9Marks

[JustMeAgain]

For a helpful and pastoral discussion of healthy ecclesiology Mark Dever's Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, with chapters on such things as expository preaching, a biblical understanding of the gospel, of conversion, of evangelism, of church membership, church leadership, etc.

Dever is the pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in DC.

The book is published by Crossway (currently a second edition, with foreword by Joshua Harris), though a shorter version is published by 9Marks Ministries and can be downloaded for free).

See www.9marks.org, then "Publications" link.

I'd be interested in your thoughts and comments after you've had time to browse.

[Edited on 11-2-2004 by JustMeAgain]

 

[dkicklig]

I actually used the small 54 page synopsis to teach a Sunday School Class. I had 30 minutes to teach on what is a true church, and this booklet along with a section from the Heidelberg Confession was a good resource to for me. Since I only had 30 minutes it gave a great outline, and I could hand out copies of it to anyone who asked. Granted, there are much better writings on the nature and purpose of the church, but this a simple and easy to understand synopsis.

Just my

 

[alwaysreforming]

I love Dr. Mark Dever. He is an awesome man and Pastor! On his website you can listen to numerous talks on the "Nine Marks" as well as other sermons and interviews with the likes of J.I. Packer, the daughter of Martin Lloyd Jones (very interesting), etc., etc., etc.

I've visited his church several times and can tell you, they do Church right at that place!

In regards to his "9 Marks" book, I've heard him say that he is not listing THE 9 marks, but simply 9 helpful marks that should characterize a good church.

One thing that I found neat at his church is that EVERYBODY sings the hymns from the bottom of their hearts! There are no "lip synchers" there! At times, the two or three instruments will stop and you'll hear just the voices of the saints, and I've got to tell you, its enough to make one weak in the knees. I've been overwhelmed many times there!

 

[JustMeAgain]

He does not consider the nine marks in his book as "the" nine marks necessary for a biblical church. Rather, he sees them as nine of the most neglected aspects of healthy churches today.