Waters, Guy Prentiss
A Well-Ordered Church: Laying a Foundation for a Vibrant Church (Boekestein)
“Jesus is my personal Lord and Savior.”
No phrase captures better the ethos of modern evangelical Christianity. And while this is absolutely necessary for a Christian to believe and profess, what typically gets lost in much evangelical thinking and acting is Jesus’ church. This book seeks to present to evangelical Christians the basics of ecclesiology, or, the biblical doctrine of the church so that you might participate more fully in the life of the body of Christ.
Table of Contents:
Foreword by Dr. Cornelis Venema
Part One: Identity
1. The Church’s Relation to Christ
Part Two: Authority
2. Not Human Preference But Divine Revelation
3. Christ Ministers Through Officers
Part Three: Ecumenicity
4. Within a Denomination
5. Outside of a Denomination
Part Four: Activity
6. A Teaching Church
7. A Worshiping Church
8. The Practice of Our Worship
9. A Witnessing Church
10. The Practice of a Witnessing Church
11. A Repenting Church
Conclusion: The Need for God-Glorifying Church Governance
Afterword by Dr. Michael Horton
Authors
William Boekestein (M.Div., Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary) is the pastor of Covenant Reformed Church in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. He has authored several books including Ulrich Zwingli, and Why Christ Came.
Daniel R. Hyde (Th.M., Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary) is the Pastor of Oceanside United Reformed Church in Carlsbad, California. He is author of over a dozen books including Welcome to a Reformed Church: A Guide for Pilgrims and also serves as an adjunct instructor at Mid-America Reformed Seminary and Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.
Endorsements
"William Boekestein and Danny Hyde love the church because they love the church’s Head, Jesus Christ. They want you and me to love the church also. How? By learning more about the order, offices, and callings that Jesus has given the church in the Bible. This is a well-written, accessible, and practical introduction to the life and work of the church. Whether you are new Christian or you have been one for a long time, read this book and get a clearer glimpse of the church ... and of the Savior who “loved the church and gave himself up for her.” - Guy Prentiss Waters, James M. Baird, Jr. Professor of New Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Miss. USA
"In an age when ‘doing church’ has either been shaped by an ‘if it feels good, do it’ approach, or else by the narrow constraints of particular views of church, the issues addressed in these pages are very timely. While having have their own particular church background, they come with an awareness of the larger church that enables them to reach into the wide spectrum of church life. Their aim is to open up key biblical principles to explain what the church is and how it functions covering all the major aspects of church life. Regardless of church background, anyone who wants to get a clearer grasp of why church matters and what it should be like should read this book." - Mark G. Johnston, Bethel Presbyterian Church, Cardiff UK
"This book helps readers navigate the host of Scriptures where the Spirit instructs us regarding the nature, structure, and practice of the church. Like the authors, I too, deeply desire that many more church leaders would discover the riches of the Word in these matters and follow the Good Shepherd." - Theodore G. Van Raalte, Professor of Ecclesiology, Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary