Grace Communion International is a Christian denomination with about 30,000 members, worshiping in about 550 congregations in almost 70 nations and territories. We began in 1934 and our main office is in North Carolina. In the United States, we are members of the National Association of Evangelicals and similar organizations in other nations. We welcome you to visit our website at www.gci.org.
Where to find Grace Communion International online
Commentary on Revelation chapters 4-7, based on commentaries published prior to 1995. Discusses the vision of the heavenly throne room and the first six seals, including the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the 144,000, and the great multitude.
An ethic is theological if it begins with God, rather than humanity. Who is God, and what is his purpose for humanity, and how is that implemented in our lives. Jesus gave two love commands: to love God with all that we are, and to love our neighbors. We cannot ignore the first (or collapse it into the second), for it is the foundation of the second. God sets the example and works it out in us.
This essay clarifies terms used in Grace Communion International to describe the salvation we have been given in Christ. Particularly important are the phrases "All are included," "union [and communion] with Christ," and "vicarious humanity of Christ." Although the original context is the way that GCI pastors used the phrases, the discussion is a clarification of what incarnational, Trinitarian th
This is a transcript of interviews conducted as part of the You’re Included series, sponsored by Grace Communion International. Our guest in these three interviews is Stephen Seamands, professor of Christian doctrine at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is the author of numerous books. In these interviews, he talks about From “What” to “So What?”, Ministry in the Image of God, and Wounds That Heal.
In this 12-part essay, Dr. Gary Deddo explores the nature of the church and its ministry, with an eye toward equipping its members for the work of ministry.
For many people, the gospel has strings attached: you can be saved by grace, but after that you have to work really hard. But the true gospel is that Christ died for all sins: past, present, and future. Does this mean that you can sin all you want? Yes. You always have, and always will. But God wants to save you from your sins, and he is really good at what he does - for you and for everyone else.
In this interview, N.T. Wright discusses his book How God Became King: The Forgotten Story of the Gospels. The Messiah's role as king of Israel, and of the world, is often overlooked, but it is an Old Testament theme that Jesus Christ fulfills.
Robert T. Walker is the nephew of Thomas F. Torrance and the editor of two books that were published based on his theology class notes at New College in Edinburgh, Scotland. In these interviews, he discusses the fact that we are saved by Christ's faith, incarnation, and resurrection. The gospel is that Christ has purchased us, made us his own, and invites us to live with him in his way of love.
Alan J. Torrance, Professor at the University of St. Andrews School of Divinity, discusses grace. Grace is not permission to sin, but it teaches us to avoid sin. God's wrath against sin stems from his love for humans; hell likewise comes from his love, and hell includes only those people who prefer it, rather than the alternative. Salvation means that we live "in Christ," participating in his life
Dr. Andrew Purves has written several books on ancient and modern pastoral theology. In these interviews, he discusses the work of the ministry. It's not their own work, but Jesus' work, and pastors join with Jesus in doing that work. Pastoral work is rooted in who Jesus is, and who we are in him, but it is tailored for the circumstances that people find themselves in.
In these interviews, Dr. Robin Parry talks with us about the importance of a Trinitarian approach to worship, the role of lament in the Psalms and in Christian life, and the role of Israel in salvation history.
Jesus is the Word made flesh, God become human. As a perfect human being, he shows us what humanity really is. In these interviews, Cherith Fee Nordling talks about what Jesus' incarnation tells us about being human, being souls in bodies. This has implications for our sexuality both now and in eternity. How does this help us cope with life difficulties?
Here are edited transcripts of four interviews done for the video series You're Included, published by Grace Communion International. Paul Molnar, professor of systematic theology at St. John's University in New York, discusses the importance of keeping Christ at the center of theology, the importance of his incarnation, the role of our will and God's decisions, and the role of grace in salvation.
We collect here transcripts of four interviews with Dr. Hunsinger done for the video series You're Included. Dr. Hunsinger discusses the universal effectiveness of Christ's sacrifice (which does not mean universalism), that our lives are hidden with Christ in this time between the resurrection and the return of Christ, the importance of focusing on Christ, and an ecumenical view of the eucharist.
This is a transcript of three interviews done in Scotland for the video series You're Included. Dr. Hart talks about art and imagination in the church, the revelation of God that we have in Jesus Christ, and what salvation is.
This e-book contains the edited transcript of three interviews done with Dr. Gordon D. Fee, a prolific New Testament scholar. He discusses the way that people read the Bible, the book of Revelation, and the important point that the Father is like the Son. God is not an angry man in the sky - he is like Jesus.
The e-book contains edited transcripts of four interviews with Douglas Campbell, done for the video series You're Included. He discusses what it means for us to be "in Christ," to participate with Christ, and the seriousness of sin. He also discusses his large book on Romans, titled The Deliverance of God.
This is the transcript of interviews originally conducted for the video series You're Included, sponsored by Grace Communion International. Technical matters prevented us from publishing the videos, but we have been able to transcribe the interviews. Dr. Habets discusses the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus Christ, the doctrine of the Trinity, and the concept of theosis.
This is the transcript of four interviews conducted with Paul Louis Metzger on the video series You're Included, by Grace Communion International. In these interviews, Dr. Metzger discusses how the church interacts with contemporary culture.
Christians have different views of the millennium of Revelation 20. Some believe it is occurring now; some believe it will occur before Christ returns, and some believe it will happen after he returns. Equally sincere, equally Bible-believing Christians disagree. Is it necessary for us to disagree? What do we have in common?
This article is a revised version of a chapter by Gary Deddo in the book An Introduction to Torrance Theology: Discovering the Incarnate Savior, edited by Gerritt Scott Dawson. In this article, Dr. Deddo explains that ministry is not an add-on to our faith - it is something that flows out of our union with Christ. When we consider the source, we can also see more clearly what ministry looks like.
In this series of articles, Ted Johnston and Jeb Egbert discuss basic principles of youth ministry in the 21st century - with a focus on relationships. Additional articles by David Smith, Dave Davis, and Greg Williams add more information and encouragement.
If you need guidance on how to set up and organize a children's ministry, here's a good place to start. Victoria Feazell wrote the long introductory article; Ted Johnston later wrote a series of articles describing the attitudes we need in guiding children's ministries. Last, we have a few articles by Jeb Egbert about parenting.
Dr. Daniel Thimell explores the extent of Christ's atonement. In the first session, he describes the work of John McLeod Campbell, a Scottish pastor in the 1800s, who found that the people had no joy in Christ, because they were not worthy of his grace. They had missed the whole point of grace, in that grace is not based on how worthy we are. Jesus died for all, but not all respond with faith.
This e-book collects the church history articles from Christian Odyssey magazine, primarily by Paul Kroll, who wrote hundreds of articles while he was employed by Grace Communion International.
Some Christians think it is wrong to celebrate Christmas, since the date and some of the customs can be traced back to pagan holidays. Articles in this e-book examine the logic. The birth of Jesus is certainly an event worth celebrating, but is December 25 the "wrong" time to do it? The authors once thought Christmas was wrong, but have been persuaded by the evidence that it is wrong to forbid it.
How does the Bible describe the birth of Jesus, and what lessons can we learn from the way that our Savior was born?
This is a collection of articles from Grace Communion International. Articles about the Incarnation are in a separate e-book.
Who was Jesus before his human birth? Why would the infinite God become a finite human? What does it mean for us, that our Creator became one of us? A collection of articles from Grace Communion International, edited by faculty from Grace Communion Seminary.
God is three Persons in one Being. Within this Triune God, who is the Holy Spirit? What can we say about the work of the Holy Spirit without over- or under-emphasis? How do we respond to the Spirit?
In this collection of articles, we present 10 basic doctrines of Christianity, with an explanation of the basic features of each biblical teaching. We follow each doctrinal article with two articles explaining how the doctrine makes a difference in our lives - how it encourages us to respond in a certain way. This series has been designed as a discipleship manual for new Christians.
In this series, Lorenzo Arroyo looks at how Jesus shared the good news with other people, and then at how the disciples shared the gospel. The biblical story is that there are many ways to reach people - from attending to their physical needs, to addressing their intellectual concerns, from one person at a time to thousands.
