Church Planting and Revitalization
Book Review: Church Planting Thresholds, by Clint Clifton
Review by Garrett Kell | 10.27.2016This resource will be among the books our church planters will spend time reading in the future. I happily recommend it.
Divide and Prosper: A Historical Account of Church-Planting by “Peaceable Division”
By Simeon Williams | 08.25.2016For too long, the narrative of American churches has been divide-or-die. So perhaps it’s worth asking the question: have we given proper consideration to divide-and-prosper?
Church Revitalization: Surviving a Plane Crash
By Mike Christ | 07.14.2016Four years ago, when I began this church revitalization, I believed my main goal would be to preach, pray, and stay, and included in “stay” is to develop personal relationships with people and pour into discipleship. That’s the same advice I’d give now.
The Limitations of Parachurch Ministries & Church Planting
By Nathan Knight | 05.26.2016Five years of service in your local church will yield much better dividends than five hours of being evaluated by the greatest church planting minds in the country.
Book Review: Church Revitalization from the Inside Out, by Robert Stuart
Review by Josh Vincent | 05.16.2016This book was written by a shepherd who seeks to shepherd shepherds, calling them to reevaluate how they care for Christ’s sheep.
Should You Stay or Go?
By Mark Dever | 04.26.2016Is the point of all this to say that some of you should leave your churches? Kind of. Some should go to help struggling churches. Some should plant new ones. Some should go overseas. And some should stay.
Mailbag #35: Excommunicating a Non-Christian; Elders for Church Plants; Membership Interview
By Jonathan Leeman | 04.22.2016— A church member denies the faith; is the proper response excommunication? — In a church plant, how long you should wait to install the first elders? — What questions should you ask during a membership interview? And what should you do if something like a past divorce comes up?
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 | 03.29.2016Writing (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 | 03.29.2016Here 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.
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 | 03.29.2016Don’t give up on that old constitution just yet. Consider renovating it first.
Does Anyone Know Robert? Rules of Order in Church Members’ Meetings
By Bob Johnson | 9Marks Journal: Confessions, Covenants, and Constitutions: How to Organize Your Church | 03.29.2016Rules of order help to ensure that members’ meetings flow smoothly. As formal as they might feel, in a church of any size, they help to prevent fights, and facilitate unity.
Book Review: The New Pastor’s Handbook, by Jason Helopoulos
Review by Dallas Goebel | 03.22.2016This 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.
Church Planters, Don’t Wait To Put Your Documents in Place!
By Joel Kurz | 9Marks Journal: Confessions, Covenants, and Constitutions: How to Organize Your Church | 03.01.2016Our church waited three years to put our church documents in order, and we suffered for it.
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?
In Poor Communities, Does Doctrine Matter?
By M. McConnell, M. McKinley | 02.01.2016Does a commitment to teaching and believing doctrine hinder the spread of the gospel in hard places? Hardly.
