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Dever, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church

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Mark Dever, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church. Crossway Books, 2004.

Referenced in: Strategies for Congregational Renewal: Diagnostic/Prescriptive

LifeandLeadership.com Summary

Nine Marks is the foundation of an entire series of resources by Mark Dever and others. It is not a diagnostic tool or a plan for church growth and effectiveness. One might say it is a reaction against the plethora of eight- or ten-step strategies for growing congregations in the standard “bodies, buildings, and budgets dimensions.” By contrast, the volumes in the Nine Marks series suggest nine biblical qualities that distinguish a healthy church. They are not an attempt to outline all essential features of a church, but to capture certain biblical characteristics the authors believe have become rare in the church at large.

The first five – reflecting the concern to preach rightly the word of God:

1. Expositional Preaching, with a strong emphasis on life-giving and sanctifying nature of the Word of God and the role of the preacher in holding forth the Word.

2. Biblical Theology, understanding God’s truth as a coherent whole that first and foremost reveals God himself as creating, holy, loving, faithful, and sovereign.

3. The Gospel, which is more than a collection of universal ethical truths but a declaration of the once-for-all, historical saving actions of God in Christ that call for repentance and belief.

4. A Biblical Understanding of Conversion, emphasizing that true conversion results in a changed life.

5. A Biblical Understanding of Evangelism, presenting the Gospel as an urgent call to repent, and relying on the Holy Spirit to do the true convicting and convincing and converting.

The last four – considering the right administration of the borders and markers of Christian identity:

6. A Biblical Understanding of Church Membership, focusing on discipleship and committed participation in the body of Christ vs. self-centered narcissism and hyper-individualism.

7. Biblical Church Discipline, suggesting the discipline of certain behaviors and teachings that should not be tolerated in the interest of restoring the wayward, warning the saved, preserving the health and witness of the church, and bringing honor to God.

8. A Concern for Discipleship and Growth, challenging the practices of weak evangelism that may swell the numbers of the church but which do not facilitate healthy maturation of the body of Christ and the practice of discipleship.

9. Biblical Church Leadership, appointing a plurality of godly men as elders and deacons who promote the edifying and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

Dever uses scripture and church history to make his case for these qualities and then uses them as benchmarks to critically assess many of the more popular approaches to church effectiveness. This critical work continues on the Nine Marks web community.

Dever has become an international leader and spokesperson for these concepts. A significant sector of conservative, biblically-based churches affirm the nine marks. Also, an extensive web community includes numerous book reviews, substantive articles, and expositions on the nine marks.

Not all will agree with Dever’s emphases (e.g. the “BOSS” mnemonic for elders) or with his criticisms of other models of church effectiveness. Putting that aside, the value of Dever and others like him is the willingness to renew emphasis on aspects of congregational life others tend to minimize, such as church discipline, discipleship, elder-led churches, etc.

Since the original printing of this main volume, other books have followed that expand on the nine characteristics or which critically address current trends. A few are listed below, along with the publisher’s descriptions.

