Membership
Why Our Church Moved from Elder-Rule Polity to Elder-Led Congregationalism
By Blake White | 08.23.2022Our church recently transitioned from an “elder-rule” model of church government to “elder-led congregationalism.” As I have talked with pastor friends from various streams, many are stumped as to why we would do that.
Four Ways to Love Your Lay Elders
By Taylor Cain | 06.01.2022Here are four ways to care for lay pastors who go the extra mile for their flocks.
Why Is It Essential for Missionaries to Join a Church Where They Live?
By Scott Logsdon | 05.16.2022Church membership is not only good for missionaries, it’s also good for mission. Missionaries are often portrayed as spiritual giants, but they need church care at least as much as any Christian.
How Should Missionaries Relate to Local Churches Overseas?
By Matt Rhodes | 05.04.2022Low ecclesiology can cause confusion about missionaries’ involvement in local churches where they serve. Should we attend? Should we be members? For many missionaries, the practical answers are “no” and “no.”
Why Your Local Church’s History Should Matter to Your Church Members
By Forrest Strickland | 04.25.2022Your local church’s history is integral to your members caring for one another, for at least three reasons.
13 Pillars for Planting Healthy Churches
By Matt Rogers | 04.11.2022What ingredients are necessary to plant healthy, strong, biblical churches—and sustain them?
“You’ve Got Self:” How the Internet Cultivates Expressive Individualism in All of Us
By Samuel D. James | 9Marks Journal: Expressive Individualism in the Church | 03.18.2022The liturgies of assembled, embodied, gospel worship point us toward one set of beliefs and values, while the liturgies of Internet membership point us toward a different set.
Three Encouragements for Pastors Pursuing Wandering Sheep
By Nick Gardner | 03.08.2022What should a pastor do when faced with wandering sheep, those who have left the safe pastures of the local church and found themselves in dangerous territory away from the herd?
Do Churches Really Discipline for Non-Attendance? A Brief History of Four Baptist Churches
By Caleb Morell | 01.21.2022Baptists disciplined for non-attendance because they believed attendance was part of the covenant obligations of church membership. Here’s a brief history.
What the Work of Christ Means for Your Church Membership Directory
By Sam Emadi | 9Marks Journal: Sound Doctrine: The Foundation for Faithful Ministry | 11.16.2021Your membership directory is more than a list of addresses and phone numbers. Each picture should represent Christ’s work, his priestly service of purification and redemption.
Church Membership Among Former Mormons? A 9Marks Mailbag
By Matt Emadi | 04.29.2021Church membership isn’t a control mechanism, it’s a barrier to authoritarianism.
Forbear with One Another
By Dan Miller | 9Marks Journal: How to Build Up Your Church: A Guidebook for Members | 03.30.2021Members of the blood-bought church of Jesus Christ have a holy calling to put up with one another.
Be Like Batman: Guard the Gospel
By Sam Emadi | 9Marks Journal: How to Build Up Your Church: A Guidebook for Members | 03.30.2021You don’t need a seminary education. You don’t have to be an ordained minister or a spiritual superstar. All you need is the Holy Spirit, and you have that! It’s time to suit up and start guarding the gospel.
Be a Good Witness in the Community
By Marwan Aboul-Zelof | 9Marks Journal: How to Build Up Your Church: A Guidebook for Members | 03.30.2021When we think of being a good witness, we should do so with other believers in mind so that our witness might be amplified.
Evangelize the Lost
By Eric Bancroft | 9Marks Journal: How to Build Up Your Church: A Guidebook for Members | 03.30.2021Do you remember what happened in the Garden of Eden after Adam disobeyed? He pursued him—and he’s has been doing that with sinners ever since.
