Church Theology

Dr. James Papandrea introduces you to all the major theologians, philosophers, and martyrs of the early Christian church and explains the theological principles that guided the Church from the New Testament era through the apologists, and, ultimately, to the development of the major doctrines. He uniquely situates the teachings of the early Church Fathers against the social and cultural context of the Roman Empire and its relationship to the Church.

Even self-described Christians question whether God would consign anyone to hell. Msgr. Pope explains this false perception: “If it exists at all, it is largely empty, except perhaps for a few serial killers or genocidal maniacs like Hitler.” People who adopt this belief are ignoring Jesus’s teachings that instruct the exact opposite.

April 18th, 1521. Martin Luther was on trial for believing the Scriptures were the ultimate authority for the Christian, rather than dogma developed by men. He is quoted as having said, “My conscience is captive to the Word of God” when asked to recant his writings. I’ve taken part of Luther’s statement as my title because while I am thankful to God for myriad men in the Reformed Baptist world that have taught me much, I cannot claim full allegiance to a document written in the 17th century; it beingmostly right. The Word of God – alone! – demands and warrants our full ...

"This book thrilled my soul and reinvigorated my hope." — Amazon reviewer “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.” John Wesley doesn’t agree. In this classic sermon, the father of Methodism and grandfather of the Salvation Army and the Pentecostal movement shows that using a proper Biblical definition, Christians not only can become perfect in this life — God commands us to! Seeking perfection was an integral part of the explosive growth of Methodism for 100 years, even as it led to the persecution of those who practiced it. As many of the denominations descended from Wesley ...

For five hundred years, Latina/o culture and identity have been shaped by their challenges to the religious, socio-economic, and political status quo, whether in opposition to Spanish colonialism, Latin American dictatorships, US imperialism in Central America, the oppression of farmworkers, or the current exploitation of undocumented immigrants. Christianity has played a significant role in that movement at every stage. Robert Chao Romero, the son of a Mexican father and a Chinese immigrant mother, explores the history and theology of what he terms the "Brown Church."

What do Jewish people believe? What do Muslims believe? Do you have answers ready for a Mormon or a Jehovah’s Witness? Have you ever wished that there was a resource to review the systematic theology of other religions? Now there is one! Using mostly original sources, What Do They Believe? will help you to get an accurate understanding of what other religions believe. Michael Abd El-Massih, founder and executive director of Arabic Bible Outreach Ministry: "I was glued to your description of Islam and its teaching and kept reading and reading. Well done—you are an excellent writer and a ...

Jesus calls us to make disciples of all the nations. Many Christians believe this means enlisting soldiers in a culture war. But putting faith in the service of politics risks remaking God in our own image. How can the church help bring God's kingdom to earth without relying on the political structures of this world? Critiquing our idolization of the values of classical Western liberalism, Steven Félix-Jäger seeks a renewal of the church's public witness.

Part of the furor in the Middle East is the identity of Israel. Various sects of Christianity try to tackle its relationship with the nation, kingdom, and homeland of the Jews. With that in mind, this book aims to answer the following question Biblically: Why is the Church not and never will be Israel? Discover: The five main views of the relationship between the Church and Israel The difference between the New Testament and New Covenant (It's not what you think) Why passages that seem to imply that the Church is Israel doesn't actually say so The question is explored in many angles, and...

What is the true nature and mission of the church? Is its proper Christian purpose to save souls, or to transform the social order? This question is especially fraught when the church is one built by an enslaved people and formed, from its beginning, at the center of an oppressed community's fight for personhood and freedom. Such is the central tension in the identity and mission of the Black church in the United States.

In The Baptist Foundation: Foundations for Faith and Practice, Marvin McKenzie presents a clear and concise study of the core beliefs that shape Baptist Christianity. This comprehensive resource delves into foundational doctrines, distinctives, and difficult theological topics central to the Baptist tradition. With clarity and biblical accuracy, the author equips readers with a deeper understanding of Baptist faith, making it an invaluable resource for pastors, students, and believers. The first section explores the central doctrines of Baptist faith, beginning with the authority of ...

