his vision; or, failing in this, ought at least to have followed Gamaliel's advice, given under circumstances not dissimilar: "If this work is of men, it will come to naught, but if it be of God, we cannot overthrow it, lest haply we be found even to fight against God." But they chose to use a less tolerant method. His company was shunned by those whom he would otherwise have associated with, and he was, therefore, driven into the society of a less desirable class, and exposed to temptation. Being of a jovial disposition, moreover, he did not always resist the evil into which he was thrown.It is not to be inferred from this, however, that he was guilty of any grave sin, such as those have tried to make out who take advantage of his candid avowals concerning his earlier life. His errors consisted only of the usual follies ofyoung persons of his condition of life -- le... ... Read more

Product Description
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

Product Description
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the editor of the monumental Catechism of the Catholic Church, a world-wide best seller, provides a brief and profound commentary on the third part of the Catechism, Life in Christ. Schönborn gives an incisive, detailed analysis of living the Christian life, providing a specific meditation for each week of the year on how to better live the Catholic faith as presented in the Catechism. Through these 52 meditations, Schönborn's hope is for the reader to not just have a better grasp of the Catholic doctrine and belief, but especially to grow in a greater love of and devotion to the person of Jesus Christ. Deserves wide circulation. No one is better qualified than Schönborn to write on how the Catechism is to be lived. An indispensable companion to the Catechism. --Fr. John Hardon, S.J. ... Read more

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A 'Century of Saints' chronicles the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints (Mormon) in eastern Colorado and southeastern Wyoming from its sesquicentennial beginnings in 1846 (when the west's first saints settled temporarily in Pueblo) to its centennial establishment of the Colorado Mission in Denver Stake in 1940. A brief description of the Church's more recent progress concludes the colume.Facts, figures, charts and maps document Church growth. However, the heart of this volume resides in the stories of individual Church members-stories of sacrifice, dedication, faith, courage and humor. The narratives are inhanced by numerous photographs, which give a glimpse of these noble pioneers. ... Read more

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A fast moving book that looks inside the heritage known as the churches of Christ. As a compass gives direction this book will help you understand the difference between culture, tradition and Scripture. If your congregation is attempting to navagaite the many changes in 21st century American culture, this may be the book for you. An eye-opener! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A must read for anyone in the churches of Christ
First, the negatives- this books oddly falls off a cliff halfway in.The book is clicking along nicely concerning theology problems inside the church of Christ then, for no apparent reason, there are a few essays about the big bang and other seemingly non-related subjects.Then, as strangely as it began, the book returns to the subjects of tradition verses opinion verses truth in the churches of Christ.

Don't let the weird warble turn you off to this book.It is an excellent collection of short articles about problems with the doctrine of the church of Christ.Wait!Members of the churches of Christ will tell you they have no doctrine except the Bible!Of course, that is where this book is excellent.It's not what the Bible says, but how it is interpreted and it takes a close look at what is actually tradition and Biblical teaching.

This is a fine book and any one who is a member of the church of Christ needs to read it.

Only for those within to understand
The book deals with the progressive agenda within the churches of Christ during the turn of the century.The book highlights some concerns of the author over rigid patternism.The book is a call to unity.The major problem of the text is that the author infuses much opinion into the prose.The topics are relevant, but before one is to buy into his system, there must be more argumentation for his believes.There must be deeper investigation into these points of view.The author has drunk deeply of Leroy.

easy read
I agree that the flow of the book was odd, but the overall message came across very clearly once you finish the book.One gripe is that he uses the "upper room" argument, which I find to be a very weak argument.There are better ones out there I believe.If you are in the CoC or thinking of "identifying" this is a good book to read to make sure you are "owning" your interpretations.Let us all in the CoC learn to think for ourselves and not depend on our ancestry to "figure it all out for us".Let us not be merely indoctrinated.

Splitting the difference
For the message alone this book should get 5 stars. The message of unity between all "factions" of the Church is essential for growth and to lead the lost to Christ.However, this is a review of the book as a whole and I found it lacking, that is 1 star.Hence the title of this review, 5+1/2=3 stars.

