6 Worthwhile Books on the Church

It's important for Christians to think about church.  The church is important.  And as Christians, we're saved out of our sin and its consequences into (among other things) the church.  But I wonder how many believers have stopped to really think about what being part of the church means?  Does it just mean we lose the chance to sleep in on Sunday mornings?  Or is being part of the Church that Jesus is building even better than we often think?

As I've studied the church - what she is, why she exists, and what "marks" should characterize her - I've found the answer is the latter: being part of the Church that Jesus is building is AWESOME.  It's awesome because of the PEOPLE that make up the church, the PURPOSES that propel her, and the PRIORITIES that shape her.  

This "awesomeness" invites further study, so we can better appreciate all that God is doing in and through the church.  With this in mind, I want to encourage you to read one book on Ecclesiology (that's the fancy word for the doctrine of the church) this year.  If you're looking for suggestions, here's a starter list of 6 to choose from, listed alphabetically by author.  (Each is linked to its page at Amazon where you can explore a bit further.)  Oh yeah, and don't forget to keep current with Brookside's current sermon series (Aug 16-Sept 6, 2015), "I Love My Church"!  

Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church, by Gregg R. Allison

9 Marks of a Healthy Church, 3rd ed, by Mark Dever

Why Church Matters: Discovering Your Place in the Family of God, by Joshua Harris

Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City, by Timothy Keller

The Church: One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic by Richard D. Phillips, Philip G. Ryken and Mark E. Dever

The Living Church: Convictions of a Lifelong Pastor, by John Stott

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Any other books on the church that you've been greatly helped by, that I've not listed here?  (Obviously, a lot more books could've been included!)  Include anything you'd list here!