The Early Church at Work and Worship (2 vols.)

In The Early Church at Work and Worship, Everett Ferguson provides his readers with a clear historical and literary examination of the nature of the church. He analyzes historical documents to determine the images used by ancient theologians and authors in referencing the church. These two volumes focus on rituals of intensification or rites of passage that serve as the markers and the sacraments of the Church. Volume one centers on ministry, ordination, covenant, and canon and relies on early church sources and the fathers for source material. Volume two focuses on catechesis, baptism, eschatology, and martyrdom, heavily depending on patristic authors such as Origen and Clement of Alexandria.