Jesus Loves the Church and So Should You: Studies in Biblical Churchmanship (Blackburn)

This book is written by a man who has a burning passion for the Church of Christ, and who desires to stir up the hearts of people all over the world to love the Church Christ loved enough to lay down his life for her.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

1. Jesus Loved and Still Loves the Church
2. The New Testament is a Church Book
3. What is the Church? Church Universal and Church Visible
4. The Centrality of the Church in Redemptive History
5. What are the Marks of a True Church?
6. What is the Purpose of the Church?
7. Is Membership in a Church Biblical?
8. Is Membership in a Church Essential?
9. Why Should You Join a Church?
10. Which Church Should You Join?
11. What are the 'Means of Grace' in the Church?
12. What are the Privileges and Blessings of Church Membership?
13. What are the Responsibilities of Church Membership?
14. Is Church Attendance Really Important?
15. What are the Requirements of Church Membership?
16. How is a Christian Admitted into Membership and How is Membership Terminated?
17. When is it Right to Leave a Church and How Should it be Done?
18. Thoughts Upon the Church of Those Who've Gone Before.

This book has been written to be read by the layperson who has many practical questions about the modern-day Church. This would be a great book for churches to have on their literature rack to give to visitors and to use with New Members Classes as well.

Author 

Earl Blackburn has served the Lord in the Church since December 27th, 1976. He has served seven years in Utah, twenty-two years in California, and now four years in Louisiana.

Endorsements 

"Earl Blackburn's much-needed Jesus Loves the Church and So Should You is scripturally rich and timely, and succinct yet thorough. His chapters on church membership are superlative. This book should be read by every Christian particularly in our day when love for Christ's bride, the church, is on the wane. I would recommend that every church give a copy of this book to each church family and encourage group studies on it. Who can tell what God will do with such a book as this?" - Joel R. Beeke, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan

"I am impressed with the scope, depth, relevance, biblical fidelity, and infectious spiritual fervor of Earl Blackburn's 'Jesus Loves the Church, and So Should You.' Every pastor should lead a congregational study of this book; he should make this a priority for the health of the body itself, and personal growth of each person in the membership. Blackburn has dealt with an amazing number of questions concerning church membership, church purpose, the nature of the church, the functioning of a church, how and why to leave a church, how not to leave a church, why be a church member and what to expect a church to be. All of his discussions [short, pithy, clear, engaging discussions] are settled firmly on Scripture and illustrated through well-selected citations from some of the most spiritually-minded fathers of Christian history. Naught but good could come from engaging the entire church in a determined, week-by-week, reading and discussion of the principles to which Pastor Blackburn has given such expert exposition." - Dr. Tom Nettles, Southern Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY

"Earl Blackburn loves the church of Jesus Christ, but better than that, he love it intelligently and scripturally. Written by a true churchman for those who want to honor Christ in His own house." - Dr. Robert P. Martin