God isn't fair, and that's a good thing, says Joseph Tkach, president of Grace Communion International. If we received what was "fair," we would not like the results! But God gives us grace instead, and that changes everything. It is good news for us, and it changes our life for the good.
Almost 2,000 years ago, a Jewish carpenter began to preach. He was popular with some people, but he made others angry. Officials said he was a threat to national security, and they arranged for his death. His only weapon was his message. The crowds liked it, but “good” people didn’t. He said it was about love—so why did anyone hate it? What was the message that got Jesus killed? Do we need it now?
Jesus preached about the kingdom of God, but what is it? Building on the work of George Ladd and Thomas Torrance, Gary Deddo describes the kingdom as existing now, as well as being a future reality; we now live with a partial realization of the future. What does this mean for the church and the way we interact with those who are not in the church?
An Adventist magazine published an editorial titled "Why the Seventh Day?" Michael Morrison responded with letter of praise and critique, and with an outline of why the seventh day is not commanded any longer. There is an essay about whether the Sabbath is a moral law or a ceremonial law. Also included is the bombshell sermon of Joseph W. Tkach, explaining why the WCG would stop being sabbatarian.
In these articles, Paul Kroll examines whether the seventh-day Sabbath is a valid law for Christians. Since the only commands for the Sabbath are in the laws of Moses, he begins by exploring whether the Law of Moses has authority over Christians. It does not; Christians are to obey God based on the new covenant, not the old. Kroll then explores auxiliary questions about Genesis, Hebrews and Jesus.
In the books of Moses, God told his people to keep several annual festivals: Passover, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles. Are these festivals still required for Christians? We analyze the biblical evidence and conclude that no, we do not have to keep them. Then what were they for? We look at how these festivals had details that symbolized the work of Jesus Christ.
When Christians read the Old Testament, they are often puzzled. They find many laws that seem to be part of Christianity, and yet they also find many laws that no one obeys. Laws of sacrifice, rituals and civil laws are mixed together with laws that tell people how to get along with others. This series of Bible studies explores how a Christian can know which laws to keep.
In this lay-level commentary, Paul Kroll explores the book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse. A series of introductory articles explore the nature of this kind of writing, and its purpose. Some commentators have turned Revelation into an outline of history, when that is not its purpose. The commentary then turns to chapters 1-3, including the seven letters to the seven churches.
In this lay-level commentary, we cover one verse in James and four chapters in 1 & 2 Peter; that is all we have now. But what we have, we offer to you for your encouragement and instruction. We just look at what the Bible says, and don't get bogged down in controversies that can't be resolved or don't make much difference in our lives.
In this lay-level commentary, Michael Morrison examines the story-flow of the epistle to the Hebrews, showing the author's rhetorical strategy and its significance for Christians today. Two additional chapters focus on the question of the validity of Old Testament laws for believers today. Dr. Morrison wrote his dissertation on the book of Hebrews and now teaches at Grace Communion Seminary.
In this lay-level commentary, Michael Morrison, instructor in New Testament at Grace Communion Seminary, walks through the letters of Paul chapter by chapter, showing how Paul presents the gospel of salvation - given to us by Jesus Christ out of his love for us. This affects who we are and how we live.
In this lay-level commentary, Michael Morrison, instructor in New Testament at Grace Communion Seminary, examines Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus. All chapters of 2 Timothy and Titus are covered; the work is not done on 1 Timothy.
In this lay-level commentary, Michael Morrison examines the purpose and flow of 1 Thessalonians, from 1:1 to 5:13. An overview of 2 Thessalonians is given, with extra chapters devoted to the rapture and the man of sin.
In this lay-level commentary, Michael Morrison explores the details of Paul's letter to the Colossians and to Philemon. In Colossians, Paul insists that Christ is fully sufficient for our salvation; we do not need to add any extra knowledge or rules to qualify for the kingdom. In his letter to Philemon, Paul asks Philemon to treat a slave as a brother, and to send him to help Paul.
