Rules for Walking in Fellowship

Puritan Treasures for Today

by John Owen, David G Whitla (Editor)

What good is a church community if it lacks loving fellowship?
In Rules for Walking in Fellowship, John Owen supplies struggling congregations with biblical guidelines for making church life in the present a foretaste of heavenly fellowship to come. He discusses both the responsibilities congregations have toward pastors as well as the duties members have toward one another. Together, Owen presents twenty-four rules for fostering gospel fellowship, supporting them with numerous proof texts, brief explanations, and words of motivation to keep them. His simple approach makes this book ideal for personal or small group study. Here, then, is a collection of indispensable biblical rules that will challenge Christians in any given congregation, of whatever denomination a little gem that is at the same time doctrinal, practical, and ecumenical.

Previously published under title: Eshcol: a cluster of the fruit of Canaan: London: Philemon Stephens, 1648.

Genres: Christian Living, Theology, Christian, Nonfiction, Church

92 pages, Paperback

First published August 30, 1648

About the author

John Owen was an English theologian and "was without doubt not only the greatest theologian of the English Puritan movement but also one of the greatest European Reformed theologians of his day, and quite possibly possessed the finest theological mind that England ever produced" ("Owen, John", in Biographical Dictionary of Evangelicals, p. 494)

Reviews

[Rick Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read book for Christians, regardless of what type of church you attend. John Owen lays out a simple list of rules for how Christians should treat their pastors and how they should treat one another within a local congregation. Each rule is supported by numerous scripture proofs (about 40% of the book is Scripture), and helpful comments are included at the end of each rule. It's an easy book to read, no theological knowledge required ahead of time, and it would make a great Bible study for digging deeply into the Word and learning about fellowship among Christians.

[Ethan Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great. Helpful. Steeped in scripture.

This was a helpful book by John Owen. Here, he lays out what true Christians should have and aim for within a biblical church that all Protestants can hold to. Each chapter has a rule, scriptural proofs, an explanation, and then aims.

This book shows that there are many things that all Protestants hold to (more than we give ourselves credit for). Also that it's not actually that difficult as a Protestant to critique an unhealthy church.

On the other hand, it also is a very encouraging and convicting read as I saw myself falling short but also wanting each and every rule.

This book made me love the church more and call others to recognize what a good church is. I recommend it.

[Timothy Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple yet sweet! Chocked full of Scripture!

[Pig Rieke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I only listened to this one on Hoopla.

In 1 Timothy, Paul provides instructions for Timothy to “know how one ought to behave in the household of God” (1 Tim 3:15). Seeing the neglect of these and similar commands in his own day, John Owen took to writing the brief book titled Rules for Walking in Fellowship. In it, Owen describes obligations for (1) congregants towards their pastor and (2) members to each other. Due to the exhaustive quotations from the Scriptures, I doubt that many who name the name of Christ will take significant issue with Owen’s work. That said considering the last century of “creative” ecclesiology, it is good to reconsider the voice of those who came before us. When the New Testament commands a congregation to “love one another” and we find ourselves unable to define who “one another” is, it is high time that we return to God’s infallible word and to seek help from those fallible yet godly saints who came before us.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short chapters on each rule with Scripture proofs and explanations. I thought it was a helpful book and benefited from Owen's teaching.

[Mitchell Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always surprised at just how relevant puritan books still are today- this would make a great small group or even youth group study to teach the basics of being part of a church body!

[Jonathan Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those who are unconcerned with the troubles, sorrows, afflictions, needs, poverties, and persecutions of the saints—not even so far as to pity their wounds and feel their strokes or to refresh their spirits and help bear their burdens upon their own shoul-ders-never can assure themselves that they are united to the Head of those saints.

All these call aloud for the Saints to unite daily and fervent supplication for their pastors support.That these prayers are to be for your pastor’s assistance, encouragement, abilities, success, deliverance, and protection is provided in this rule

Who can endure to hear his earthly parents falsely slandered? How then can we ignore insults to the church— she who carries us to Christ?

