“I like Jesus, but I don’t know about church.”
How do you respond when you hear these words? Have you or someone you care about ever felt this way? When someone has experienced the dark side of religion—the hypocrisy, the division, the pain—it can be hard to see the Church in any other way.
But how does Jesus see the Church?
Gathered by Christ will help you see the Church through the eyes of Christ, her Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Each chapter features Scripture and writings from believers throughout history to illuminate the gift of Church and explain what the Church is and does according to Jesus.
Gathered by Christ offers a reassuring glimpse of the Church as Jesus sees her, helping you to find comfort, forgiveness, and assurance through His gift of Church.
Praise for Gathered by Christ:
In the midst of deep doubts and confusing misunderstandings about the Church in our increasingly unchurched society comes this delightful, well-written, and incredibly helpful book from a mother, a pastor’s wife, and an astute theologian. Christa Petzold reminds us that the Church is far more than an organized association, a Sunday breakfast club, or even a helpful support group. Insightfully grounded in Scripture, informed by ample references to Church history, and illustrated by practical examples, Petzold leads the reader to see the Church from Jesus’ perspective as the Body of Christ, the very family of God. The reader comes away with a renewed sense of awe, excitement, and hope in being part of this often-overlooked gift we call Church.
Rev. Dr. Glenn K. Fluegge, director of the Cross-cultural Ministry Center and professor of theology at Concordia University Irvine
Petzold gets right at the heart of what it means to be the Body of Christ, skillfully weaving together a case for Christian ecclesiology that uses the tools of theology, history, and a keen observation of our current cultural condition. This text can serve as a bedrock description of the Church’s origins and its scriptural foundations, but it also presses the reader toward the ultimate telos for which the Church strives. Unflinchingly committed to sola scriptura and solus Christus, this book will be a blessing to many.
Dr. Joel Oesch, professor of theology at Concordia University Irvine, author of Crossing Wires: Making Sense of Technology, Transhumanism, and Christian Identity
Concise. Accessible. Beautifully written. Christa’s book is a gift to our church as it reminds us of the gift that is the Church. Every member should have this on their shelves and return to it when they feel tempted to skip out on any gathering of God’s people. Christa delivers her book at a perfect time, when now, more than ever, the Christian has opportunity to choose at-home, virtual services over attending corporal worship and communal reception of the Word. Christa encourages us to meet together, echoing the author of Hebrews, and reveals why we would never want to give up the precious gift of being gathered by Christ.
Stephanie Neugebauer, MA, Concordia Seminary, pastor’s wife, and mother
Gathered by Christ beautifully combines Scripture and Church history to paint a picture of God’s design for His Bride, the struggles the Church has faced throughout history, and how these form our view of and our responsibility as the Church, today. While acknowledging the pain that sin has caused in churches, Christa Petzold points us back to the Church as a beautiful gift of God that continually points us to Christ! In a culture focused on individuality and cutting out any conflict, Gathered by Christ is an excellent reminder of the community we have in Christ, seeking sincere unity in the Church.
Tara Darling, director of Christian education, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Mt. Vernon, IA