Mailbag #87: Are there Qualifications for Serving in the Church? . . . What Should a Congregation Vote On?
By J. Kurz, R. Johnson | 07.26.2019— Does the Bible specify qualifications for serving in the church? — What matters should a congregation vote on?
Episode 93: On 1 Timothy 2:12 and Recent Complementarian Kerfuffles
By J. Leeman, M. Dever | 06.25.2019What does 1 Timothy 2:12 specifically forbid? How can we have charitable conversations about our differences?
Episode 92: Are Healthy Churches Enough for Today’s Problems?
By J. Leeman, M. Dever | 06.17.2019Our world is full of problems. But what can healthy churches do about it?
Episode 91: On the Highs and Lows of Denominational Life
By J. Leeman, M. Dever | 06.11.2019Jonathan chats with Mark from the floor of the Southern Baptist Convention about the highs and lows of denominational life.
Book Review: Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, by Mark Vroegop
Review by Benjamin Vrbicek | 06.06.2019Like the book of Lamentations, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy was also born out of tragedy.
Praying through ACTS for the church
By John Onwuchekwa | 06.05.2019Prayers of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication aren’t just for individual Christians. They’re for the church, too. John Onwuchekwa explains.
Mailbag #84: I Live too Far from A Healthy Church. What Should I Do? . . . Among Baptists, What’s the History of a Plurality of Elders?
By S. Emadi, S. DeMars | 05.31.2019— I live in an extremely rural area where we have many churches but none that are healthy. What should I do? — Many Baptist churches now have multiple elders. I understand the biblical case for this, but what’s the history of a plurality of elders among Baptists?
Mailbag #83: Protecting the Sunday Gathering by Limiting Reasons to Be Out of Room . . . Caring for Over-Worked Children’s Ministry Workers
By D. Russell, J. Leeman | 05.13.2019— To what extent should the church protect the Sunday morning gathering by limiting reasons for members to be “at church” but out of the room? — What do you do to care for the spiritual health of your children’s ministry leaders?
Should I Join a Church for its Small Groups?
By Andy Johnson | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Following the Lord Together | 05.07.2019Keeping small groups from becoming mini-churches often takes intentionality and pastoral effort.
Episode 85: On What Can Miserable Christians Sing (with Carl Trueman and Matt Merker)
By C. Trueman, J. Leeman, M. Dever, M. Merker | 04.30.2019If someone walks into your church next Sunday, and they’re miserable from life’s trials and tribulations, what songs will you ask them to sing?
Episode 84: On Church Buildings
By J. Leeman, M. Dever | 04.23.2019We know the church is comprised of the people, not the building. And yet, church buildings can be extremely valuable, useful, and vital for the health of long-term Christianity.
Mailbag #81: Helping a Church Grow in Discipling . . . How to Receive Members Who Left a Former Church Poorly.
By B. Johnson, J. de Koning | 04.19.2019— How can I help my church grow in discipling? — Receiving members who left their former church on bad terms.
On Cultivating the Discipline of Listening Well
By Paul Martin | 04.17.2019Because words are a window into the heart, pastors must learn to cultivate the discipline of listening well.
Mailbag #80: Should Pastors Discuss Past Sins? . . . Should Believers Ever Abstain from Communion? . . . Conducting Membership Interviews for Single Women
By D. King, J. Joseph, M. McKinley | 04.12.2019— How much should a pastor share about past sins? — When should believer’s abstain from the Lord’s Supper? — Should women do membership interviews for single women?
Book Review: God’s Country, by Brad Roth
Review by Cheston Pickard | 04.11.2019In the same way that God values the populations in cities, God values the populations in rural areas. In the same way that God calls men and women to serve in the cities, God still calls men and women to faithfully serve in rural areas. The two areas could not be more different, but Christ builds his church in cities and rural areas alike.
