Preaching
Book Review: The Whole Christ, by Sinclair Ferguson
By Paul Alexander | 05.18.2016This book is an instant classic—historical theology at its best.
Don’t Be Like Moses the Pragmatist
By Phil Ryken | 05.05.2016God does not rank preachers by the number of their converts or the size of their churches. Rather, he judges them according to the accuracy of their Bible exposition.
Book Review: Preaching the Whole Counsel of God, by Julius Kim
Review by Paul Alexander | 05.04.2016This book stands out as a simple, reliable guide for faithfulness in the trenches.
Book Review: Beyond the Local Church, by Sam Metcalf
Review by Ken Caruthers | 03.15.2016If the thesis of this book is true, then it is entirely possible that the work of 9Marks and other church-strengthening organizations is in vain.
Mailbag #32: Politics and the Church; What to Do When Elders Disagree on Principle; What Book Should a New Pastor Preach?
By Jonathan Leeman | 03.03.2016—Is there a place for politics in the church? —What do you do when elders disagree, not on a matter of preference but biblical principle? —What books of the Bible should a new pastor preach?
Mailbag #25: Thinking through Church Budgets; My Congregation Demands an “Altar Call”; Tricky Membership Situation
By Jonathan Leeman | 12.22.2015— How do you lead a church through thinking through the budget in a way that obeys God? Further, how do you do this in a way that is “above-reproach” when leading the overall church through polity change? — My congregation begs for me to do a weekly “altar call,” but I am opposed to them. What should I do? — An elderly couple with health problems wants to join our church—but they won’t ever be able to attend. What do you think?
Three Ways to Tie Global Missions into the Regular Diet of Your Preaching
By Matt Mason | 9Marks Journal: Missions: Adding Wisdom to Zeal | 12.10.2015We have a Great Commission Bible and serve a Great Commission Savior, who came into the world to seek and save the lost.
Mailbag #23: Giving Feedback on Bad Sermons; Ratio among Staff and Non-Staff Pastors; Church Covenants and the Regulative Principle; Difference between “Pastors” & “Elders”?
By Jonathan Leeman | 12.07.2015— How do you give your pastor feedback for his sermons, particularly when they are bad? — Jonathan, why did you recommend that your church eliminate the requirement that there must be more lay elders than staff elders? — Wait a second! You’re saying you won’t do baby dedications because of the regulative principle. And then right after that, you talk about reading the church covenant together as a church. Isn’t that a violation of the regulative principle, too? — Does it create two tiers of leadership to always call staff pastors “pastors” and lay elders “elders”?
Mailbag #20: Preaching Suspect Texts; Preaching to Non-Believers; Difficulties with Staff & Lay Elders; Anonymous or Public Voting
By Jonathan Leeman | 11.16.2015— In the course of preaching through a book, what should I do when I come across a suspect text like John 8? — Should we preach repentance and faith differently to non-Christians than we do to Christians? — How can I tell the difference between what belongs in an elders meeting and what belongs in a staff meeting? — Should votes for church discipline be cast publicly or privately?
Mailbag #14: Discipling without “Picking Favorites”; Tricky Baptism Situation; Churches and Name Changes; Numerical Growth v. Spiritual Growth
By Jonathan Leeman | 08.31.2015—How do I encourage people to not “play favorites” with their discipling relationships? —How do I think through this tricky baptism situation? —Must churches have the word “church” in their names? —Is very little numerical growth okay if spiritual growth is taking place?
Mailbag #12: Training Bible Teachers; Attending a Wedding Between Professing Christian and a Muslim; Thoughts on “Re-Baptisms”; My Pastor Never Reads his Sermon Text
By Jonathan Leeman | 08.17.2015—How can our church train Bible teachers? —My friend says she’s a Christian, yet is marrying a Muslim. Should I attend the wedding? —What do you think about “re-baptisms”? —My pastor never reads his sermon text. Is that problematic?
Book Review: The Prodigal Church, by Jared C. Wilson
Review by Alex Duke | 07.29.2015The Prodigal Church is more than just a demolition project. Atop the wreckage left by pragmatism and consumerism, Wilson attempts to rebuild scaffolding with different, yet more durable materials. In this, the book succeeds, though not perfectly.
A Conversation about Church Revitalization with Mark Dever and Jonathan Leeman
By J. Leeman, M. Dever | 07.23.2015The more we reduce ministry to business, the more pastors are convinced to think like CEOs and less like shepherds.
Book Review: Can These Bones Live? by Bill Henard
Review by Casey Hough | 07.22.2015f you’re is looking for a book that deals with church revitalization primarily from the perspective of dependence upon God’s work according to God’s will, this book should not be your first choice.
