Corporate Worship
Episode 16: On Corporate Prayer
By J. Leeman, M. Dever | 05.30.2017In many evangelical churches, the public prayers are casual, short, and few. Is that a problem?
11 Reasons For A Weekly Service Review—And 4 Cautions Once You Start
By Jeff Lacine | 04.26.2017I’ve found a weekly service review to be one of the most effective tools in ministry for mentoring men and growing as a preacher.
Pastor, Defend Christian Liberty
By Caleb Greggsen | 02.09.2017We trivialize the doctrine of Christian liberty when we focus on freedom to while neglecting the beauties of freedom from.
Mailbag #49: Home Groups Over Church; Pastoring an Unmarried Woman Who Wants to Adopt
By Jonathan Leeman | 01.20.2017— Is it permissible for Christians to opt out of church in favor of home groups? — If an unmarried member of your church sought to adopt a foster child, what would you say?
Churches in Iran: The Significance of the Lord’s Supper
By Alan Davidson | 9Marks Journal: Healthy Churches around the World | 12.12.2016If I were speaking to a room full of Christians concerned for the church in Iran, I tell them: “I intend to make the Lord’s Supper the key focus of my work with the local church.”
Mailbag #44: Applying “Husband of One Wife”; Leaving the Church but Attending Bible Study; Women Voting in the Church
By Jonathan Leeman | 12.09.2016— What does “husband of one wife” mean? That a prospective elder must have never been divorced? — Someone who left our church still wants to attend our church’s ladies’ Bible study. Is that okay? — Does 1 Timothy 2:12 forbid women from voting in congregational matters?
Preach About the Church to the Church
By Keith Collier | 11.16.2016But despite the trend of growing expository preaching, what if a blind spot—a byproduct of 20th-century evangelicalism—exists in our preaching?
6 Reasons Congregational Singing Is Waning
By Thom Rainer | 11.08.2016Here is the clear reality in many congregations: congregational singing is waning in many churches. In some churches it seems to have disappeared altogether.
Mailbag #40: Too High a Standard for Church Membership; Where Are Churches Commanded to Gather Weekly
By Jonathan Leeman | 11.04.2016—You say the standard for church membership is nothing more than simply “being a Christian.” But that’s not entirely true, is it? —Where in Scripture are local churches commanded to gather every week?
Book Review: Calling on the Name of the Lord: A Biblical Theology of Prayer, by J. Gary Millar
Review by Paul Alexander | 9Marks Journal: The Church Praying | 10.14.2016Why pray certain things? Because the Bible tells you to from cover to cover. This book will simplify, motivate, and focus your own prayer life.
How Scripture’s Authority Shapes What We Do On Sunday Morning
By Brian Davis | 9Marks Journal: Authority: God's Good and Dangerous Gift | 09.28.2016How do we decide what to do when we gather together on Sundays? Well, quite simply, we don’t decide. God does—and God has.
Book Review: Praying Together, by Megan Hill
Review by Erin Wheeler | 09.27.2016Are you someone who struggles to pray? Read this book. Are you someone who wonders whether it’s worth the often costly sacrifice to join mid-week with other saints to pray? Read this book.
Book Review: Rhythms of Grace, by Mike Cosper
Review by Matt Damico | 09.06.2016It can be tempting to try to create or manufacture “experiences” for our people. But years of thoughtfully planned services with Word-centered content will bear more fruit than sporadic highs.
9 Choices for a Healthy Music Ministry
By Mark Dever | 9Marks Journal: The Church Singing | 08.24.2016The musical excellence we aim for should be more in the congregation than in the instrumentalists or vocalists who lead or accompany our singing.
In Praise of Low-Budget, Non-Professional Music Ministries
By Mark Dever | 9Marks Journal: The Church Singing | 08.23.2016I’m not saying the way my church “does” music is the only way, or even the best way. What I am saying is that the quality of music and especially the quality of singing is not dependent upon the size of your music budget.
