What should a church do? 
Look at your church’s calendar and you will learn something of its mission. But how do you know it’s the mission Jesus gave?
In The Life of the Church, Joe Thorn explains the mission of the church and the three rhythms for fulfilling it. The result is a simple, memorable model for church life and ministry, grounded in Scripture and aligned with historic practices. Useful for training in membership class, discipleship groups, and elder boards—and even for devotional reading—The Life of the Church is at once theological, practical, and experiential. Readers will not simply be informed, but led to a deeper conviction about their role in the body of Christ. Pastors will be equipped to refocus their ministries, and Christians to fulfill their purpose: be and make disciples. If you wonder what it means to be saved into a body of believers, why the various parts of a worship service matter, and how to engage in the world as a citizen of heaven, then The Life of the Church is for you. It answers this critical question: “Why does the church exist, and how does it shape my life?”

The Life of the Church: The Table, Pulpit, and Square

Religion & Spirituality

Thorn, Joe

Christian Books & Bibles

Moody Publishers

What does the church believe? 
Every church has a driving confession, but what is the confession of a true and biblical church? 
The Heart of the Church answers with the gospel. It explains the story of the gospel, its basic doctrines, and God’s work in salvation. Fresh yet consistent with classic expressions, it helps churches reclaim their essential identity and return from distracting pursuits. 
Useful for training in membership classes, discipleship groups, and elder boards—and even for devotional reading—The Heart of the Church is at once theological, practical, and experiential. Readers will not simply be informed, but led to believe in, rejoice in, and be transformed by the truth of God for His gathered people.
Without the gospel, the church does not exist. This book is Thorn’s full and detailed exploration of the message that is indispensable to the church’s life and identity. For any church lacking power, any Christian feeling dry, or any person seeking truth, The Heart of the Church brings relief, direction, and light, leading to worship.

The Heart of the Church: The Gospel's History, Message, and Meaning

What makes a church a church? 
Is it "where three or more are gathered"? Is it songs and a sermon on Sunday? Does it require structure and leadership? How do you know? 
The Character of the Church dispels confusion by describing the five elements of a biblical church. Concise, accessible, and historically informed, it teaches God’s design for church so you know what to look for in one—or even how to lead one. 
Useful for training in membership classes, discipleship groups, and elder boards—and even for devotional reading—The Character of the Church is at once theological, practical, and experiential. Readers will not simply be informed, but led to a deeper appreciation of the church of God and its essential marks: 
<ul>
<li>The word of God is faithfully preached</li>
<li>The sacraments are rightly administered</li>
<li>Leadership is biblically formed and functioning</li>
<li>Discipline is practiced with grace</li>
<li>The mission of the church is shared by all</li>
</ul>
This book will bring churches and Christians back to the biblical picture of a local body, perfect for any believer eager to grow and help others do likewise.

The Character of the Church: The Marks of God's Obedient People

We need good preaching―preaching that challenges us by God’s Word and brings the comfort that comes from God’s promises. Yet many of us rely solely on others to preach to us and are not benefitting from the kind of preaching that should be most consistent and personal―preaching to ourselves. 
Note to Self is a practical introduction to this daily discipline. Pastor Joe Thorn delivers fifty brief, devotional chapters that model preaching the gospel to ourselves and its practical implications. Readers will be challenged by the book’s direct, personal exhortations to apply the law and the gospel to their own lives.

Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself

Crossway

What do you do when you’re at the end of your rope? 
For Christians, there is only one simple yet profound answer: turn to the triune God. Born out of lessons learned during one of the most spiritually challenging periods of his life, Experiencing the Trinity by pastor Joe Thorn contains 50 down-to-earth meditations on God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Overflowing with scriptural truth, pastoral wisdom, and personal honesty, this book reflects on common experiences of doubt, fear, and temptation―pointing readers to the grace that God provides and the strength that he promises.

Experiencing the Trinity: The Grace of God for the People of God

christianaudio

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Thorn, Joe. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Thorn, Joe

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Thorn, Joe. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Life of the Church: The Table, Pulpit, and Square

The Heart of the Church: The Gospel's History, Message, and Meaning

The Character of the Church: The Marks of God's Obedient People

Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself

Experiencing the Trinity: The Grace of God for the People of God

The Heart of the Church: The Gospel's History, Message, and Meaning