In the first chapter, Stedman tackles the reality of the two faces of the Christian church. 

“What we call “the church” is really two churches! One is selfish, power-hungry, and sinful. The other is loving, forgiving, and godly. One has a long history of stirring up hatred, conflict, and bloody persecution, all in the name of God and religion. The other has always sought to heal human hurts, break down barriers of race and class, and deliver men and women from their guilt, shame, fear and ignorance.”

Stedman quotes the Apostle Paul in describing authentic Christianity. “With all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2-3) He goes into detail about how to live that out with sincerity in our everyday lives.

The book describes how Christians can produce an authentic Christian church through the power and love of Christ. He shows that true unity is a “seven-fold” unity as listed in Ephesians 4:4-6. “There is one body, and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.”

He covers the variety of spiritual gifts and their purpose. He has a chapter on “Keeping the Body [the church] Healthy.” Another chapter deals with spiritual maturity.

Ray C. Stedman has produced an excellent commentary on what congregational life should and could be. I liked his summary of a church that displays the biblical pattern:

• A pervasive spirit of love and unity, resulting in an attractive, persuasive evangelistic witness to the world (see John 13:35; Ephesians 4:3)
• A celebration of spiritual gifts; all members of the body are encouraged to discover and use their gifts.
• A horizontal rather than vertical “command” church structure; a recognition that Christ alone is the “head” of the church; while the leadership and pastoral gifts are respected and acknowledged; the gifts, creativity, and initiative of all the people (the laity) are utilized and all members of the body are honored (see I Corinthians 12).
• A recognition, drawn from Ephesians 4 that all believers are ministers, not just the pastor-teachers; those with the gift of ruling elder or pastor-teacher are to build up and equip the entire body of believers to be ministers in the church and in the world.
• An emphasis on scriptural truth rather than human wisdom, social expectations, or religious traditions.
• Frequent opportunities for believers to confess their sins and hurts, to share one another’s burdens, to care for one another in Koinonia-fellowship and agape love, and to speak the truth in love.