Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters

by Carmen Joy Imes

Publisher:

IVP USA

, 2025

Overview

Does the church still matter in our modern world?

After waves of disillusionment, #churchtoo movements, and political divides, it’s easy to question the value of investing in the church. Yet Carmen Joy Imes offers a profound answer that resonates through the pages of Becoming God’s Family. Exploring the familial and communal identity of the church, Imes traces the thread of God’s presence in the gathered community of faith across the entire Bible. She invites readers into a vision of the church that is rooted deeply in Scripture and speaks directly to the challenges we face today. Imes reminds us of a powerful truth—God delights in the global, intergenerational family He has created.

Through this book, you'll discover that God keeps His promises. When God’s people gather together, God shows up. Whether you’re struggling to reconnect with the church, seeking a constructive vision for its role in our world, or longing to better understand its biblical foundations, this book offers clarity, hope, and encouragement.

What you’ll find in Becoming God’s Family:

A biblical foundation: Trace the theme of God’s presence through the entire biblical text, gaining new understanding of His communal and familial design for the church.

Modern relevance: Imes addresses the disheartening realities of scandals, political polarization, and deconstruction with a constructive and hopeful perspective.

Engaging and accessible content: Written by Imes, a respected Old Testament scholar, the book offers rich insights while staying accessible to a wide audience.

Encouragement for community: Discover the global and intergenerational nature of God’s family and the joy of his presence among his people.

Becoming God’s Family is perfect for students and scholars of the Bible, church members looking for renewed purpose, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the church's biblical foundation. Step into God’s enduring promise—when we gather as his people, he is always present. Order your copy today and rediscover why the church still matters!

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Key Features

• Explores the familial and communal identity of the church.
• Traces the thread of God’s presence in the gathered community of faith across the entire Bible.
• Invites readers into a vision of the church that is rooted deeply in Scripture.

Product Details

• Title: Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters
• Author: Carmen Joy Imes
• Publisher: IVP USA
• Print Publication Date: 2025
• Pages: 240
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Courseware
• ISBNs: 9781514010327, 1514010321
• Resource ID: LLS:BCMGFMLWCSTMTS
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-01-27T22:47:38Z

About Carmen Joy Imes

Carmen Joy Imes (PhD, Wheaton College) is associate professor of Old Testament at Prairie College in Three Hills, Alberta. A graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, she is the author of Bearing YHWH's Name at Sinai. She is also a regular contributor to The Well and serves on the board of directors of the Institute for Biblical Research. She is also a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society of Biblical Literature.