Free Will Baptist Ecclesiology in the Twenty-first Century
In an age of global pandemics, financial upheaval, and an increasingly secularized western culture, ecclesiology might sound like a topic reserved for those with their heads in the sand—idealists out of touch with reality. For many, the most important thing that Christians can and should do is to share the gospel with as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. Any perceived hindrance to that is simply that: a hindrance. But I...
The Fourth Strand of the Reformation: A Review
Evangelicals exist along a spectrum concerning their interest in ecclesiology. Some are largely disinterested in what the Bible says about how to structure the local church. Yet others express a revived interest in ecclesiology, which ministries such as 9Marks have deeply influenced in the Baptist world. Where we fall on this spectrum isn’t driven entirely by our soteriology either. We might be tempted to think that the interest in...
Book Recommendations (Autumn 2014)
The Helwys Society Forum (“HSF”) is pleased to share with its readers the Book Recommendations of its contributors. We believe strongly in the importance of reading for all people, but especially for those men and women who hold leadership roles in the local church. We hope to encourage our readers to engage with these texts and to provide resources for life and ministry. Each main HSF contributor (six in total) will share two books...
Church Membership: Whose Idea Is It Anyway?
The Christian church constantly faces the challenge of tensions in its faith and practice. Believers have to look forward to heaven’s glories while avoiding gnostic tendencies toward escapism. Churches have to determine how addressing social conditions such as poverty relates, if at all, to the Great Commission. And more recently, Christians are learning to participate better in the environmental conversation while not succumbing to...
The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love (Jonathan Leeman)
Review by Jesse F. Owens Since the dawn of the Church there have always been those opposed to the work of God and His Church. Some have persecuted it, others have corrupted it and, in the present day, many are largely apathetic toward it. Understandably, pastors are concerned for the culture and are curious as to what may done to bolster their church’s attendance. While the Church has properly diagnosed the problem, an appropriate...
Recent Comments