What is a church? This can be a difficult question to answer and Christians have offered a variety of perspectives. Gregg Allison explores and synthesizes all that Scripture affirms about the new covenant people of God, capturing a full picture of the biblical church. He covers the topics of the church's identity and characteristics; its growth through purity, unity, and discipline; its offices and leadership structures; its ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper; and its ministries. Here is a rich approach to ecclesiology consisting of sustained doctrinal reflection and wise, practical application.

Part of the Foundations of Evangelical Theology series.

We rarely give thought to our bodies until faced with a physical challenge or crisis. We have somehow internalized the unbiblical idea that the immaterial aspect of our being (our soul or spirit) is inherently good while the material aspect (our body) is at worst inherently evil and at best neutral--just a vehicle for our souls to get around. So we end up neglecting or disparaging our bodies, seeing them as holding us back from spiritual growth and longing for the day we will be free of them.

But the thing is, we don't have bodies; we are our bodies. And God created us that way for a reason. With Scripture as his guide, theologian Gregg Allison presents a holistic theology of the human body from conception through eternity to equip us to address pressing contemporary issues related to our bodies, including how we express our sexuality, whether gender is inherent or constructed, the meaning of suffering, body image, end of life questions, and how to live as whole people in a fractured world.

Those looking for a single resource that collects clear teachings on the most important doctrines of Christianity need look no further than Gregg Allison's 50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith. This volume covers foundational doctrines of the nature and works of God, the Bible, God's created beings, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, salvation, the church, and the end times. And each chapter features clear guidance for how to teach and apply the doctrine today.

Pastors, Sunday school teachers, and lay students of theology will find this an indispensable resource for understanding and teaching Christian theology.

Quickly Find and Understand Key Theological Terms

Christianity is a faith built upon the Word and understood through words, both written and spoken, handed down for centuries. But many of the terms used in both the Scriptures and theological writings are unfamiliar or misunderstood. For the Christian desiring a more clear and robust understanding of these terms, this book offers concise definitions of six hundred of the most significant words at the heart of the Christian faith, including terms related to:

- doctrine (e.g., the atonement, the church)
- biblical concepts (e.g., Messiah, Son of Man)
- church practices (e.g., anointing of the sick, immersion)
- philosophical concepts (e.g., a priori, compatibilism)
- people (e.g., Thomas Aquinas, John Wesley)
- councils (e.g., Councils of Nicea I and II, Council of Trent)
- movements (e.g., Protestantism, Pentecostalism)
- documents (e.g., the Chalcedonian Creed, Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy)
- and more

Students of the Bible, college and seminary students, and anyone who desires to deepen their understanding of the Christian faith will find this an indispensable resource.

What comes to mind when you think of the word church?

In this volume, Gregg R. Allison helps define the church and its mission by presenting an overview of the specific doctrines and practices of different churches and denominations. He lays a basic foundation for better understanding the common practices among local church communities (mere ecclesiology) and the ways that they diverge from one another (more ecclesiology). Through this systematic primer, you 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.

In this balanced volume, Gregg Allison--an evangelical theologian and church historian--helps readers understand the nuances of Roman Catholic teaching. Walking through the official Catechism of the Catholic Church, Allison summarizes and assesses Catholic doctrine from the perspective of both Scripture and evangelical theology.

Noting prominent similarities without glossing over key differences, this book will equip Christians on both sides of the ecclesiastical divide to fruitfully engage in honest dialogue with one another.