The Life of the Church - the table, pulpit and square

Look at your church's calendar and you will learn something of its mission. But how do you know it's the mission Jesus gave? In The Life of the Church, Joe Thorn explains the mission of the church and the three rhythms for fulfilling it. The result is a simple, memorable model for church life and ministry, grounded in Scripture and aligned with historic practices. Useful for training in membership class, discipleship groups, and elder boards—and even for devotional reading—The Life of the Church is at once theological, practical, and experiential. Readers will not simply be informed, but led to a deeper conviction about their role in the body of Christ. Pastors will be equipped to refocus their ministries, and Christians to fulfill their purpose: be and make disciples. If you wonder what it means to be saved into a body of believers, why the various parts of a worship service matter, and how to engage in the world as a citizen of heaven, then The Life of the Church is for you. It answers this critical question: "Why does the church exist, and how does it shape my life?"

Publisher: Moody
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9780802414694

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Joe Thorn (MDiv, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the founding and lead pastor of Redeemer Fellowship in St. Charles, Illinois.

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Thorn does not take an academic approach or the approach of continual monotonous story telling about himself in ministry. This trilogy of books are very well written with careful and thoughtful language that cuts straight to topics we all hope to read about. While not being a ecclesiastical study in tradional terms the trilogy centers on Christ's person and work as the heart of the Church and develops many concentric circles that give a beautiful and complete look at the Gospel's affect on church life and thus the lives of members of churches. As with Thorn's other books they are as beneficial for teaching and preaching as they are for devotional and discipling purposes. Cannot recommend enough. Wade McComas