Discipleship

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?

20 Pieces of Advice for Establishing a Church Bookstall

By J. Sok, P. Conner | 01.18.2017

The goal of a church bookstall isn’t actually to sell books. It’s a discipleship tool. The goal is to highlight the particular books you really want your congregation to read.

Churches in Albania: Preserved and Maturing

By Genci Cesula | 9Marks Journal: Healthy Churches around the World | 12.12.2016

After near extermination under Communism, the church in Albania has grown in numbers and maturity. Albanian Christians are growing in applying to gospel to all of life, even as they work to grow in ownership of their churches.

Churches in Australia: The Lucky Country?

By Nathan Malpass | 9Marks Journal: Healthy Churches around the World | 12.12.2016

Gospel unity and clarity is slowly growing in Australian churches, though confusion on the church and her mission persist.

Churches in Spain: A Smoking Flax He Will Not Quench

By Andrew Birch | 9Marks Journal: Healthy Churches around the World | 12.12.2016

Though many of the churches in Spain often confuse or lose the gospel in their preaching, there is a small and growing network of churches who love gospel clarity and church health.

A Young Man’s Reflections on J. C. Ryle’s Thoughts for Young Men

By Colton Corter | 12.08.2016

Ryle would have us prepare for eternity, even as young men.

Book Review: Devoted to God, by Sinclair Ferguson

Review by Paul Alexander | 12.06.2016

As we’ve come to expect, Sinclair Ferguson’s new book points us to the gospel, to our identity in Christ, and to all that Jesus is for us for the purpose of making us more like him.

Week #12—What Christians Should Ask of Government: To Affirm and Protect the Family

By Jonathan Leeman | 12.01.2016

The topics of marriage and family necessarily involve society in matters which the state will need to regulate.

Raising up Leaders in Cross-Cultural Settings (Part 2)

By Todd Jamison | 11.29.2016

Raising up Christ-like leaders―while primarily a work of the Holy Spirit―happens in the context of healthy churches full of loving relationships.

Raising up Leaders in Cross-Cultural Settings (Part 1)

By Todd Jamison | 11.28.2016

Seminaries can provide much value to the church, but seminary-educated leaders aren’t a necessity for the advance of the church around the world.

Book Review: What Grieving People Wish You Knew, by Nancy Guthrie

Review by Eric Beach | 11.22.2016

Many Christians and church leaders spend time interacting with grieving people or equipping their congregations to care for those around them who are grieving. Consequently, this book is especially pertinent for pastors.

Neither a Republican Nor a Democratic Church

By Mark Dever | 11.14.2016

The Christ we share is more important to us than the politics we don’t.

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?

Week #10—What Christians Should Ask of Government: To Treat People Equally (Justice and Identity Politics)

By Jonathan Leeman | 11.03.2016

This week we will mediate on the government’s job to treat all God-imagers equally as God-imagers.

Conversion and its Costs interview

Conversion & Its Costs: An Interview with Rosaria Butterfield

By M. Dever, R. Butterfield | 10.31.2016

20 years ago, Rosaria Butterfield was a tenured English professor, an activist, and a lesbian. Now, she’s a pastor’s wife, a mom, and a Christian. What happened?