  • Mark Dever, What is a Healthy Church? Crossway Books, 2007. An abbreviated version of the same material in Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, designed for use by church members. Author Mark Dever seeks to help believers recognize the key characteristics of a healthy church: expositional preaching, biblical theology, and a right understanding of the gospel. Dever then calls us to develop those characteristics in our own churches. By following the example of New Testament authors and addressing church members from pastors to pew sitters, Dever challenges all believers to do their part in maintaining the local church. What Is a Healthy Church? offers timeless truths and practical principles to help each of us fulfill our God-given roles in the body of Christ.
  • Thabiti Anyabwile, What is a Healthy Church Member? Crossway Books, 2008. For Christians, playing an active part in the local church is not optional. God intends for every believer to contribute to the mission of the local church and experience profound spiritual growth as a result. This book shows church members, pastors, and church leaders what a healthy church member looks like.
  • Jonathan Leeman and Mark Dever, The Church and Surprising Offense of God’s Love: Reintroducing the Doctrines of Church Membership and Discipline. Crossway Books, 2010. When the world speaks of “love,” it often means unconditional acceptance. Many churches have adopted this mind-set in their practice of membership and discipline—if they have not done away with such structures entirely. “Yet God’s love and God’s gospel are different than what the world expects,” writes Jonathan Leeman. They’re centered in his character, which draws a clear boundary between what is holy and what is not. It’s this line that the local church should represent in its member practices, because the careful exercise of such authority “is God’s means for guarding the gospel, marking off a people, and thereby defining his love for the world.” So how should churches receive and dismiss members? How should Christians view their submission to the church? Are there dangers in such submission? The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love responds with biblical, theological, and practical guidance-from both corporate and individual perspectives. It’s a resource that will help pastors and their congregations upend worldly conceptions and recover a biblical understanding and practice of church authority.
  • Michael Lawrence and Thomas R. Schreiner, Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church: A Guide for Ministry. Crossway Books, 2010. Capitol Hill Baptist Church associate pastor Michael Lawrence contributes to the 9Marks series as he centers on the practical importance of biblical theology to ministry. He begins with an examination of a pastor’s tools of the trade: exegesis and biblical and systematic theology. The book distinguishes between the power of narrative in biblical theology and the power of application in systematic theology, but also emphasizes the importance of their collaboration in ministry. Having laid the foundation for pastoral ministry, Lawrence uses the three tools to build a biblical theology, telling the entire story of the Bible from five different angles. He puts biblical theology to work in four areas: counseling, missions, caring for the poor, and church/state relations. Rich in application and practical insight, this book will equip pastors and church leaders to think, preach, and do ministry through the framework of biblical theology.
  • Mike McKinley and Darrin Patrick, Church Planting is for Wimps: How God Uses Messed-up People to Plant Ordinary Churches That Do Extraordinary Things. Crossway Books, 2010. Church Planting Is for Wimps tells the story of the revitalization of Guilford Baptist Church in northern Virginia. Weaving together Scripture and biblical principles with humor and personal anecdotes, author Mike McKinley asserts that a pastor’s faithful exposition of God’s Word, passion for sharing the gospel, and care in the training of other godly leaders are more important than the size of his church. McKinley honestly shares his own fears and rookie mistakes, along with encouraging stories of how God moved at Guilford Baptist. We are reminded that God uses weak and fearful pastors in plants and revitalizations; church planting is indeed for “wimps.” For pastors and seminarians considering a church plant and those already struggling in their own fledgling congregations, this book is a thoughtful and encouraging resource.
  • Mark Dever, The Message of the New Testament: Promises Kept. Crossway Books, 2005. The New Testament is the story of how all the promises made by God in the Old Testament were kept – and what that means for us today. The nation of Israel had many hopes: hope for a deliverer, hope for restored fellowship with God, and hope for the world to be put right. The New Testament explains how those promises were kept and how, if we are Christians, they are kept in us as well. Mark Dever surveys the historial context, organization, and theology of each New Testament book, in light of God’s Old Testament promises. His message is that of the New Testament itself, one of hope fulfilled.
  • Greg Gilbert, What is the Gospel? Crossway Books, 2010. What is the gospel? It seems like a basic question. But can everyone in your church give the right answer? Greg Gilbert does so in What Is the Gospel? Beginning with Paul’s systematic presentation of the gospel in Romans and moving through the sermons in Acts, Gilbert argues that the central structure of the gospel consists of four main subjects: God, man, Christ, and a response. The book carefully examines each and then explores the effects the gospel can have in individuals, churches, and the world. Both Christian and non-Christian readers will gain a clearer understanding of the gospel in this valuable resource.

From the Publisher

What makes for a healthy church? A large congregation? Plentiful parking? Vibrant music?

You may have read books on this topic before-but not like this one. This new expanded edition of Nine Marks of a Healthy Church is not an instruction manual for church growth. It is a pastor’s recommendation of how to assess the health of your church using nine crucial qualities that are neglected by many of today’s churches.

Whether you’re a church leader or an involved member of your congregation, you can help cultivate these elements in your church, bringing it new life and health for God’s glory.

Editorial Reviews

“If you are a Christian leader, be careful of the work you are now holding in your hand: it may change your life and ministry.” — D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

“This is a foundational work which I highly recommend.” — John MacArthur, Pastor, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California

“I want God’s word about the church. I turn with hope and confidence to Mark Dever’s radically biblical commitment. Few people today have thought more or better about what makes a church biblical and healthy.” — John Piper, Pastor for Preaching and Vision, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis

“This is the best book I have read on this topic of critical importance.” — C. J. Mahaney, Sovereign Grace Ministries

“Nine Marks of a Healthy Church is required reading for my students in ecclesiology.” — Paige Patterson, President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

“[This book] belongs in the hands of every faithful pastor and all those who pray for reformation in this age.” — R. Albert Mohler Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Nine Marks of a Healthy Church is a biblical prescription for faithfulness.” — J. Ligon Duncan, Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi; President, Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals

About the Author

Mark Dever serves as the senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC. A Duke graduate, Dr. Dever holds a M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a Th.M. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Ecclesiastical History from Cambridge University. He is the president of 9Marks Ministries and has taught at a number of seminaries. Dr. Dever also has authored numerous books and articles. He and his wife Connie live and minister on Capitol Hill. They have two adult children.

***For additional information on this resource, including reviews, click the bookstore links. Check the reference at page top or the links below for resource guides on related topics.***

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