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Should the use of instrumental music in worship be a test of fellowship? Many in Churches of Christ say yes. If so, what about praise teams, handclapping during worship, praying to Jesus, or female translators? Must we divide when we disagree over the veil, the qualifications of elders, or divorce and remarriage?

This book documents the extreme diversity of views held by traditional brethren who are in fellowship with each other. These brethren disagree over the scriptural boundaries of fellowship, which practices are biblically authorized, and which issues we must be right about in order to be saved. The one thing they have in common is a belief that fidelity to God requires us to be right on all these matters. And yet they somehow remain in fellowship with each other. Is this consistent?

The author fervently pleads for Churches of Christ to acknowledge the failure of the traditional paradigm. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A must read for anyone who cares deeply for their church and congregation
Congregations will fall apart without the right care. "Springs of Living Water: Christ-Centered Church Renewal" is a nondenominational Christian guide to improving the church experience at one's local church. Offering tips to improve the congregation's spirit and faith in Jesus and therefore inspire faith in others, "Springs of Living Water" is a must read for anyone who cares deeply for their church and congregation.
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"Can't I be a Christian and not go to or be part of a church?""I believe in Jesus, but I don't like 'organized' religion."These are common thoughts regarding the place the church has in the life of some believers.Popular pastor, speaker, and radio host Tony Evans believes fervently in the centrality and significance of the Christian church.His basic thesis is that the church is the continuation of Christ's incarnation.We are the "body" with a job to do! ... Read more

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We are all too aware of the damage poisons can have on our bodies. These ailments find their wayinto us, invading us, infecting us, and spreading throughout us until the illness is felt all over.There are spiritual poisons that work this way as well, except these ailments invade another kind ofbody-the spiritual body of Christ. Like the diseases of our physical bodies, these diseases slow thebody down, crippling it to function at less than capacity. They limit what the body can do and theeffectiveness it can have. If not treated, these diseases can lead to death.

Why Churches Die looks at the body's diseases and reflects on the corresponding spiritual ailment. MacBrunson and Ergun Caner practice the science of spiritual forensics to prevent churches fromunnecessary illness and premature death. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Why Churches Die (Diagnosing Lethal Poisons in the Body of Christ
I thought this book was excellent!On a scale of 1 - 10, I gave this book a 12.I experienced a wide range of emotions while reading this book.I laughted out loud and also cried. The authors have captured the true essence of the diseases that can invade our hearts and minds.This book is an asset to those in church leadership as well as those in the pews.If you obtain a real understanding of the information presented in these pages, you will become a better person.

The sickness in today's Christendom
The authors are well experienced to write about this subject with 25 years of small and large church Pastoring behind them.
Easily read, entertaining but pointed.
Perhaps best for Church members concerned about the impotence of Christianity today - the Pastors of these Churches are either well aware of their problems, or are blind to them - one of the major reasons why Christianity has little strength.

Very reliable - item was honestly represented - shipped fast
Very reliable - item was honestly represented - shipped fast ... Read more

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Organized in a simple and easy-to-read format, this book aims to answer dozens of common questions concerning the people, practices, history, and culture of the Mormon faith. Are Mormons Christians? What is the Book of Mormon? How does Mormonism contrast with the world's other religions? What exactly do today's Mormons believe?

The book offers readers of all backgrounds an accessible and informative Q&A session that covers all facets of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Although sometimes misunderstood, Mormonism is the fastest growing religion in the world. Johanson's clear and concise volume shows us the ideas, beliefs, and rites behind this faith.
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Customer Reviews (8)

It's Elementary, W.F. Walker Johanson
"What is Mormonism?" was made in preparation for the Salt Lake City Olympics,as people streamed into Utah to watch the Winter Games. It reads more like a pamphlet than a book. It's as if a bunch of tracts were bundled together.

Johanson's apologetics can be summed up as "The Mormon Church is great because people don't cuss, tell dirty jokes, drink or smoke." He likes the motif of the '50s, citing the Church as an international Father Knows Best. Johanson is disingenuous in explaining why blacks weren't allowed into the priesthood until 1978,or the whole issue of polygamy. He says "Mormons believe in a Heavenly Mother in addition to a Heavenly Father",but there's the significant omission that Mormons aren't allowed to pray to her (thanks to an offhand remark by the current president of the Church in his Apostle days) Johanson doesn't mention that the Mormon Church has relaxed its teachings on abortion&artificial contraception since 1990, but he does stress the evils of coffee, caffeinated tea, and cursing. Of course,he doesn't explain that discrepancy.

"What is Mormonism all about?" is more interesting as an attempt at Mormon apologetics than an in-depth discussion of the religion. It's good for light reading,but not more than that.

I'm glad I got it for a penny...
This book is a children's book.His brief and shallow answers wouldn't satisfy anyone over the age of 12.

