What if Jesus really intended for the world to “believe” the gospel on the basis of looking at Christians who live deep unity in a shared relationship with him? What if there is way of understanding what Jesus desired so that we can begin anew to tear down the many walls of division that keep the world from seeing God’s love in us?

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me” (John 17:20-21, NLT). For most Christians these words of Jesus seem like an unreachable ideal. Or they promise spiritual unity without a visible demonstration between real people. Some even read these words with a sense of fear seeing this text used for a compromise agenda.

“What does it mean to believe that God is love, and what does it mean for the church of Jesus Christ to live this love? Extravagant love is costly. It was won at the great price of Christ’s sacrifice; thus, its value is beyond words.”

John Armstrong knows from personal experience how easy it is to put too much emphasis on correct teaching in our experience of church – and how easily we lose sight of the love on which Christ built his church when we do so. In Costly Love, Armstrong acknowledges the importance of doctrine and theological discussion in the church, but he urges Christians to focus first on whether we are following Jesus’ new commandment: to love as he loved. Our actions of love will begin to bring us closer to unity with one another and with God.

What is the significance of water baptism? Who should be baptized? Is infant baptism scriptural? Which is the proper baptismal mode: sprinkling, pouring, or immersion?

Four historic views on baptism are considered in depth:• Baptism of the professing regenerate by immersion (Baptist)• Believers’ baptism on the occasion of regeneration by immersion (Christian Churches/Churches of Christ)• Infant baptism by sprinkling as a regenerative act (Lutheran)• Infant baptism of children of the covenant (Reformed)Each view is presented by its proponent, then critiqued and defended in dialogue with the book’s other contributors. Here is an ideal setting in which you can consider the strengths and weaknesses of each stance and arrive at your own informed conclusion.

Who should participate in the Lord’s Supper? How frequently should we observe it? What does this meal mean? What happens when we eat the bread and drink from the cup? These and other questions are explored in this thought-provoking book.

This new volume in the Counterpoints: Church Life series allows four contributors to make a case for the following views: Baptist view, Reformed view, Lutheran view, Roman Catholic view. All contributors use Scripture to present their views, and each responds to the others’ essays. It includes resources such as a listing of statements on the Lord’s Supper from creeds and confessions, quotations from noted Christians, a resource listing of books on the Lord’s Supper, and discussion questions for each chapter to facilitate small group and classroom use.

What should happen to pastors who fall to sexual misconduct? Should they return, repentant, to their pulpits within weeks or months – or should they return at all.

Around the world sexual misconduct is knocking ministers from their ministry. As the numbers grow it is crucial to know what should happen to them – for their good and for the good of the Church. Should they return, repentant, to their pulpits within weeks or months – or should they return at all?

John Armstrong shows that Jesus’ vision of Christian unity is for all God’s people across social, cultural, racial, and denominational lines.“With attention to his own pilgrimage and growth in ecclesial awareness, John Armstrong explores here the evangelical heart and ecumenical breadth of churchly Christianity. I am encouraged by his explorations and commend this study to all believers who pray and labor for the unity for which our Savior prayed.” – Timothy George, senior editor, Christianity Today.

Your Church Is Too Small gives voice to a gnawing sense many believers share: the contentious nature of differences among Christians cannot be pleasing to God. Jesus’ prayer in John 17, May they be one as we are one, seems like a dream possible only occasionally at best. Minister and teacher John Armstrong tells the story of how his own passion for Christian unity was ignited, shares his vision of individuals and churches united in the mission of God, and gives direction for how this vision can become a reality for God’s people.
However, such unity will not happen by sheer willpower or denying the real differences among believing communities. Armstrong encourages Christians to rely on God–Father, Son, and Spirit–to build the worldwide church. Such reliance entails both a deeper experience in the triune life of God and a connection to the church’s past. More specifically, the history, belief, and practice of early Christians form the roots that today’s church requires to chart a unified path for the future.