Gregg Allison

Research indicates that, on average, Americans change their religious affiliation at least once during their lives. Journeys of Faith examines the movement between four Christian traditions and what led believers to make a shift. Four prominent converts to Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Evangelicalism and Anglicanism describe their new faith traditions and doctrines and their spiritual journeys into them. Response chapters offer respectful critiques. Contributors include:Wilbur Ellsworth (Eastern Orthodoxy), with a response by Craig BlaisingFrancis J. Beckwith (Roman Catholicism), with Gregg Allison respondingChris Castaldo (Evangelicalism) and Brad S. Gregory's Catholic responseLyle W. Dorsett (Anglicanism), with a response by Robert A. Peterson. This book provides you with a series of first-hand accounts of thoughtful Christians changing religious affiliation or remaining true to the traditions they have always known and their rationale for those decisions. Gain a wealth of insight into the attractions of each of the represented denominations and an understanding of the current faith migration within the church today.

Straightforward answers about Roman Catholicism for a Protestant audience The Roman Catholic faith is one of the world's most widespread religious traditions, yet the unique aspects of Roman Catholicism elicit perennial questions from adherents and outsiders alike. Such questions tend to fall into three major categories: historical backgrounds, theological matters, and personal relationships. Using Catholic Church documents and the writings of Catholic scholars, Baptist systematic theologian Gregg Allison distills the teachings of Catholicism around forty common questions about Catholic foundations, beliefs, and practices. The accessible question-and-answer format guides readers to the issues that concern them, including: - Where do Roman Catholic and Protestant beliefs differ?- What happens during a Roman Catholic Mass?- How does Roman Catholicism understand the biblical teaching about Mary?- Who are the saints and what is their role?- How can my Roman Catholic loved ones and I talk about the gospel? 40 Questions About Roman Catholicism explores theology and practice, doctrine and liturgy, sacraments and Mariology, contributions and scandals, and many other things, clarifying both real and perceived differences and similarities with other Christian traditions.

How we organize our churches might seem insignificant, but it's not. In his letter to the church in Rome, the apostle Paul climbs great, theological mountains. But he also explores the valleys where we live our lives. Love one another with affection, he writes. Outdo one another in showing honor, he writes. Contribute to the needs of the saints and show hospitality. This is the calling of all Christians. And God intends that deacons lead the way. How is your church doing? Raising the Dust will help you better understand who deacons are, what God expects them to do, and how they bless the body of Christ. About the Authors Gregg R. Allison (Ph. D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is professor of Christian theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of many books, including 50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith. Gregg is also a pastor of Sojourn Community Church. Ryan Welsh, (D. Min. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) is the lead pastor of Redeemer Church in Bellevue, Washington and an adjunct professor of preaching and biblical studies at Corban University. He is currently a Ph. D student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Endorsements "Such a concise, instructive resource What they have to say here deserves careful consideration." Matthew Arbo, professor at Oklahoma Baptist University"Gregg and Ryan have written a book that tangibly helps the church understand the importance of deacons." Tyler Johnson, pastor at Redemption Church, AZ"This book will serve churches well as a guide for understanding a biblical perspective on the responsibilities of deacons and for developing a healthy deacon ministry." Ken Magnuson, professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Is it time for your church to go multisite? How do you know if it's the right solution for your congregation? MultiChurch brings clarity to the multisite movement and assembles the lessons it has learned over the past 15 years. Combining insights from multisite church pastor Brad House and Christian theology professor Gregg Allison, this book will help anyone interested in multiplying gospel-centered churches to effectively evaluate and develop the best multisite model for their own church context. In MultiChurch, you will:Explore the opportunities presented by the various forms of multi-site church. Identify areas of concern while addressing criticisms against multisite models. Understand how multisite is not only a biblically sound ecclesiological model, but also a model that provides a compelling solution to contemporary reductionism in the church. This theological, philosophical, and practical guide traces the history of the multisite movement and assembles the lessons—the good, the bad, and the ugly—learned over the past two decades.