Prayer is the great engine by which to prevail with the Almighty (Isa. 45:11) and the sure refuge of the saints at all times, both on their own behalf (Ps. 61:2) and also of others (Acts 12:5). It is a benefit the poorest believer may bestow and the greatest potentate has no power to refușe. This is the beaten path of the soul's communion with God, for which the saints have many gracious promises of assistance (Zech. 12:10; Rom. 8:26) and innumerable commands to perform (Matt. 7:7; 1 Thess. 5:17; 1 Tim. 2:8), with great encouragements to the work (Luke 11:9; James 1:5) and with precious promises of acceptance (Ps. 50:15; Matt. 21:22; John 16:24).

[Jon Pentecost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic clear summary of what the Bible teaches Christians about how to live in fellowship with other Christians. I think about half of the book is simply quotes from Scripture, followed by a brief explanation or summary, accompanied with biblical motivations for why these are good and profitable commands for Christians to follow.

It struck me how much the Bible has to say about standing in solidarity with fellow Christians in suffering.

It is wonderful to reflect on how practically Owen's theology affected his view of life in the church. Here is Owen at possibly his most accessible--very simple, but potent.

[Frank Marvitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is definitely worth reading and more than that worth contemplating. The main reason for the 3 stars revolves around the use of King James Version for scripture reference. This version is out dated in my opinion, and would have much more desired the NKJV, NASB, or ESV. It is still a very excellent resource, but found myself looking at another translation when proof texts were provided. I wonder if Joel Beeke uses the KJV and is the reason for its use? Not sure, but wish it would have used another version of Scripture.

[Joshua Sunderland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book on churchmanship for the average congregant. It is almost like a catechism, arranged in sections with verses, an explanation, and some motivations/applications. With the verses, it can feel somewhat listy, but it's always a manageable amount (though some of the verses require their context to get why Owen is citing them.) Once it has been read all the way through, it's still an excellent resource for future reference in different areas. For me, the most insightful part was Owen's list of points to consider before going to someone to admonish them.

[Alex Yauk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short Puritan Treasure is a helpful guide for principles that should define the church. With ~40% of the text being scriptural proof texts, this John Owen work is thoroughly soaked in the Bible. As I hear more and more about these Puritan leaders, finding short, accessible texts like this has been a great starting point for me.

[Valerie Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great quick read!! this should be the ground rules for all real churches.... even a basis for all denominations. simple, biblical... easy.

[Rusten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish reading something like this was customary for every church member.

[Jona Ruiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good abridged version. Simple to the point and scripture filled.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read to remind us of how a local church family is meant to live with each other. Everything is backed by scripture with a short explanation.

[Dennis Erwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid little book. Nothing will blow you away, but each tiny chapter is worth reflecting on and praying about. Owen really helps by organizing so many verses for you.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this would be worth any church member having a physical copy of to flick through and remind ourselves of our duties to each other

[Justin Blackwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent work!

[Caleb Lofthus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A scripture saturated, succinct overview of the obligations that church members have towards their pastors & one another. A must read!

[Kayla Kuyper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet and to the point. I enjoyed this.

[Mark A Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

These topics addressed by Owen are so relevant to the contemporary church that it hardly seems to have been written in 1647. With human hearts still tainted and tempted by sin, the principles Owen lays out persist in vitality. Ably edited by David Whitla, this short work brings Owen to levels of accessibility his more daunting works often discourage. But this is not Owen-lite: there remain heavy saturations of Scripture and convicting calls to obedient action.

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great quick read that will take a lifetime to follow. For such a short booklet, it is fairly
comprehensive in what it covers in the life of the church. I found Part 1 on dealing with pastors as particularly cogent to our culture today with personality cults and the ridiculous pedals upon which so many pastors are placed.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent little volume that deserves regular re-reading. Its biggest feature is its openly congregationalist perspective on the Church.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly great book combining brevity, clarity, and truth.