Most north american churches take a pragmatic approach to church life. We are concerned with being relevant to the culture and ultimately growing at a steady rate. Kregel Publications. While these issues are certainly legitimate, they also create a danger that our churches will be shaped more by these extrabiblical goals than by the biblical mandate of God.

Utilizing the scriptures, theology, and Baptist history, this comprehensive work addresses all aspects of the church—both theological and practical.

The Baptist Story: From English Sect to Global Movement

Each chapter includes stories of people who made this history so fascinating. Baptist historians anthony chute, Nathan Finn, and Michael Haykin highlight the Baptist transition from a despised sect to a movement of global influence. B h publishing Group. Written with an irenic tone and illustrated with photographs in every chapter, The Baptist Story is ideally suited for graduate and undergraduate courses, as well as group study in the local church.

This volume provides more than just the essential events and necessary names to convey the grand history. The baptist story is a narrative history spanning over four centuries of a diverse group of people living among distinct cultures on separate continents while finding their identity in Christ and expressing their faith as Baptists.

It also addresses questions that students of Baptist history frequently ask, includes prayers and hymns of those who experienced hope and heartbreak, and directs the reader’s attention to the mission of the church as a whole. Although the emphasis is on the english-speaking world, ethnic minorities, and minority theological traditions, The Baptist Story integrates stories of non-English-speaking Baptists, women, all within the context of historic, orthodox Christianity.

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The SBC and the 21st Century: Reflection, Renewal, & Recommitment

In the sbc and the 21st century, key leaders—including jason allen, thom rainer, david platt, frank page, programs, and danny akin—address critical issues such as: · will the sbc grow more unified around shared convictions and mission or will it fragment over secondary concerns and tertiary doctrinal differences? · Will the SBC be able to maintain a distinct Baptist identity while engaging and partnering with the broader evangelical community? · Will the SBC be willing to reimagine its structures, Ronnie Floyd, and efforts to effectively reach the world for Christ or will it risk being a past-tense denomination? This volume not only promotes meaningful dialogue, Paige Patterson, Albert Mohler, it calls leaders throughout the SBC into action.

The southern baptist Convention is currently facing issues that challenge its identity, heritage, and future. Extensive thought, research, assessment, and wisdom from some of the SBC’s brightest minds have been poured into this volume with the intent of rendering a helpful contribution to SBC life that will propel forward the collective work of Southern Baptists well into the 21st century.

B h publishing Group.

Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church

B h publishing Group. Offering readers rich theological reflection and practical wisdom relating to the nature and organization of the church, this comprehensive resource investigates the Bible’s teaching on everything from church leadership to the nature of true worship.

Understanding End Times Prophecy: A Comprehensive Approach

Paul benware compares prophecy to a picture puzzle. According to Benware, the framework for eschatology is the biblical covenants. Then he discusses several different interpretations of end-times prophecy. Benware digs into the details of the Rapture, the judgements and resurrections, the Great Tribulation, and the millennial kingdom.

He begins his comprehensive survey by explaining the major covenants. Putting the edge pieces together first builds the 'framework' that makes it easier to fit the other pieces in their place. But every puzzle can be solved if you approach it the right way. B h publishing Group. Many christians think of end-times prophecy as a gigantic, intimidating puzzle—difficult to piece together and impossible to figure out.

But he also adds a unique, personal element to the study, answering questions as:Why study bible prophecy? What difference does it make if I'm premillenial or amillenial? If what the Bible says about the future puzzles you, Understanding End Times Prophecy will help you put together the pieces and see the big picture.

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Replanting Rural Churches: God's Plan and Call for the Middle of Nowhere Replant Series

God has plans for Nowhere, USA. You might be surprised to learn that God has great plans for Nowhere, a few people, USA; population you, your family, and scores of cattle. As you surrender to him, remain faithful to proclaim His Word, and maintain earnest prayer on your church’s behalf, you can play a pivotal role in advancing the Kingdom.

B h publishing Group. Maybe you have just been called to a town like that, or maybe, maybe you are still wondering where you will serve, just maybe you want to step out of your comfort zone and into the long-forgotten communities of rural America. If that’s you, this book is for you.