The Unfinished Reformation offers a thoughtful look at the key theological and sociological differences between Catholicism and Protestantism. In 1517 a Catholic monk nailed a list of grievances on the door of a church in Germany and launched a revolution in the history of Christianity. That monk was Martin Luther, and the revolution was the Protestant Reformation. What followed this upheaval was flexibility and innovation in the church but also religious instability and division, particularly among the Catholic and Protestant fault line. Five hundred years later, there continues to be unresolved issues between the Protestant and Catholic churches. So, Gregg Allison and Chris Castaldo ask... is the Reformation really finished? The Unfinished Reformation is a brief and clear guide to the key points of unity and divergence between the two largest branches of Christianity. Fundamental differences in doctrine and practice are addressed in detail:Scripture, Tradition, and InterpretationImage of God, Sin, and MaryChurch and SacramentsSalvationWritten in an accessible and informative style, The Unfinished Reformation provokes thought about Christian beliefs, equips you for healthy conversations with those on "the other side of the divide", and encourages fruitful discussion about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Most approaches to historical theology follow Christian beliefs chronologically, discussing notable doctrinal developments for all areas of theology according to their historical appearance. And while this may be good history, it can make for confusing theology, with the classic theological loci scattered throughout various time periods, movements, and controversies. The Historical Theology Pack by Gregg Allison offers students the opportunity to study the historical development of theology according to a topical-chronological arrangement, setting out the history of Christian doctrine one theological element at a time. Such an approach allows learners to concentrate on one tenet of Christian theology and its formulation in the early church, through the Middle Ages, Reformation, and post-Reformation era, and into the modern period. The Historical Theology Pack includes:Historical Theology, a bestselling textbook arranged in a topical-chronological manner and including a generous mix of primary source material, citing the words of Cyprian, Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Barth, and others. Historical Theology Video Lectures, featuring a video lecture for each of the 33 chapters in the textbookThe Historical Theology Pack contains everything you need to gain an in-depth understanding of history of Christian doctrine, whether you are enrolled in a class or learning on your own. Session Titles and Runtimes:1 - Introduction to Historical Theology (18 min)2 - The Canon of Scripture (10 min)3 - The Inspiration of Scripture (12 min)4 - The Authority of Scripture (9 min)5 - The Inerrancy of Scripture (11 min)6 - The Clarity of Scripture (12 min)7 - The Sufficiency and Necessity of Scripture (13 min)8 - The Interpretation of Scripture (9 min)9 - The Existence and Knowability of God (12 min)10 - The Character of God (15 min)11 - God in Three Persons: The Trinity (13 min)12 - Creation (15 min)13 - Providence (16 min)14 - Angels, Satan, and Demons (11 min)15 - The Creation and Nature of Humanity (13 min)16 - Sin (14 min)17 - The Person of Jesus Christ (18 min)18 - The Atonement (11 min)19 - Resurrection and Ascension (7 min)20 - The Holy Spirit (17 min)21 - Election and Reprobation (9 min)22 - Regeneration, Conversion, and Effective Calling (11 min)23 - Justification: Right Legal Standing Before God (11 min)24 - Sanctification: Growth in Likeness to Christ (8 min)25 - The Perseverance of the Saints: Remaining a Christian (15 min)26 - The Church: Its Nature, Its Marks, and Its Purpose (17 min)27 - Church Government (8 min)28 - Baptism (23 min)29 - The Lord's Supper (16 min)30 - Worship (10 min)31 - Christ's Return and the Millennium (12 min)32 - The Final Judgment and Eternal Punishment (10 min)33 - The New Heavens and New Earth (5 min)

Historical Theology presents the key pillars of the contemporary church and the development of those doctrines as they evolved from the history of Christian thought. Most historical theology texts follow Christian beliefs in a strict chronological manner with the classic theological loci scattered throughout various time periods, movements, and controversies—making for good history but confusing theology. This companion to the classic bestseller Systematic Theology is unique among historical theologies. Gregg Allison sets out the history of Christian doctrine according to a topical-chronological arrangement—one theological element at a time instead of committing to a discussion of theological thought according to its historical appearance alone. This method allows you to:Contemplate one tenet of Christianity at a time, along with its formulation in the early church—through the Middle Ages, Reformation, and post-Reformation era, and into the modern period. Become familiar with the primary source material of Christian history's most important contributors, such as Cyprian, Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Barth, and others. Understand the development of evangelical doctrine with a focus on the centrality of the gospel. Discern a sense of urgent need for greater doctrinal understanding in the whole church. Historical Theology is an easy-to-read textbook for any Christian who wants to know how the church has come to believe what it believes today. Gregg Allison's clear and concise structure make this resource an ideal introduction to Christian doctrine.