Honest Info, Easy Read
I was interested in reading this book since I am a "Mormon" (actual name: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and I was concerned about what it contained since there is SO much false info that swirls around (the review from "a reader" contains several) about "us".I was pleased to find that it gives frank and honest answers (often with a touch of humor) to the questions that I am asked by friends, and many that people are probably too hesitant to ask. I found it an easy read that kept me turning page after page to see what came next.It isn't meant to be scholarly, it's more like a conversation with a frank friend and I wish I could give my questioning friends answers as concise and clear as the author does.It actually has helped me to give better answers to my own friends.

Inadequate in too many areas
Johanson acknowledges the fact that Mormonism has a number of critics, yet he believes that this religion is true. He writes on page 8, ?There are those who are hostile to the Mormon Church, who claim that Mormons worship Joseph Smith. [straw man logical fallacy: he should name just one personwho claims this] This is not so. There are those who claim that Mormons worship Mormon. [again, name somebody] This is not so. There are those who claim that Mormons do not worship Jesus Christ and therefore are not Christians. This is certainly not so, as Mormons are committed, dedicated Christians who see themselves as having been ?born again? at Baptism, and as taking upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ, and who believe that there is no other way to salvation except through the grace and Atonement, sacrifice and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.?

Despite Johanson?s supposed background in Presbyterianism, Congregationalism, and Methodism, his book is highly disappointing. First of all, his answers to many of the questions are short and don?t really scratch below the surface. It appears that he makes a conscientious effort to not cite additional resources, rarely quoting from anything except an occasional biblical or other Standard Works passage.(I doubt that there are more than two dozen references in its 226 pages.)

One example of his short, inadequate answers appears on page 83 as he responds to a question on Mormon archaeology. It is a good question and deserves a thoughtful response. Instead, Johanson offers less than a hundred words insinuating that there have been plenty of archeological finds in South America, Persia, and the Middle East that somehow support the Book of Mormon. Yet he does not provide a shred of evidence. Earlier, however, he had said that when it comes to Book of Mormon archaeology, ?Mormons believe that God will intentionally withhold such hard evidence from mankind, just to test (or ?prove?) their faith.? (p. 23) Can such a claim really be taken seriously?

When responding to the question ?What?s the difference between Protestant denominations and the Mormons?? Johanson refers to a common Mormon idea that the Bible was changed sometime in the Middle Ages and somehow ?practices that were not the original practices? were introduced (p. 28). Because the Bible is incomplete and improperly edited, he recommends the Book of Mormon ?to clarify some of the more confusing or incomplete passages from the Bible.? (p. 12) Again, he doesn?t provide anything more than personal opinion to support his claims. This is a trait common throughout the book.

Johanson often uses ?doublespeak? in his answers. This is common with many Mormons who apparently hope that those who are not LDS?especially evangelical Christians?may casually gloss over and minimize differences. His goal, it is clear, is to have the reader think that Mormonism is synonymous with Christianity.

Finally, Johanson often uses pejorative adjectives to describe those who dare make the audacious claim that Mormonism is not a Christian religion. One overused moniker is ?anti-Mormon,? a word that must have been utilized by Johanson in excess of a hundred times throughout the book?s pages. For example, in his response to the question ?Do Mormons ever participate in Bible study groups?? he says that while Mormons study the Bible, ?Mormons would usually be unwelcome if fundamentalists, evangelicals, or anti-Mormons were also in the group.? (p. 49) In other word, if you are not ecumenical, then?take your pick?you must be a narrow-minded fundamentalist, evangelical, or anti-Mormon (or maybe you?re all three!) who discriminates against LDS ?Christians.?

He raises the war flag when it comes to rhetoric about those he feels are ?angry and hostile toward Mormons? and ?fundamentalist Christian groups (including some Southern Baptists and other evangelical groups) that are quite hostile toward Mormons.? He concludes this section by insinuating their miscommunication is on purpose, saying, ?Anti-Mormons are also quite quick to (intentionally?) misinterpret and miscommunicate many of the simple beliefs that Mormons hold, by trying to claim that Mormons believe in the Book of Mormon and not the Holy Bible; that Mormons believe Joseph Smith was someone to worship instead of Jesus Christ; and other such misrepresentations.?

There are, he claims on page 35, few sincere Christians. He writes that ?many people visit a few churches and decide which to attend, based on who else is there, or if they like the minister, or if the sermons are good (or short), or if they would like to join the choir, or what time of day the Sunday services are held, and so on, and that?s the basis of their decision. Those approaches are not true for Mormons.?

The Mormon Church, he adds, ?has a much more comprehensive and defined set of doctrines than do most Christian denominations.? Nothing like setting the stage to make non-LDS churchgoers look superficial and even sinful. Even Christian bookstores are part of the conspiracy against Mormons because, on page 11, he criticizes them for not carrying Mormon ?scholarly? works ?for they view them as false and un-Christian. The only Mormon-related materials in most Christian bookstores are anti-Mormon materials.? The question is, how many evangelical Christian books do the Deseret and Seagull bookstores carry?

Overall, I cannot recommend this book. It does not offer any adequate answers to the 150 questions posed. I would suggest Johanson go back to the drawing board, eliminate his use of logical fallacies, and do a little research that would involve more than just his mere opinion. Until he does this, his book wastes both paper and, if read, the reader?s time.

In response to the so-called "lifelong Mormon"
Just a word of caution to people reading these reviews- the person who wrote claiming to be a lifelong Mormon and stating that Mormons believe that God (Elohim?Never heard Heavenly Father referred to in those terms anywhere) had physical sex to conceive Jesus and that He has multiple wives is lying. The Mormons do believe in a Mother in Heaven (not Mary).What this person who claims to be LDS is stating is a gross misrepresentation of the LDS faith.Perhaps they should do more research than just watching The God Makers in their anti-Mormon church meetings... ... Read more

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Follows the life of the third president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who was involved in the great migration to Salt Lake and succeeded Brigham Young as head of the Church. ... Read more

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Follows the life of the convert who succeeded the prophet Joseph Smith as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and led his people to their promised land in the Salt Lake Valley. ... Read more

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Written to encourage and guide Churches of Christ to become missionary fellowships, the book is both descriptive and prescriptive. It reports the current status of missions among Churches of Christ and personal interviews of 80 mission leaders and missions ministries. It also describes theological and strategic guidelines to encourage and guide local churches toward effective missions involvement. Stories of effective missions churches enable the reader to understand the nature and character of redemptive churches. ... Read more

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Your sweetheart has just been called to serve as bishop (or Relief Society president, elders quorum president, or Young Women President).What now?Does this mark the end of life as you have known it?Is there any way your marriage can survive the demands of this weighty responsibility?What of your relationship with your spouse, now that you must share him or her with others?

As the wife of an LDS bishop, author JeaNette Goates Smith knows all about those late-night phone calls from ward members, the disappointment of having to cancel personal or family plans, living in the spotlight and under the scrutiny of the whole ward, sitting alone in the congregation with restless children while her husband/bishop is sitting on the stand, and watching her spouse wrestle with difficult situations and hard decisions.

She also knows about the joy of service and the blessings that can come to a devoted Church leader and to his wife and family.She has had the satisfaction of being a supportive spouse and experiencing the closeness that comes when a couple works together in a righteous cause.

Candidly addressing both the challenges and the rewards, and also writing from the perspective of a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Sister Smith shares her experiences and provides helpful tips on taking care of your spouse, taking care of yourself, taking care of your children, and taking care of the flock your spouse has been assigned to shepherd.

Filled with insight, practical advice, expressions of faith, and a joyful testimony of service, Side by Side provides welcome encouragement to the man or woman whose spouse has been "called to serve." ... 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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"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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Publisher: Hodder ... Read more

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A volume of essays on the Pauline, ecclesiastical body of Christ -the church. It is, of course, not possible to separate completely one body of Christ from another, and the essays do not make the attempt. The dark, institutional history of the church is a running theme, a running sore, throughout the volume; in that sense the essays respond to Michel Foucault's insistence that we should be mindful of the institutions that surreptitiously inform our discourse and culture. The essays deal with the myriad of ways in which the church is named, spoken and, above all, written in the age of secularization. In this sense, the contributors are simply exploring the relationship between the church and modern writing. ... Read more

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Drawing on the best English and German language scholarship to date, this book offers a novel interpretation of Barth's mature Christology. Examining the entirety of the Dogmatics, it provides a nuanced analysis of Barth's treatment of the Chalcedonian Definition, the enhypostasis/anhypostasis pairing, and various Protestant scholastic Christological distinctions; an examination of the coinherence of Barth's doctrines of God and Christ, which contributes to current debates about Barth's doctrine of election; and a lengthy account of the Christology of Church Dogmatics IV that foregrounds Barth's understanding of Christ's human involvement in the drama of reconciliation.Throughout the text, the author shows convincingly that Barth's emphasis on Christ's divinity goes hand-in-hand with a dogmatically rich and often startling account of Christ's humanity. The text does not confine itself to the Church Dogmatics. It also situates Barth in the context of the wider Christian tradition and modern Western philosophy of religion. Thus Barth is set in conversation with a wide range of thinkers, including Anselm of Canterbury, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Friedrich Schleiermacher, G. W. F.Hegel, Gottfried Thomasius, and Harry Frankfurt. In addition, the text makes a number of constructive gestures, showing a particular interest in feminist and liberationist trajectories of thought. The final chapter considers the standing of Barth's Christology today and its pertinence for theological ethics and political theology. ... Read more