What Is the Church?
The New Testament word ekklesia means a called-out assembly, never a building. What the church is, how the word drifted, and what the Reformation recovered.
TheologyThe church (ecclesiology)
Selected published articles.
Articles in this collection
Supplemental Study: Building a Healthy Church
Paul’s closing instructions in 1 Thessalonians form a blueprint for healthy church life, from respecting leaders to rejoicing always.
Biblical studiesSupplemental Study: Paul's Heart for the Thessalonians
Paul’s deep pastoral love for the Thessalonians reveals what genuine Christian care looks like, and how love strengthens faith in times of trial.
Biblical studiesSupplemental Study: The Birth of the Thessalonian Church
The Thessalonian church was born in the fires of persecution. Their story reveals what it means to receive the gospel with genuine faith.
Biblical studiesFive Things the Early Church Can Teach Us Today
The early church faced challenges remarkably similar to our own. Their faithfulness offers timeless lessons for believers seeking to live out their faith today.
Biblical studiesLesson 5: Shepherding with a Tender Heart — 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9
Paul shifts from boldness to tenderness in 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9, modeling pastoral care as a nursing mother and laboring day and night as a tent maker.
Biblical studiesCalled to Share: Witnessing as Our Sacred Duty
God has saved us. He has blessed our lives, given us companions, and relieved us of the burden of sin. These are not small things. They are the defining realities of the Christian life. But...
Christian lifeThe Forgotten Commission: Orders That Have Never Been Rescinded
The church must never allow the comfort of salvation to eclipse the purpose of salvation. The commission belongs to the whole church.
Christian life