What I found in this book is mostly opinion, more opinion and a little scripture.I must admit that I have yet to finish it so maybe it redeems itself in the end chapters/segments.Still, I am finding it a difficult read not due to the message but the messenger.The writing is stilted and the format confusing.It seems to be a random grouping of essays by the listed author and one other person, Buff Scott, Jr.There is at times a flow between one section and the next but overall, no.The authors have a section quoting leaders from the Restoration movement and church history but no citing.Basically, "This is what they said but you'll have to work to verify it if you want to."The other difficulty for me is most of the time I don't recognize the church the writers are criticizing.There are vague similarities to the congregations and church leaders I have known but that is all.

The book while worth reading can be summarized in this: Look to Christ for unity and for wisdom with all Church brethren.Don't treat your opinion or your traditions as law avoiding the trap of legalism.To me, the rest of the book is just filler and the authors' opinion and criticism of the Church as a whole based on their experiences.

Smelling Salts for the Soul
This fascinating and very readable series of short essays on issues in the churches of Christ is a real wake up call. The authors ask many intriguing and challenging questions about subjects such as legalism, tradition, hermeneutics, evangelism, the eldership, and worship, to name just a few. Although I do not agree with all of the book's conclusions, the authors do ask many good questions that clearly are on the minds of members of the church today. I recommend this book for church leaders and other mature Christians with strong critical thinking skills who are capable of, to borrow a phrase from the book, "owning their own interpretations." ... Read more

Product Description
1925. Brigham Young, second President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, and first Governor of Utah, was the founder and chief builder of the Great Intermountain West of the United States of America. He is recognized as one of the foremost colonizers and empire builders of all time. In this book Young is allowed to speak for himself. Excerpts have been made from his many discourses, and these have been arranged to show the coherent system of faith which he continuously taught his people and by which he was enabled to win success for his followers. Partial Contents: The Godhead; The Communication Between God and Man; Pre-existence, the Plan of Salvation; Free Agency; The Power of Evil; The Law of Eternal Progression; The Destiny of Man; Dispensations of the Gospel; The Last Days; The Scriptures; The Priesthood; The First Principles of the Gospel; The Word of Wisdom; The Family; Some Womanly Duties; Obedience; Gratitude, Humility, Devotion, Liberality, Honesty; Happiness and Social Enjoyments; Education; Self Control; Our Fellow-Men; Unity and Cooperation; Thrift and Industry; Wealth; Missionary Work; Visions, Mysteries and Miracles; Trials and Persecution; Political Government; Death and Resurrection; The Spirit World; Eternal Judgment; Salvation; Temples and Salvation for the Dead; Man's Search for Truth and Salvation; Testimony of the Truth; The Church and Kingdom of God on Earth; Some Effects of the Gospel; Joseph Smith the Prophet; and The Settlement in the West. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good for deep background...
This book is one of the main sources for the Teachings of Presidents of the Church series that covered Brigham. Unlike for other prophets, the book covering him was meant to last two full calendar years. Now it's easy to see why. Even this book is simply a compilation of quotations, but it is filled with doctrinal gems. Brigham is a powerful witness for the Resurrection of Christ, and for the ability of Christ to change men's hearts. Particularly of interest (to me) was him discussing his conversion, which took close to three years of steady investigation. Here is a guy not afraid to ask questions. But where he goes for answers makes him an example.

A Classic in LDS Literature
This book is a good summary of the gospel teachings of Brigham Young.I have read about 400 books on LDS doctrine and this is a Top 25 book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Accurate Biblical teachings
Each gospel Preacher's commentary was superb! Continue standing in the gateway preaching the gospel that we are not ashamed of. Reference scriptures Romans 1:16 and I Cor.15:1-2.
Larry Washington, Dallas Texas ... Read more

Product Description
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

Product Description
Chronicles the history of Christ Church (CC) from its founding in 1695 through three cent. of changes. The church s fascinating story is intertwined with that of the development of Phila. as a major city. Established as the church of the English crown in a Quaker colony, CC dealt from its inception with issues of religious freedom. CC faced numerous religious & secular challenges over the next 200 years -- including: evangelical religion, antebellum reforms, the Anglo-Catholic movement, the Social gospel movement, liberal social reforms, & a rapidly shifting population within Phila s. center city. Today, the church continues to play a vital role in the life of one of the nation s most cosmopolitan, diverse cities. Illustrations. ... Read more