The Church: An Introduction (Short Studies in Systematic Theology)

The word church evokes different thoughts from different people—some think of a group of people who meet together on Sunday mornings; some think of a building; and others think of a bigger, global movement. In this installment of the Short Studies in Systematic Theology series, Gregg Allison offers an overview of specific doctrines and practices of different churches and denominations as each finds its unique expression through its identity, leadership, government, sacraments, ministries, and future. For each of these topics, Allison lays out the common practice among local church communities (“mere ecclesiology”) and examines how they diverge from one another in their expression (“more ecclesiology”). Through this systematic primer, readers will come away knowing not only how various churches differ, but also how they’re ultimately united as the body of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit.