A book alert is not a book review or summary; rather, it is simply a preview of a book that may be of particular interest to our readers. In a book alert, we try to provide as much information as possible to assist you in your decision-making and/or purchases.
Title: What Is a Healthy Church?
Author: Mark Dever
Publisher: Crossway
Publishing Date: June 11, 2007
Pages: 128
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 1-5813-49378
Retail Price: $10.99
Table of Contents: n/a
Intro: n/a
Sample Chapter: n/a
Publisher's Summary:
What is an ideal church? While many Christians may never have considered that question, they probably have some preconceived idea of the perfect church in their minds. Yet they often have no clue what the ideal church looks like or how it works in our society.
Author Mark Dever reveals the key characteristics to a healthy church: expositional preaching, biblical theology, and a biblical understanding of the gospel. Dever then challenges believers to develop those characteristics in their churches. By following the example of New Testament authors and addressing both the pastors and members of churches, Dever challenges all Christians to do their part in maintaining the local church. What Is a Healthy Church? offers timeless truths and practical principles to help all members fulfill their God-given roles in the church.
Buy @:
Amazon for $8.79
Other books by Mark Dever:
- Nine Marks of a Healthy Church
- Polity: Biblical Arguments on How to Conduct Church Life
- The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel
- The Message of the New Testament: Promises Kept
Initial Thoughts:
One look at the ecclesiological landscape and you will find both anemic and bloated churches. Developing healthy churches isn't easy, and know where to begin isn't always obvious either. Some are looking for the latest leadership books while others are trying to emulate the latest trend in the church growth movement. Techniques and trends are no substitute for truth, for the church indeed is the pillar and buttress of truth. Therefore, we must begin with the Word of truth, the Scriptures, to show us just what a healthy church looks like. Mark Dever, a pastor and theologian, is a faithful surgeon that helps us diagnose the condition of our churches not according to the world's standards of success, but according to God.
This book is short and could be digested from both the busy pastor and lay person as well. Indeed, this book is not simply for those in vocational ministry, but for everyone desirous of a healthy church. Wherever part you play in the body of Christ, we every member needs to be healthy as well as committed to a healthy church. I hope that this book serves that purpose–uniting God's people together for the sake of God's Church and His glory in it.
