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8th out of 36 books
—
15 voters
The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel
"Here is one of the most faithful and insightful pastors of our time, addressing the most crucial issues of church life. Mark Dever refuses to separate theology and congregational life, combining pastoral insight with clear biblical teaching. This book is a powerful antidote to the merely pragmatic approaches of our day-and a refutation to those who argue that theology jus...more
Paperback, 221 pages
Published
September 9th 2005
by Crossway Books
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Dever is best-known for his book Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, while his co-author on this book is the main editor for the online church resource site 9Marks. In this book, Dever & Alexander take their thoughts about ecclesiology and go about designing all of the practical issues one has to deal with in operating a church – from foundational issues like what the role of a pastor is; to the process and qualifications for selecting elders; to the role of baptism and communion as ordinances;...more
The first few chapters made me a little grumpy because it felt like the book was imposing some specific kind of worship liturgy upon every church in the world and my church didn't really seem to fit the bill of some of the things the author was suggesting.
As I read more and more though, I appreciate the faithfulness to the Word and focus on the gospel. I'm glad that there is an explicit reasoning given for every small detail in this book. I've experienced a lot of frustration with vagueness in t...more
As I read more and more though, I appreciate the faithfulness to the Word and focus on the gospel. I'm glad that there is an explicit reasoning given for every small detail in this book. I've experienced a lot of frustration with vagueness in t...more
This is a rare book on the church which is both biblical and practical. It is not a plug and play description of programs or new ministry paradigms. Rather, it is a fresh call to biblical faithfulness to the essential tasks of the pastor in leading, preaching, praying, shepherding, and discipling.
The book is firmly grounded in a Word-centered framework for understanding the relationship between the Gospel and methodology. Briefly stated: "(1) Theology drives method . . . (2) God's methods determ...more
The book is firmly grounded in a Word-centered framework for understanding the relationship between the Gospel and methodology. Briefly stated: "(1) Theology drives method . . . (2) God's methods determ...more
Some of my favorite quotes:
The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander
Ours is a ministry of magnification—making God’s glory appear to the eyes of the world as big as it really is by bringing it into closer view and sharper focus in the form of the local church.
The Word builds the Church. Our power is not in having small groups, or meeting the felt needs of our target audience, or using the right evangelism program, or having funny skits, or provi...more
The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander
Ours is a ministry of magnification—making God’s glory appear to the eyes of the world as big as it really is by bringing it into closer view and sharper focus in the form of the local church.
The Word builds the Church. Our power is not in having small groups, or meeting the felt needs of our target audience, or using the right evangelism program, or having funny skits, or provi...more
This is a good book on the church. In my process of defining my theology and what church should be it was invaluable. A recommended read for anyone wanting a good overview of a good way of doing church. Needs a little more room for different ways of church structure though, bearing in mind the Anglican/Lutheran/Presbytarians have good models too.
This was really a great book. It had tons of biblical wisdom and very practical advice. It is geared toward younger pastors and leaders, but would be a good read for anyone looking to better understand how a church could function more biblically and grow in Christlikeness from the top down.
This is a must read for anyone involved in church leadership. Do you want a gospel preaching church? Read this book! Do you want a healthy church? Read this book!
Five stars. Maybe it was just perfect timing. This book was a huge moment for me. One of the most influential books I've ever read on the nature of church ministry.
While it may strike some as mundane, "nothing new, but solid," it is as radical and refreshing in the genre of practical pastoral helps as fresh mountain spring water in a wilderness. Crisp, bracing, clarifying and so enCouraging.
Very thoughtful book on pastoring a church by a very thoughtful pastor.
Nothing earth shattering, but solid.
Compared to the pragmatic pile that I have had to read on church methodology this book is by far the biggest peice of fresh air. I felt like I was not all alone in the insanity of some so called "practical" advisors. I am still struggling with the practicallity of some of the ideas but finding myself refreshed by a sense of direction rather then a well laid out block that I have to fit myself into. An excellent work!
I am reading this for a seminary class on pastoral theology, but it is a great read. It's startling how easily in ministry we are captured by trends and fads. Great book!
Really handy manual for approaching church ministry. Dever does an excellent job coupling biblical principles with practical advice. While I wouldn't take quite as hard a line as he does in all areas there is much helpful information here. This is a good resource for re-evaluating what you're doing in ministry and an invaluable help for those of us just starting out.
Oct 10, 2007
Rock Rockwell
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Church Leaders
Shelves:
ecclesiology-church
Mark Dever of Capital Hill Baptist (Washington D.C.) does a good job to present his church's polity (which is counter to the normative Southern Baptist tradition/practice). Dever presents biblical leadership, structure, and then adds his own ways to practically apply various aspects to the day-to-day life of a church.
Book 3 in my "what is church" reading list. Very practical and detailed. Dever is not usually immediately inspiring, but I find myself referring back to his ideas regularly.
Awesome. Targeted more at pastors than lay people, but well worth it. A breath of fresh air in the sea of program-heavy, "growth"-oriented, "seeker"-sensitive business paradigms.
Good stuff. Regulative principle is difficult to deal with, but I have a lot of respect for his humility in approaching church issues.
Just browsed through the high spots. Need to dwell a little more on this one.
What is the church to be about? Read this and your question will clearly be answered. Warning: the answer might be different than you think it ought to be.
May 09, 2013
Queenfergy
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Apr 30, 2013
Mark Schubert
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Mark Dever serves as the senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC. Since his ordination to the ministry in 1985, Dr. Dever has served on the pastoral staffs of four churches, the second being a church he planted in Massachusetts. Prior to moving to Washington in 1994, Dr. Dever taught for the faculty of Divinity at Cambridge University while serving two years as an associate...more
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