Preaching

What 9Marks Purists Should Know About Church Planting

By Ed Stetzer | 9Marks Journal: Church Mergers and Plants | 06.20.2017

I love gospel clarity and biblical ecclesiology, but I’m concerned about the anti-practical nature we sometimes see in the 9Marks community.

Book Review: Planting Growing Churches for the 21st Century, by Aubrey Malphurs

Review by John Joseph | 9Marks Journal: Church Mergers and Plants | 06.20.2017

This perspective on what it takes to plant a church is simply overwhelming, and worse than that, it’s not biblical.

Church Mergers and Tolerable Irregularities

By Brad Wheeler | 9Marks Journal: Church Mergers and Plants | 06.20.2017

When should two churches merge despite the differences—and when should they stay separate precisely because of their differences?

Planting Churches for Pleasure, Not for Profit

By Nathan Knight | 9Marks Journal: Church Mergers and Plants | 06.20.2017

What’s needed to plant a church isn’t the wisdom of Jim Collins, but the gospel of Jesus Christ.

How to Merge Two Church Cultures

By Dave Russell | 9Marks Journal: Church Mergers and Plants | 06.20.2017

In a church merger, you must understand the two existing cultures and lead them to become one. Here are five ways to do that.

You Can’t Plant a Church If You Don’t Know What a Church Is

By Nathan Knight | 9Marks Journal: Church Mergers and Plants | 06.19.2017

Ecclesiology can’t be assumed nor should it be considered a distraction to the church planter’s “mission.”

The Pastor’s Personal Life: A Source of Power in the Pulpit

By Conrad Mbewe | 06.01.2017

The day you lose your godliness is the day you lose your power in pastoral preaching.

Book Review: Pastoral Preaching, by Conrad Mbewe

Review by Tim Cantrell | 05.31.2017

What a joy to see the African church finding its own voice through books such as this.

Episode 14: How the “Senior Pastor” Relates to Other Pastors

By J. Leeman, M. Dever | 05.16.2017

If 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 | 05.10.2017

If you’re looking for an accessible, Reformed Baptist introduction on the doctrine of the church, this is a resource I’m happy to recommend.

Episode 13: On Being a Word-Centered Church

By J. Leeman, M. Dever | 05.09.2017

How can I grow my church? If your answer doesn’t mention God’s Word, then you’re starting in the wrong place.

Nine Lessons for Pastors Facing Leadership Conflict

By Peter Hess | 05.08.2017

Two years into our church plant, we faced our first major crisis. Here are nine takeaway lessons on dealing with church conflict.

11 Reasons For A Weekly Service Review—And 4 Cautions Once You Start

By Jeff Lacine | 04.26.2017

I’ve found a weekly service review to be one of the most effective tools in ministry for mentoring men and growing as a preacher.

Dear Wormwood . . .

By Sean DeMars | 04.24.2017

I’m writing to you today because we’re concerned to see a steadily growing trend in America. It’s called “revitalization.”

Mailbag #60: How to Divide the Text; Making Sunday Accessible for Non-Believers

By Jonathan Leeman | 04.21.2017

— Do you have any tips on how quickly or slowly pastors should preach through books? — Should Sunday mornings primarily aim for edifying believers or evangelizing non-believers?