In this lay level commentary, Michael Morrison, instructor in New Testament at Grace Communion Seminary, examines the story-flow and each verse of Philippians. Paul encourages the believers in Philippi to imitate the self-sacrificing love of Jesus, and he points out several examples of people who have done so.
Here are more than 320 short messages by Joseph Tkach - transcripts of the "Speaking of Life" video series. Each week, he comments on some aspect of life and faith. Included in this compilation are all the programs available on the GCI website as of December 31, 2016.
In this lay-level commentary, Joseph Tkach explains lessons we can learn from various stories in the Gospel of John. The more we learn about Jesus, the more we learn about ourselves as well. With an overview chapter by Jim Herst, a chapter by Paul Kroll, and two studies by Michael Morrison
In this lay-level commentary, Dr. Michael Morrison examines the overall structure and purpose of the Gospel of Luke, explores the limits of its accuracy, and highlights the birth narratives and some of Jesus' best-known parables.
Grace Communion International and Grace Communion Seminary sponsor a video program called "You're Included," in which we interview various theologians about different aspects of Trinitarian theology. These interviews are transcribed and many are available in e-books. We've had conversations with 36 theologians, in more than 130 interviews.
In this series of articles, authors from Grace Communion International address the thinking behind the way people think. Do they look at the world through eyes of Christ, or do they look with Christ excluded from view?
Herbert W. Armstrong taught that the Greek word gennaÅ in John 3:3, 6 referred to conception: “You must be conceived again.” After Armstrong died (1986), this teaching was examined, and the church concluded in 1991 that, although the motive behind this teaching had merit, the technical details did not, and the meaning of the word is "born." This e-book compiles the articles relevant to the topic.
Grace Communion International and Grace Communion Seminary sponsor a video program called "You're Included," in which we interview various theologians about different aspects of Trinitarian theology. These interviews are transcribed and many are available in e-books. In this volume, we compile the conversations we've had with 27 theologians, in 73 interviews.
Esta é a tradução portuguesa da primeira metade do "40 Days of Discipleship." Este volume abrange os primeiros cinco tópicos: Teologia em Geral, O Deus Trino, Jesus Cristo, O Espírito Santo, e As Escrituras. Os artigos estão no site da Grace Communion International, www.gci.org.
Prophecy is one of the most interesting topics in the Bible. It may also be the most controversial, with the most mistakes - often bringing shame on the church. How can we avoid mistakes in understanding what the biblical authors were trying to convey? We present here a cautious approach. We do not always know, nor do we need to know, what they were saying.
Do we go to heaven when we die? That's what many Christians hope for, but other Christians say that no, we are asleep until the resurrection. No one is in heaven, no one is in hell. What does the Bible say about what we are between death and the resurrection at the return of Christ?
Christ will return, and everyone will be brought back to life. What then? There will be a judgment - and Jesus brought good news about the judgment, not just warnings. It is good news for all humanity, not just a few. It is the hope and faith of all believers.
Many small churches would like to grow, but find that it is difficult to change the culture inside of the church. In this collection of articles, we address some of the challenges, and some of the ways that small churches can be the best they can be.
No person is perfect; no church is perfect. It's got problems, but it also has potential. What is the purpose of this group of people, and what guidance does the Bible give for how they are to work together? In this collection of articles from Grace Communion International, various authors address the questions.
Does God put conditions on his grace - that we have to do something in order to be forgiven? If we have to do something, is it really a gift? If grace is given without conditions, does it mean that it's OK to sin? If God no longer counts our sins against us, then what's wrong with sin? Grace leads to a number of questions, and these articles attempt to clarify what grace is, and how we receive it.
Jesus was the most influential person who ever lived. His life contains several pivotal moments: when he began, what he did while alive, the way he died, his resurrection from the tomb, his return to heaven, and in the future, his return to earth. Authors from Grace Communion International, and a few guests, explore the significance of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah.
Some people think that all of Jesus' work was done when he was resurrected, and all he needed to do then was to go home. But his work still continues in heaven on our behalf. In this series of articles, Grace Communion International authors discuss the significance of the ascension, and of Jesus' return to finish his work of the salvation not just of his people, but of the entire creation.
