Conversion
Book Review: After You Believe, by N. T. Wright
Review by Mike Christ | 06.08.2016Wright majors on the skills one must develop to perform acts of holiness, but misses the relational heart of Christian obedience.
Book Review: The Whole Christ, by Sinclair Ferguson
By Paul Alexander | 05.18.2016This book is an instant classic—historical theology at its best.
Book Review: Beyond the Local Church, by Sam Metcalf
Review by Ken Caruthers | 03.15.2016If the thesis of this book is true, then it is entirely possible that the work of 9Marks and other church-strengthening organizations is in vain.
Waters That Unite: Five Truths About Water Baptism
By David Schrock | 03.14.20161. Baptism identifies us with Christ. 2. Baptism doesn’t save; it announces salvation. 3. Baptism is an individual announcement. 4. Baptism is also a church announcement. 5. Baptism follows belief.
Dear Pastor, Know Your Theology of Sanctification
By Mike Christ | 02.29.2016There’s a push in evangelical circles to understand justification. This is good. But let’s make sure we haven’t neglected sanctification.
How Your Understanding of Conversion Impacts Your Ministry
By Jonathan Leeman | 02.17.2016Your doctrine of conversion will push or drive—like an engine—your ministerial practices in this direction or that.
Mailbag #25: Thinking through Church Budgets; My Congregation Demands an “Altar Call”; Tricky Membership Situation
By Jonathan Leeman | 12.22.2015— How do you lead a church through thinking through the budget in a way that obeys God? Further, how do you do this in a way that is “above-reproach” when leading the overall church through polity change? — My congregation begs for me to do a weekly “altar call,” but I am opposed to them. What should I do? — An elderly couple with health problems wants to join our church—but they won’t ever be able to attend. What do you think?
Mailbag #24: What Happens to Infants Who Die; Thinking through Civil Disobedience; Calling Out False Teachers by Name
By Jonathan Leeman | 12.14.2015— What happens to infants who die? Do they go to heaven? — How should Christians think through the category of “civil disobedience”? — Should pastors call out false teachers by name?
Mailbag #21: Must Preachers Be Seminary-Trained?; Baby Dedications; Elders Disagreeing Over Calvinism
By Jonathan Leeman | 11.23.2015— Should we expect preachers to be seminary-trained? — Do baby dedications violate the regulative principle? — I’m a Calvinist, but does this mean all my fellow elders must be as well?
From Lesbianism to Complementarianism
By Jackie Hill-Perry | 9Marks Journal: Complementarianism & the Local Church | 03.11.2015He was a man, and she was a woman. Similar, yet different—and she hated it.
Book Review: Now That I’m a Christian, by Michael C. Patton
Review by Jon Saunders | 11.21.2014Church, raise up young Christians. Don’t pass it off to a book. But then, take advantage of every possible good book out there to help make that happen.
The Problem with Evangelistic Programs
By J. Mack Stiles | 10.09.2014A strict diet of evangelistic programs produces malnourished evangelism.
Book Review: Prepared by Grace, For Grace, by Joel Beeke and Paul Smalley
Review by Kevin Wilkening | 9Marks Journal: Biblical Theology: Guardian and Guide of the Church | 08.20.2014The Puritan doctrine of preparation underscores the central truth of conversion, which is that God saves guilty sinners by Christ alone.
Reaching the “Converted”
By Bob Johnson | 9Marks Journal: Evangelism - Part 2 | 10.25.2013Some of pastors’ most obvious evangelistic opportunities are with members of our churches. But how can we reach them?
