For Christ & His Church

  In Understanding the Lord’s Supper, Bobby Jamieson provides a clear and insightful exploration of the Lord’s Supper. In the first five chapters, he examines key biblical passages related to the ordinance, including the Passover, Jesus’ institution of the Lord’s Supper, Paul’s teachings in 1 Corinthians 10 and 11, and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Chapters 6 through 10 address essential questions about the Lord’s Supper: its nature and significance, its purpose, who is eligible to partake, the appropriate setting for its observance, and who should administer it. The final chapters, 11 and 12, offer guidance on how churches should celebrate the Lord’s Supper and how individuals should approach it. In his chapter “The Right Company,” Jamieson shares a truth that has deeply resonated with me, and I wholeheartedly embrace his perspective. Before reading this, I saw the Lord’s Supper as a sacred moment where the Gospel is something we hear and see. But Jamieson beautifully expan...

Jonathan Leeman’s Church Discipline explores how the church protect Jesus’ name through discipline, divided into three parts. Part - 1 defines discipline, its necessity, execution, and restoration process. Part - 2 offers case studies to guide wise application of discipline. Part – 3 emphasizes teaching the congregation about the gospel’s call to repentance, obedience, and Christ’s lordship, church membership, and ensuring church documents reflect discipline expectations, with legal consent and unified leadership. On page 39, Leeman’s definition of a Christian has illuminated the importance of discipline. He describes a Christian as someone who bears God’s name on earth, proclaims His gospel, and is united with His people. In essence, a Christian is an ambassador—whose identity and actions are inseparably intertwined. Everything an ambassador is, says, and does represent their king. Reflecting on this, if one fails to represent King Jesus through moral conduct, speech, or in any are...

  In Part 3 of the book, Phil Newton and Matt Schmucker address the practical question of how to move from biblical texts to implementing plural elder leadership. They emphasize that transitioning to a plurality of elders should be done slowly, deliberately, and gently. This process requires careful teaching, training, and guiding the congregation toward a healthier model of church leadership. Additionally, the authors discuss common pitfalls and objections that may arise during the transition to this church polity, offering insights to navigate these challenges effectively. In discussing the implementation of Plurality of Elders, Phil Newton and Matt Schmucker highlight a critical step that resonates with my experience: diagnosing who truly governs the church. Is it the congregation, the deacons, or a single pastor? On pages 167–169, the authors accurately identify a key issue my hometown churches face, which I also encountered while pastoring. They note that one of the greate...

  In Part 2 of the book, Phil Newton and Matt Schmucker highlight the scriptural basis for a plurality of elders. They guide readers through four key biblical passages—Acts 20:17-31, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Hebrews 13:17-19, and 1 Peter 5:1-5—to demonstrate that this model of leadership is firmly rooted in Scripture. Additionally, Matt Schmucker shares his experience with elder plurality at Capitol Hill Baptist Church. Because this approach is biblically grounded, the authors encourage readers to re-evaluate how churches are governed and led in accordance with God’s Word. I appreciate the term Phil uses— ‘dignified-looking wolves’—in his discussion of “Wolf Theology” on page 96. Drawing from Acts 20:17-31, Phil emphasizes that elders are called to shepherd and oversee the church of God, which Christ purchased with His own blood. Yet, the church continues to be attacked by evil forces, often through these dignified-looking wolves. This issue is especially prevalent in regions I am fami...