Who Stole My Church? is a fictional story that tells the all-too-real tale of many church communities today. In this audiobook, you can walk alongside an imaginary community, led by real-life pastor Gordon MacDonald and his wife, Gail, and discover how to meet the needs of all believers without abandoning the dreams and desires of any.

We live in confusing times. Our society has shifted on its moral axis, and many are asking whether Christianity needs to be reinvented - or even reimagined - in order to save it. In Saving Christianity?, Dr. Michael Youssef explores this train of thought and its pitfalls. He describes how similar discussions in Christianity's recent past explored the very same question. Saving Christianity? will help you discern what is going on within the church while it reviews the essentials of the Christian faith as described in the Bible.

Salvation for Sale!Secrets. We love a good mystery, don’t we? What aren’t preachers telling us about their demands for tithes and their requests for offerings? The short answer is we’re being deceived, bullied, and manipulated. The longer answer is this book. Millions of Christians are under the impression that the salvation they received freely “by grace through faith” actually costs a non-negotiable lifetime fee of ten percent of their gross income. Preachers (usually) don’t explain it this way, and Christians don’t (usually) think of it this way. But when all is said and ...

The Christian church of the early centuries spread throughout much of Asia, Africa, and Europe, spoke many languages, was situated within diverse cultural settings, and had varied worship practices; yet it maintained a vital unity on core teachings. In The Global Church - The First Eight Centuries: From Pentecost through the Rise of Islam, author Donald Fairbairn helps listeners understand both the diversity and unity of the church in this pivotal era.

This is a basic workbook on different topics related to the Bible such as Christian Ministry or Ministerial Formation, Old & New Testament, History of the Christian Church, Systematic Theology, Biblical Greek: Pronunciation and Leadership in the Local Church. You will have a general biblical knowledge of the different topics discussed in the book. Enroll in our Bible studies courses at: https://biblestudy.gnomio.com/

One of the most fiercely debated topics in modern Christianity centers on the inclusion of sexual and gender minorities into the full life of the church. Dozens of scholars have stepped forward, seeking to make a compelling case for LGBT+ inclusion based on their contextualized reading of the six traditional passages that refer to homosexuality in Scripture. But these arguments alone fall short of providing a comprehensive framework for radical inclusion of LGBT+ people.

Long before the New Testament was a document, it was a sacrament. Jesus called the Eucharist by the name Christians subsequently gave to the latter books of the Holy Bible. It was the "New Covenant," the "New Testament," in his blood. Christians later extended the phrase to cover the books produced by the apostles and their companions; but they did so because these were the books that could be read at Mass.

Despite Jesus' prayer that all Christians "be one", divisions have been epidemic in the body of Christ from the beginning to the present. We cluster in theological groups, gender groups, age groups, ethnic groups, educational, and economic groups. We criticize freely those who disagree with us, don't look like us, don't act like us, and don't even like what we like. With a personal touch and the trained eye of a social psychologist, Cleveland brings to bear the latest studies and research on the unseen dynamics at work that tend to separate us from others.

In a time when technology penetrates our lives in so many ways and materialism exerts such a powerful influence over us, Robert Cardinal Sarah presents a bold book about the strength of silence. The modern world generates so much noise, he says, that seeking moments of silence has become both harder and more necessary than ever before. Silence is the indispensable doorway to the divine, explains the cardinal in this profound conversation with Nicolas Diat, and he seeks to restore to silence its place of honor and importance.

To truly grasp Bible prophecy, we must first understand how God’s promises to Israel complement his vision for the church. While some believe God has forsaken Israel for the church, this goes against the nature of the faithful Lord we find in Scripture. In his latest book, native Israeli and best-selling author Amir Tsarfati makes clear what the Bible says about God’s unique master plans for his two chosen groups, Israel and the church.