Welcome to Equip to Disciple. This is a quarterly publication of Christian Education and Publications of the PCA to church leaders and other interested parties, especially those who have participated in our training events. We want to keep in contact with you and encourage and help you with the training and resources needed for your local church ministry. Our theme for the last two issues, and now this edition, is the church. We have talked about “Keeping the Church Front and Center.” As the heart and center of the kingdom, when the church is off center, so is the thinking about the kingdom of God. To have a right perspective of the kingdom, the church must carry out its role of discipling the body of Christ to live as kingdom people with a biblical worldview orientation.

In the winter issue, Roy Taylor’s lead article from the 2006 WIC Conference seminar focused on the concept that although the church as the body of Christ transcends the denominational paradigm, its role is connectional. Though at times there have been those who have allowed their denominational affiliation to trump opportunities to work with Christians beyond those boundaries, there is a valid place for Christians to come together as a denominational entity to make kingdom disciples.

In this issue, Richard Aeschliman writes about the church as the Communion of the Saints. Aeschliman underscores what the Westminster Confession of Faith teaches in this regard, “Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification.” Read the In Case You’re Asked section to see the combining of the organized institutional church with the body of Christ and then the kingdom.

The book reviews have been carefully chosen. Often we get our cart before the horse. We jump to what the church should be doing. However, in order to determine that, we first need to understand the nature or essence of the church. Craig Van Gelder’s The Essence of the Church is a challenge in that area. The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World is a must read for every pastor and church leader. It speaks of the emerging church movement, which is attempting to redefine both the essence and role of the church. Because the church has been assigned to dispense the sacraments, the book on the four views of the Lord’s Supper will be of interest. Some today are consciously or unconsciously attempting to resurrect the sacerdotalist position, over emphasizing the sacraments to the extent of not keeping grace in its proper light.

The church’s role in the kingdom is to make disciples, requiring the development of a Christian mind. The books included on this topic are important to read and study. Commentary and other Bible study helps and resources reviewed will also be of interest to you.