The Church - Print

The Church: A Guide to the People of God

By Brad East

A thoughtful exploration of what it means to be part of the church, Brad East offers a fresh guide to understanding the identity and purpose of God’s people.

Read this book to:

• Gain insight into the theological foundation of church identity.
• Discover the church’s role in the world and God’s mission.
• Engage with contemporary issues facing the global church.
• Learn about the historical roots of Christian community.
• Understand the unique calling of the church as God’s people.
• Be inspired to deepen personal commitment to church life.
• Access practical reflections for personal and group study.

Features:

• Introductory guide to ecclesiology.
• Explores key themes like mission, worship, and community.
• Accessible for lay readers and church leaders alike.
• Includes study questions for reflection.
• Written by a respected theologian and educator.

Hard cover 200pp
1.8cm H x 17.8cm L x 13.2cm W (0.29 kgs)
ISBN 9781683597681
Lexham Press (2024)

[Allow 4 weeks]

Description

Brad East offers a fresh introduction to what it means to be part of the Christian church.

In an era where the purpose and relevance of the church are often questioned, East invites readers to rediscover the church’s identity as the people of God.

This thoughtful guide explores the foundational beliefs about the church’s mission, the nature of Christian worship, and the unique calling of the Christian community.

Drawing from Scripture and church history, East presents the church not as a mere institution but as a vital community shaped by God’s mission.

Through accessible language and engaging reflections, he tackles contemporary challenges facing the church today while also honoring its historical significance.

Perfect for personal reading or group study, this book includes study questions to spark meaningful discussion.

Whether you are a lifelong member or new to church life, The Church offers insights that inspire a deeper connection with the body of Christ and a renewed understanding of what it means to be God’s people.

Praise for The Church

“This is a bright, thoughtful and passionate account of the church. Brad East roots ecclesiology in the story of Israel and the story of Jesus Christ, and in doing so provides a number of fresh perspectives which can help us in our doctrine and our practice.”
Andrew Wilson, teaching pastor at King’s Church London

“This book is pure delight! Inspiring, instructive, enriching, beautifully written, this book makes one want to be a Christian. It is next to impossible to write an ecumenically rewarding book on the theology of the church, but Brad East has done it!”
Matthew Levering, James N. Jr. and Mary D. Perry Chair of Theology, Mundelein Seminary

“I find this an extraordinary book. It is short. It is written with simplicity and clarity. And yet it covers so much, introducing its readers to an extraordinarily rich field of theology.” 
Karen Kilby, Bede Professor of Catholic Theology, Durham University

“In twelve concise, accessible, penetrating, and artistically-crafted chapters, Brad East provides an introductory guide to the Church as the messianic expansion of Israel among the nations of the earth. Rooting the identity of the Church in the biblical story of God’s love for Israel, East shows how the redemptive work of Jesus completes that story, and is incomprehensible apart from that story. This introduction to the Church is both simple and profound—like the good news itself, which the Church proclaims and embodies.”
Mark Stephen Kinzer, moderator of Yachad BeYeshua, an international interconfessional fellowship of Jewish disciples of Yeshua, and Senior Scholar and President Emeritus of Messianic Jewish Theological Institute