If Christ did not rise from the dead, then our faith is in vain, says the apostle Paul. The resurrection of Jesus is central to the Christian faith. In this collection of articles, authors from Grace Communion International discuss the evidence for the resurrection, what it means for us, and whether we should celebrate this.
Why did Jesus die? There are medical reasons, sociological reasons, and spiritual reasons. Jesus came for this very reason, to die for our salvation. But what connection is there between his death and our life? What is the logic of having the author of life die so that we may all live? These essays from Grace Communion International explore the details.
This e-book includes various essays on the life of Jesus Christ. Other e-books include essays on his incarnation, birth, death and resurrection; others are in our e-books on the Four Gospels. See the table of contents for the articles in this edition.
This is the text or transcript of 23 sermons given by Michael Morrison, Dan Rogers, and Mike Feazell, as part of a video series sponsored by Grace Communion International. There is no particular theme or order; they are a random collection. You can watch them, listen to them or download them for free on the GCI website; we gather them here to make them easier to read.
In this collection of articles, we present an outline of Trinitarian theology. It begins with Jesus Christ. As God in the flesh, he reveals to us what God is; he teaches us that the Father is in character just like Jesus. Other doctrines flow from that point. Jesus reveals that there was, even before time began, love between the Father and the Son, and we created for the purpose of sharing in it!
In part 1 of this collection of articles, GCI authors look at the biblical evidence for what the gospel is. In part 2, we present articles encouraging people to accept the gospel. Part 3 addresses the question of What next? Once we have accepted the gospel, then what do we do? In part 4, we look at biblical examples of how the gospel is shared, and in part 5, we how the gospel may be shared today.
In this series of articles, we show how a Christian might share the faith with other people - with those who do not go to church, and with those who do - using friendship, compassion, and helpfulness. One article addresses the new age, another the perspective of postmodernism and relativism.
This e-book contains several articles about introductory aspects of Christianity: what is the goal, how do we get started, what is faith, the Holy Spirit, prayer and baptism. A series of articles at the end describes how to lead a series of introductory studies for new believers.
This book compiles in one document the contents of several smaller e-books: What Does the Bible Say About the Old and New Covenants?, Should Christians Keep Old Testament Laws?, Should Christians Keep the Annual Festivals God Gave the Ancient Israelites?, Which Old Testament Laws Apply to Christians Today?, What Does the Bible Say About the Sabbath?, and The Christian Sabbath: Divine Rest.
Some Christians feel that they should keep Old Testament laws such as the seventh-day Sabbath and avoiding "unclean" meats. The articles in this e-book address that, beginning with the point that yes, Christians should obey God -- but are the Old Testament laws the laws that we should obey? The example of circumcision shows that God-given laws can be obsolete or kept in the spirit, not literally.
The church was originally composed of religiously observant Jews, and they kept the seventh-day Sabbath. However, within 100 years, almost all churches were meeting on Sundays. How did this change come about? These papers explore the evidence and offer hypotheses. In the 17th century, some Christians in England began observing the seventh-day Sabbath. How did that reversal come about?
This e-book contains articles that are about all four of the Gospels - not specifically about Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, but about topics that span all of the canonical accounts of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We cover historical accuracy, doctrinal content, and significance for our own day.
Grace Communion International sponsors a video program called "You're Included," in which we interview various theologians about the practical aspects of Trinitarian theology. These interviews are transcribed and many are available in e-books. In this volume, we compile the conversations we've had with 12 theologians, in 64 interviews. Volume 1 in a series of 2.
Many religious people believe that the Bible forbids any use of alcoholic beverages. But this is a distortion of the Bible and of ancient history. Although the Bible does not forbid alcohol, it does mention the abuse of alcohol. It is a serious social problem, and this series of articles addresses alcoholism, how it is treated, how we can avoid it, and the special needs of women.
This collection of articles examines key biblical passages about the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues - Acts 2, 10, 1 Corinthians 14, and others. The Bible neither forbids nor requires tongues-speaking; tongues are sometimes inspired by God, and other times not. Suggestions are given as to how this unusual phenomenon may best be used. By Michael D. Morrison and Joseph Tkach and others.