Not Satisfied with our Shepherding, Yet—But Making Some Progress

By Bob Johnson | 04.18.2016

We are still not satisfied with our shepherding, but we are grateful for the progress that we are making.

Reverse Mailbag: What Counsel Would You Give?

By Jonathan Leeman | 04.01.2016

Will you help us help this pastor?

5 Questions on Church Incorporation

By David Gibbs | 9Marks Journal: Confessions, Covenants, and Constitutions: How to Organize Your Church | 03.29.2016

Many pastors are forced to think through this potentially confusing topic. David Gibbs from the Christian Law Association provides some help.

7 Tips for Writing (Or Revising) Your Church Constitution

By A. Nichols, M. Schmucker | 9Marks Journal: Confessions, Covenants, and Constitutions: How to Organize Your Church | 03.29.2016

Writing (or revising) your constitution is not really lawyer’s work, and it need not be drudgery. In fact, it can and should be invigorating.

Not Them! Who You Don’t Want to Revise Your Documents

By Mike McKinley | 9Marks Journal: Confessions, Covenants, and Constitutions: How to Organize Your Church | 03.29.2016

Here are the five kinds of people that you might be tempted to put on your document revision committee, but should avoid if at all possible.

27 Ways to Use Your Confession and Covenant

By Garrett Kell | 9Marks Journal: Confessions, Covenants, and Constitutions: How to Organize Your Church | 03.29.2016

The ways we can use Statements of Faith and Church Covenants in our churches are many, but what matters most is that if we have them, we use them to help each other follow Jesus.

Two Pastors Who Chose To Renovate not Rewrite Their Constitutions

By C. Hill, M. Vroegop | 9Marks Journal: Confessions, Covenants, and Constitutions: How to Organize Your Church | 03.29.2016

Don’t give up on that old constitution just yet. Consider renovating it first.

20 Quotes from Jonathan Leeman’s New Book on Elder-Led Congregationalism

By Matt Smethurst | 03.28.2016

Here are 20 quotes from Jonathan Leeman’s new book, Understanding the Congregation’s Authority.

Mailbag #34: How to Respond When a Pastor’s Wife Leaves; Pastoring Regular Attenders Who Refuse to Join; Help with Cleaning Up Our Church’s Past Mistakes

By Jonathan Leeman | 03.25.2016

—When a pastor’s wife leaves him, can he continue in that position? —How do you pastor a couple who enjoys regularly attending, but refuses to join? —How can I minister to a member of our church, who was hurt by our church 10 years ago and hasn’t been back?

Book Review: The New Pastor’s Handbook, by Jason Helopoulos

Review by Dallas Goebel | 03.22.2016

This book gives guys like me the opportunity to sit down with an experienced pastor, ask any ministry related question, and receive a sound, concise answer.

Book Review: The Imperfect Pastor, by Zack Eswine

Review by Garrett Kell | 03.07.2016

Whether you’re a young pastor, a seasoned pastor, a broken pastor, or a pastor’s wife, you should add this book to your must-read list.

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?

Book Review: The Pastor’s Book, by Kent Hughes

Review by Paul Martin | 03.02.2016

If I was teaching pastoral ministry today, this would be my first required text.

Mailbag #31: Healthy Membership before Healthy Eldership; Difficult Shepherding Situation; Ordination; Tithing

By Jonathan Leeman | 02.25.2016

— Do we first educate our people about elders and deacons and then install them—or do we educate them about meaningful membership and then make meaningful membership part of how we operate? — One of our members refused to come to church because our building and people remind her of past pain. How can we shepherd her well? — What is the biblical view of ordination to the pastorate? — What is your view on tithing concerning New Testament believers?

Book Review: The Original Bishops, by Alistair Stewart

Review by Benjamin Merkle | 02.23.2016

Any serious treatment of church offices must interact with this work. And yet, in the end, this book’s flaws render it another theory that has been tested and found wanting.