40 Questions About Elders and Deacons 40 Questions & Answers Series

B h publishing Group. Thought-provoking discussion questions for each topic make it ideal for either personal or church-wide study. It provides readers with a clear analysis of key biblical passages and succinct answers 4-8 pages each. The unique format of the book allows readers to pick and choose what issues are most pertinent to their interests and needs.

. Organized around common faqs, church leaders, and students ask about congregational church government, 40 Questions About Elders and Deacons tackles the major questions that pastors, a topic of significant interest in the church today.

Baptist Foundations: Church Government for an Anti-Institutional Age

Yet polity remains as important now as it was in the New Testament. Each section explores the pastoral applications of these arguments. Ours is an anti-polity age, perhaps more than any other time in the history of the church. B h publishing Group. Right polity, is congregationalism, they argue, regenerate church membership, elder leadership, church discipline, diaconal service, and a Baptist approach to the ordinances.

B h publishing Group. How do congregationalism and elder leadership work together? when should a church practice church discipline? How can one church work with another in matters of membership and discipline? To be read sequentially or used as a reference guide, Baptist Foundations provides a contemporary treatment of Baptist church government and structures, the first of its kind in decades.

What then is a right or biblical polity? The contributors to this volume make an exegetical and theological case for a Baptist polity.

40 Questions About Baptism and the Lord's Supper 40 Questions & Answers Series

This volume will be helpful to pastors, college and seminary students, worship leaders, and of interest to all Christians who want to grow in their understanding of these two basic Christian acts of worship. This book includes the major theological issues such as infant baptism, baptist, the views held by different denominations from Roman Catholic to Lutheran, Reformed, and a number of practical issues such as the proper age at which to baptize a child, open and closed communion, and the nature of God’s activity in these celebrations, and others, the frequency with which the Lord’s Supper should be observed, and whether these two practices should be observed only in churches.

Each chapter is succinct and readable, with footnotes indicating additional sources for those who wish to go further. There is significant diversity of views on these subjects and the skilled, evenhanded biblical analysis sheds lights on the many theological and pastoral considerations regarding baptism and communion.

Answers to 40 of the most common and difficult questions about baptism and communion Appropriate for the student and thoughtful layperson, 40 Questions About Baptism and the Lord’s Supper answers forty of the most common and most difficult questions about the two Protestant ordinances. Baptism and the lord’s supper are practiced by almost all Christian churches, proper participants, but they disagree on the meaning, even the proper names for these observances.

B h publishing Group. B h publishing Group.

Don't Fire Your Church Members: The Case for Congregationalism

Jesus gives every church member an office in the church’s government: to assume final responsibility for guarding the what and the who of the gospel in the church and its ministry. It is nothing less than Jesus’ authorization for living out his kingdom rule among a people on mission. B h publishing Group.

Complacency and nominalism are diminished. Similarly, jesus gives leaders to the church for equipping the members to do this church-building and mission-accomplishing work. B h publishing Group. In our day, the tasks of reinvigorating congregational authority and elder authority must work together. The vision of congregationalism pictured in this book offers an integrated view of the Christian life.

Congregationalism is biblical, but biblical congregationalism just might look a little different than you expect. Church membership is not just a status, it’s an office. Leaders shouldn’t fire members from the responsibilities given to them by Jesus—they should train them! When members are trained, the church grows in holiness and love, discipleship and mission.

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Shepherding God's Flock: Biblical Leadership in the New Testament and Beyond

Consequently, how they relate to one another, the type of authority they are given, to whom they are accountable, who leads the church, and how they are selected are of utmost importance to the life and health of God’s people. A biblical, historical, theological, and practical foundation for pastoral leadershipPastors have been entrusted with leading the people of God.

Although ultimately the church is led by Christ, pastors are to provide godly examples of what it means to be a follower of the Lord. This book provides the biblical, theological, historical, and practical foundation of the crucial task of leading God’s people. The shepherds of god’s flock must protect them from and guide them through the many dangers believers face.

B h publishing Group. B h publishing Group.