Preface – the need for studying the doctrine of the church
An informal introduction: the sufficiency of the bible for the local church

Part 1 – what does the bible say?
The nature of the church
The attributes of the church one holy, universal, apostolic…
The marks of the church
The polity of the church
The discipline to the church
The purpose of the church
The hope of the church

Part 2 what has the church believed
The history of the idea of the church
The history of the ordinances of the church
The history of the organisation of the church
Part 3how does it all fit together
A protestant church: putting together the marks of the church
A gathered community: putting together the membership of the church
A congregational church: putting together the structure of the church
A Baptist church: should we have Baptist church today
Conclusion: why does this matter?

Name index
Subject index
Scripture index

Christians face lots of practical questions when it comes to life in the local church: How is the gospel displayed in our lives together? What are we supposed to do and believe? Different followers answer differently—even as they preach the same gospel! What should we think about such differences?

A church’s life, doctrine, worship, and even polity are important issues. Yet they are so rarely addressed. The Church is Mark Dever’s primer on the doctrine of the church for all who see Scripture alone as a sufficient authority for the doctrine and life of the local church. He explains to the reader what the Bible says about the nature and purpose of the church— what it is, what it’s for, what it does.

Indeed, Scripture teaches us about all of life and doctrine, including how we should assemble for corporate worship and how we’re to organize our corporate life together. God has revealed himself by his Word. He is speak- ing to us, preparing us to represent him today, and to see him tomorrow! A congregation of regenerate members, fulfilling the responsibilities given to us by Christ himself in his Word, regularly meeting together, led by a body of godly elders, is the picture God has given us in his Word of his church.