How Can I Find Someone to Disciple Me?

By Garrett Kell

Many new believers have questions about what it means to live as a Christian in the context of a local church, and pastors are looking for resources to pass along … keep reading…

Why Should I Be Baptized?

By Bobby Jamieson

After his resurrection, Jesus commanded his disciples to go and “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them” (Matthew 28:19). In this booklet, pastor Bobby Jamieson unpacks Scripture’s teaching on the … keep reading…

Churches Cooperating in Discipline

By Jonathan Leeman | 9Marks Journal: Church and Churches | 05.10.2013

No, most churches don’t cooperate in church discipline. Yes, they probably should. And imagine what would happen to Christian nominalism if they did.

Church

By Garrett Kell

Do I Have to Go? Church can sometimes be an intimidating thing. It can look like a building full of perfect people who have perfect lives. Not a place where … keep reading…

Session 1: The Idolatry of Love

9Marks | 11.30.2012

Leeman discusses our culture’s idolatry of love, and what this looks like in the local church. Then he contrasts this with the Bible’s own view of love.

Session 2: The Display of Love

9Marks | 11.30.2012

God means to display all the attributes of his character, including his holy love, in the life of the church. This means that church membership is a commitment to such love and a witness of it.

Session 3: A Vision of Membership

9Marks | 11.30.2012

Church membership is not about joining a club; it’s about being recognized as a citizen of Christ’s kingdom.

Session 4: The Submission of Membership

9Marks | 11.30.2012

How should we submit ourselves to the local church? We should submit publicly, physically, socially, affectionately, vocationally, ethically, and spiritually.

Membership as Citizenship

By Jonathan Leeman | 09.25.2012

Church membership is different and more important than you think, says Jonathan Leeman in this 9Marks Workshop message.

How “Belonging Before Believing” Redefines the Church

By Michael Lawrence | 9Marks Journal: The Underestimated Doctrine of Conversion | 02.29.2012

When we begin to deliberately blur the line, we confuse Christians about what it means to be a follower of Jesus in the first place.

The Corporate Component of Conversion

By Jonathan Leeman | 9Marks Journal: The Underestimated Doctrine of Conversion | 02.29.2012

The corporate element of conversion must not come first, lest we lose the whole thing. But it must come.

Going Public

By Bobby Jamieson

Why Baptism Is Required for Church Membership To answer the question of whether baptism is required for church membership, Going Public seeks to rebuild ecclesiological foundations, digging deep into the Bible’s teaching … keep reading…

Don’t Fire Your Church Members

By Jonathan Leeman

The Case for Congregationalism Church membership is not just a status, it’s an office. Leaders shouldn’t fire members from the responsibilities given to them by Jesus—they should train them! When … keep reading…

The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love

By Jonathan Leeman

Reintroducing the Doctrines of Church Membership and Discipline When the world speaks of “love,” it often means unconditional acceptance. Many churches have adopted this mind-set in their practice of membership … keep reading…

The Deliberate Church

By M. Dever, P. Alexander

Building Your Ministry on the Gospel  Mark Dever and Paul Alexander provide a model of a biblical church in this resource for pastors, elders, and others interested in the vitality … keep reading…