Discipleship
Church Mergers and Tolerable Irregularities
By Brad Wheeler | 9Marks Journal: Church Mergers and Plants | 06.20.2017When should two churches merge despite the differences—and when should they stay separate precisely because of their differences?
Church Planters, Make Sure Your People Know You Love Them
By Steve Jennings | 9Marks Journal: Church Mergers and Plants | 06.20.2017When laying the foundation for a new plant or revitalization, there’s truly no better advice than this: “Before you do anything else, make sure your people know that you love them.”
Audio Interviews with Pastors Who Attempted Church Mergers
By Jonathan Leeman | 9Marks Journal: Church Mergers and Plants | 06.20.2017Recently, Jonathan Leeman sat down with three groups of pastors to talk to them about their experience with church mergers—whether they failed or succeeded.
The Calculated Risks of Church Planting: Sending Your Best Members and Elders
By Juan Sanchez | 9Marks Journal: Church Mergers and Plants | 06.20.2017No matter the costs and effects of church planting on the planting church, the Lord is always faithful.
How to Merge Two Church Cultures
By Dave Russell | 9Marks Journal: Church Mergers and Plants | 06.20.2017In a church merger, you must understand the two existing cultures and lead them to become one. Here are five ways to do that.
Book Review: How Does Sanctification Work? by David Powlison
Review by Mike Christ | 06.16.2017We search in vain for a tidy system of sanctification, yet on every page of this short book we witness the process unfold.
Persecution and the Wisdom of Church Polity
By Caleb Greggsen | 06.07.2017Only a church in relative safety and comfort has the time to talk about polity. Right?
Book Review: The Crook in the Lot, by Thomas Boston
Review by Eric Beach | 06.05.2017This is an excellent book from a a pastor about the purposes and plans of God through hardships in our lives.
Book Review: Pastoral Preaching, by Conrad Mbewe
Review by Tim Cantrell | 05.31.2017What a joy to see the African church finding its own voice through books such as this.
Episode 16: On Corporate Prayer
By J. Leeman, M. Dever | 05.30.2017In many evangelical churches, the public prayers are casual, short, and few. Is that a problem?
Book Review: 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You, by Tony Reinke
Review by Tim Chiang | 05.22.2017Christians have the opportunity to innovate and speak about technology in such a way that points to a greater Creator, and a true Savior.
Mailbag #62: How to Encourage Attendance at Members’ Meetings; The Relationship between Baptism & Church Membership
By Jonathan Leeman | 05.19.2017— Could you provide some wisdom for how to handle situations where members are consistently neglectful of attending members’ meetings? — I understand that baptism should precede church membership. But must membership always follow baptism?
A New Resource to Teach People about the Church
Review by Vergil Brown | 05.17.2017These resources will give both church leaders and church members a clear and compelling vision of their role in God’s work.
Episode 14: How the “Senior Pastor” Relates to Other Pastors
By J. Leeman, M. Dever | 05.16.2017If you’ve served in a church with a plurality of elders, then you’ve felt tension over questions about how the “senior” pastor relates to other pastors.
Book Review: The Heart, Character, and Life of the Church, by Joe Thorn
Review by Zach Schlegel | 05.10.2017If you’re looking for an accessible, Reformed Baptist introduction on the doctrine of the church, this is a resource I’m happy to recommend.