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Title: Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever ISBN: 1-58134-163-6 Publisher: Crossway Books Pub. Date: September, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $15.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4 (4 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: The previous reviewer should have actually read the book
Comment: This book was written to address problems in the Church. A topic such as this is difficult to approach without actually pointing out specific issues that are plaguing the Church. That is the whole point of the book! I have read several related titles and this is the simplest and most straight forward (while also being biblical) treatment of the subject that I have encountered.
Sure, I don't like the idea of setting aside nine marks as being important, but Dever is not writing a complete work on church polity. Rather he is addressing some of the most important issues that many modern churches do not practice. This is a very important book, enjoyable to read, and well worth your time.
Rating: 1
Summary: Yet another book
Comment: In the introduction Mr. Dever states, "There is dissatisfaction with the church on every hand. Bookstore shelves groan under the weight of books with prescriptions for what ails her." OK, so why is he adding yet another book? In Appendix Two he lists 19 other books that have preceded his own, with his being the last--the ultimate, final word on the subject, I suppose. (The funny thing is that George Barna has written at least 4 books on the subject, all different. I guess there is gold in them thar hills.)
The author goes on, "Conference speakers live off the congregational diseases that always seem to survive their remedies." Wow, he just nailed himself, because he's listed on the back cover as "a frequent conference speaker." Gee, I wonder what he speaks about?
I couldn't get through the rest of the book because of the elitist, high-brow, intellectual, and condescending tone.
Solomon said, "of making many books there is no end." What's happening is that anybody who fancies himself as a seer picks a few random symptoms of the sickness that is American Christianity, and writes a book about it, offering the "final cure". Then, if he's smart, he writes another book later on, and then another, and becomes a well-paid conference speaker. It goes on endlessly. Anybody can pick a sample of 5, 10, or 12 symptoms and write a book about it. It doesn't matter which symptoms you pick, because there is an endless supply.
But the church is made up of people, and that's the real problem, isn't it? American Christianity is in apostasy, and there is no cure. All we do is run to the the Bible Bookstore (oops, they don't call it that anymore, do they?) and buy the latest hot CD or feel-good book, worshipping the latest Christian Idol.
Even if you could make your church more biblical, you'd only lose all the fake Christians who are there, and who wants that? The bigger the better, right?
If you're looking for the perfect church, or even a biblical church, then you're looking in the wrong country and in the wrong century. American Christians have totally bought into their culture, and there is no difference. We're selfish fast-food consumers who fit church into our lives when it's convenient and "meets our felt needs." Small incremental improvements in church form or emphasis are not going to change the heart of the issue--the hearts of the people.
My final recommendation: Find a Calvary Chapel in your area. That's the best you can do. They are usually pretty good churches, although some have gone into hero worship with some of their charismatic pastors. But just remember that no church is perfect, especially if you are a member.
If you want entertainment, go to the movies. If you want a social club, go join one. But if you want to worship God, quit your whining and find a good, imperfect church in your area and make it better.
And stop buying the endless self-serving drivel that is pumped out by the so-called "Christian Stores" that are only interested in making the temple of God a den of thieves. Dust off your bible and read it, if you have one.
Rating: 5
Summary: Very helpful for pastors and church leaders
Comment: Dever majors in the majors with this book by focusing on how pastors and other church leaders should approach preaching, theology, the gospel, conversion, evangelism, church membership, discipleship and leadership. It is a great read for those who don't just want to complain about the state of the church today, but who actually want some biblical, positive direction.
The first chapter on expositional preaching is especially helpful because he provides a biblical foundation to the idea that the preaching the Word is the most fundamental duty of the church pastor. His chapters on membership and leadership are also great because he marshals a biblical argument for having high expectations of members and for elders as a biblical office, respectively.
More than anything, after reading Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, I walked away understanding that God has given a lot more direction regarding the day to day operations of His church than I thought.
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Title: The Effective Pastor: Get the Tools to Upgrade Your Ministry by Peter White, C. Peter White ISBN: 1857921208 Publisher: Christian Focus Pub. Date: September, 2002 List Price(USD): $17.99 |
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Title: Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership by Alexander Strauch ISBN: 0936083115 Publisher: Lewis & Roth Publications Pub. Date: September, 1995 List Price(USD): $14.99 |
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Title: Becoming a Healthy Church: 10 Characteristics by Stephen A. Macchia, Gordon McDonald, Haddon W. Robinson ISBN: 0801011779 Publisher: Baker Book House Pub. Date: January, 1999 List Price(USD): $18.99 |
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Title: Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry by John Piper ISBN: 0805426205 Publisher: Broadman & Holman Publishers Pub. Date: September, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.99 |
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Title: Systematic Theology by Wayne A. Grudem ISBN: 0310286700 Publisher: Zondervan Pub. Date: 16 January, 1995 List Price(USD): $39.99 |
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