Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church (Foundations of Evangelical Theology)
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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.
- Answers questions about what a church is, both functionally and ideologically
- Presents practical application of ecclesiological concepts
- Part One: Foundational Issues
- Introduction to Ecclesiology
- The Church of the New Covenant
- Part Two: The Biblical Vision—Characteristcs of the Church
- Characteristics Regarding the Origin and Orientation of the Church
- Characteristics Regarding the Gathering and Sending of the Church
- Part Three: The Vision Actualized—The Growth of the Church
- The Purity and Unity of the Church
- Church Discipline
- Part Four: The Government of the Church
- The Offices of the Church
- Types of Church Government
- A Model of Church Governance
- Part Five: The Ordinances of the Church
- Baptism
- The Lord’s Supper
- Part Six: The Ministries of the Church
- Ministries of the Church
- Part Seven: Conclusion
- Sojourners and Strangers
Top Highlights
“Absolute continuity (e.g., reconstructionism/theonomy) maintains that the entirety of the Old Testament legal material—including its many moral laws, civil rules, and ceremonial regulations—continues in force today and thus is binding on Christians.” (Page 39)
“The second view is that Scripture is wholly sufficient with regard to ecclesiology.” (Page 34)
“My personal position on this matter is that Scripture is wholly sufficient with regard to ecclesiology (the second position).” (Page 36)
“The church is pneumadynamic, or created, gathered, gifted, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.40” (Page 117)
“Because of the identity of the new covenant partners—God and Christ-followers—I draw the conclusion that the church began at Pentecost and did not exist prior to that monumental event.” (Page 78)
I believe that the doctrine of the church will be the most urgent locus of theological reflection over the next generation. In Sojourners and Strangers, Gregg Allison clears the ground by presenting a thoroughly biblical ecclesiology, at once comprehensive in scope and sensitive to nuance. A welcome addition to an important series.
—Timothy George, founding dean, Beeson Divinity School
The doctrine of the church is one that continues to divide Christians, and especially Protestants, from one another. Dr. Gregg Allison has grasped this thorny nettle and produced a book that presents both the basic principles that unite us and the controversies that continue to produce different ecclesial formations. He maintains his own conservative, Reformed Baptist convictions while being fair to those who hold other views, making his book a valuable contribution to our understanding of this vitally important subject.
—Gerald Bray, Research professor of divinity, history, and doctrine, Beeson Divinity School
I am a full-time pastor, and therefore I must be a full-time theologian. As a pastor, my highest calling is to honor Jesus by shepherding his flock. As a theologian, my highest calling is to laud Jesus publically as the hope of the world. Quite frankly, I need help as I deal with real life difficulties that I could not fictionally create. Dr. Allison’s work in Sojourners and Strangers is the most helpful, theologically driven manual for leading in the church. If you buy it, you’ll wear it out.
—Tyler Jones, lead pastor, Vintage Church, Raleigh, NC
- Title: Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church
- Author: Gregg R. Allison
- Series: Foundations of Evangelical Theology
- Publisher: Crossway
- Print Publication Date: 2012
- Logos Release Date: 2017
- Pages: 496
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Church
- ISBNs: 9781581346619, 9781433536014, 9781433536021, 9781433536038, 1581346611, 1433536013, 1433536021, 143353603X
- Resource ID: LLS:SJRNRSSTRNCHRCH
- Resource Type: Systematic Theology
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T03:00:47Z
Gregg R. Allison is professor of Christian theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is secretary of the Evangelical Theological Society, a book review editor for the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, an elder at Sojourn Community Church, and a theological strategist for Sojourn Network. Allison has taught at several colleges and seminaries, including Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, and is the author of numerous books, including Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine, Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church, and Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment.
Reviews
2 ratings
James Reppert
2/6/2020
Lincoln A. Bovee'
2/13/2019
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