JACKSON, Tenn. — Nov. 19, 2013 — A 51社区 professor and his former student recently co-edited a book about one of their favorite topics: the church.
鈥淭he Community of Jesus: A Theology of the Church鈥� was recently released after years of theological brainstorming, said Ken Easley, a professor of biblical studies at Union.
Easley began discussing book ideas in 2008 with Christopher Morgan, who took classes from Easley for his master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary before becoming a professor of theology and the dean of the School of Christian Ministries at California Baptist University.
鈥淲e were both keenly aware that the role of the church in our society is changing rapidly,鈥� said Easley, who also is the director of the School of Theology and Missions programs at Union鈥檚 Stephen Olford Center in Germantown. 鈥淲e wanted to rethink this issue, first from a biblical-content perspective and then from an application-to-today point of view.鈥�
The book has nine chapters, each written by a different author. Contributing authors include Union President David S. Dockery; Ray Van Neste, a professor of biblical studies at Union and the director of the R.C. Ryan Center for Biblical Studies; and James Patterson, university professor of Christian thought and tradition at Union and the acting dean of the School of Theology and Missions.
The book鈥檚 authors tackle a variety of topics, Easley said, with chapters ranging from analyzing church ethics to studying church development throughout history.
鈥淢any volumes on the church tend to focus on more practical and 鈥榟ow-to鈥� aspects of church life,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淢organ and Easley have encouraged readers to think theologically about the church, thus focusing on foundational matters.鈥�
Morgan and Easley鈥檚 methodology provides 鈥渁 carefully designed framework built on a thorough exploration of biblical themes鈥� before approaching church history and theology, Dockery said. The result is a book containing fresh and up-to-date church theology from a free church perspective.
鈥淭his book has rekindled my commitment to the church, both locally and globally, as I have seen afresh the astonishing significance of the church in God鈥檚 eternal purpose,鈥� Easley said. 鈥淎s others read it, I believe they will be encouraged to sense the great privilege it is to be a part of Christ鈥檚 church.鈥�
The book is available at LifeWay Christian Stores or at online retailers such as .