Conversion

Mailbag #59: Two Questions on “Re-Baptism”; The Importance of a Church’s Architecture

By Jonathan Leeman | 04.14.2017

— What are some of the pastoral principles, pitfalls, and guidelines when dealing with church members who doubt their baptism took place after their conversion? — A church member wants his daughter to be baptized twice, in two different churches. How should I respond? — As a church considers planting or revitalizing, how much should they take into account a building’s architecture?

Singleness, Same-Sex Attraction, and the Church: A Conversation with Sam Allberry, Rosaria Butterfield, and Christopher Yuan

By C. Yuan, R. Butterfield, S. Allberry | 9Marks Journal: Pastoring Singles | 03.20.2017

Sam Allberry, Rosaria Butterfield, and Christopher Yuan answer questions on same-sex attraction, singleness, and the church.

Mailbag #54: Personal Conviction v. Church Tradition; My Wife Doesn’t Want Me to Pastor

By Jonathan Leeman | 03.03.2017

— What should I do when my conviction is at odds with my church’s tradition (like baptizing young children)? — My wife doesn’t want me to be a pastor. Does that disqualify me?

Book Review: When Heaven Invades Earth, by Bill Johnson

Review by David Schrock | 03.01.2017

When Trinity-eroding, Christ-denying, gospel-subverting error is published, we ought not shy away from declaring a teacher or teaching as heretical.

Episode 1: On Gospel Growth Beyond Your Church

By J. Leeman, M. Dever | 02.14.2017

In the inaugural episode of our new podcast Pastors’ Talk, Jonathan Leeman sits down with Mark Dever to talk about seeing the gospel grow in your city, not just your church.

Book Review: Growing God’s Church, by Gary McIntosh

Review by Matt Felton | 02.13.2017

But chasing after what works can become intoxicating Why? Precisely because it works! In fact, it can become so intoxicating that many pastors run right past the safety of God’s Word.

Churches in Albania: Preserved and Maturing

By Genci Cesula | 9Marks Journal: Healthy Churches around the World | 12.12.2016

After near extermination under Communism, the church in Albania has grown in numbers and maturity. Albanian Christians are growing in applying to gospel to all of life, even as they work to grow in ownership of their churches.

Churches in Northern Pakistan: The Crucial Need for Conversion

By Steve | 9Marks Journal: Healthy Churches around the World | 12.12.2016

Before churches in northern Pakistan can thrive, they must have a clear understanding of conversion.

Churches in Korea: The Gift and Challenge of Success

By Joel Yoon | 9Marks Journal: Healthy Churches around the World | 12.12.2016

The greatest blessing of the Korean church is also its greatest challenge: numerical success.

A Guide for Praying Nation by Nation

By Jonathan Leeman | 9Marks Journal: Healthy Churches around the World | 12.12.2016

One of our hopes for this Journal is that it will spur you on in prayer for our brothers and sisters around the globe. To that end, we’ve compiled a list of prayer requests from our contributors.

A Church in an Undisclosed Location: Slowly and Waveringly Maturing

By Brother John | 9Marks Journal: Healthy Churches around the World | 12.12.2016

Here is the story of one church in one of the least reached corners of the world slowly and waveringly growing into maturity by the grace of God.

Churches in the United Arab Emirates: Lights in the Desert

By J. Mack Stiles | 9Marks Journal: Healthy Churches around the World | 12.09.2016

Through the faithfulness of Christian doctors a generation ago, God gave churches favor in the eyes of the rulers of a nation in the heart of the Middle East. Through the recovery of one church, now many healthy churches are springing up in this desert country.

Conversion and its Costs interview

Conversion & Its Costs: An Interview with Rosaria Butterfield

By M. Dever, R. Butterfield | 10.31.2016

20 years ago, Rosaria Butterfield was a tenured English professor, an activist, and a lesbian. Now, she’s a pastor’s wife, a mom, and a Christian. What happened?

25 Years Ago, “Nine Marks” Was Born

By Mark Dever | 10.28.2016

On October 30, 1991—25 years ago this Sunday—Mark Dever wrote a letter to a church in Massachusetts. They needed a new pastor and wanted to know what they should be looking for. Mark responded with a list of nine must-haves—a list that has since become known as “nine marks of a healthy church.”

The Holy Spirit, Prayer, and Preaching

By David Helm | 9Marks Journal: The Church Praying | 06.17.2016

When we genuinely embrace the conviction of our need for the Spirit, we give ourselves to the work of prayer and the work of preaching.