Contextualization

Gospel-Centered Preaching in Hard Places
By Andy Prime | 9Marks Journal: What's Wrong With Gospel-Centered Preaching Today? | 03.31.2020I’ve been in ministry for about ten years. The first half of that decade I preached largely in chinos, a v-neck sweater, and boat shoes. The second half of that decade I’ve preached largely in tracksuit-bottoms, t-shirts, and trainers.

Gone and Back Again: My Departure and Return to the Immigrant Church
By Jonathan Szeto | 03.27.2020I grew up in the immigrant church. I left the immigrant church. Now I pastor an immigrant church.

Nothing To Be Ashamed Of: Penal Substitutionary Atonement In Honor-Shame Cultures
By A. Samuel, A. Sequeira | 9Marks Journal: The Heart of the Gospel: Penal Substitutionary Atonement | 08.20.2019Penal substitution offers a helpful corrective to those living in an honor-shame culture, and helps them rightly understand their status before God and what God has done for sinners in Jesus Christ.

Episode 66: On Contextualization (with John Folmar and Trip Lee)
By J. Folmar, J. Leeman, M. Dever, T. Lee | 11.27.2018What’s the goal in contextualization? How do we know if we’ve gone too far, or not far enough?

Four Biblical Foundations for Contextualization
By Zane Pratt | 07.18.2016The goal of contextualization is not comfort, but clarity.
Voices from Abroad: Biblical Faithfulness and Cultural Sensitivity
By J. Folmar, M. Lohmann, M. Prodigalidad, M. Campbell, P. Harshit, T. Cantrell | 9Marks Journal: The Church Singing | 04.24.2014Editor’s Note: We asked a handful of pastors around the world the following question: “You are familiar with American churches, yet you pastor in a non-American context. What has your … keep reading…
Pastors’ Forum: What do you do and not do to accommodate ethnic diversity in your worship service planning?
9Marks | 9Marks Journal: The Church Singing | 04.23.2014Answers from Dave Furman, Kevin Hsu, Paul Martin, John Onwuchekwa, and Juan Sanchez. Dave Furman I will never lose the gospel for the sake of unity in diversity, but … keep reading…
Three Lessons for Cross-Cultural Evangelism
By John Folmar | 9Marks Journal: Evangelism - Part 2 | 10.25.2013How can you evangelize across cultures? Communicate clearly, proclaim the Word, use the church.

How Can Churches Evangelize their Neighborhoods?
By Jeff Cavanaugh | 9Marks Journal: Evangelism - Part 2 | 10.25.2013How can you reach those near your church, especially when most members don’t live there?
Evangelism across Economic Boundaries
By Mike McKinley | 9Marks Journal: Evangelism - Part 2 | 10.25.2013The first lesson in evangelizing across economic boundaries? We’re not all that different.
Must All Regulative Principle Churches Look the Same?
By Trip Lee | 9Marks Journal: Is Scripture Enough? | 07.16.2013Worship in different cultures should consist of the same elements but look very different. Why? Because the gospel doesn’t foster oppressive uniformity but glorious, diverse sameness.
Contextualizing Ecclesiology
By Ed Roberts | 9Marks Journal: Is Scripture Enough? | 07.16.2013What does a biblical church look like in Central Asia? Is 9Marks’ model really biblical? 9Marks asks a veteran missionary these questions and more.
Church Membership and Contextualization
By Ed Roberts | 9Marks Journal: Church Membership: Holding the Body Together | 04.28.2011Our doctrine of church membership should take us close to a universal biblical constant, but formulating how it is lived out introduces all kinds of particular expressions.

Book Review: The Tangible Kingdom, by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay
Review by Bobby Jamieson | 9Marks Journal: Church and Parachurch: Friends or Foes? | 02.02.2011I celebrate the willingness to throw anything overboard that gets in the way of reaching others with the gospel, but I fear some of what’s getting tossed is actually precious cargo.

Understanding the Bible and Ministry
By B. Winter, M. Dever | 01.01.2011New Testament scholar Bruce Winter jumps into the fray over cultural contextualization in ministry, the importance of historical background for interpreting Scripture, and bad contemporary ideas of leadership.