What really makes a good church? In Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, Mark Dever gives basic biblical principles for assessing and strengthening the health of your church. Each mark is discussed in its corresponding chapter, making it easy to follow along. This small book is helpful for pastors and church leaders to recalibrate for the new year, as well as small groups who want to gain a better understanding of what it truly means to be God’s people.
Preaching and Evangelism
As in the previous editions, Mark One is “Expositional Preaching,” and it is the central distinction of a healthy church. Expositional preaching is preaching in service to the Word, and this makes the first mark far more important than the rest. Dever writes that the main role of any pastor is expositional preaching. It is making the main point of your sermon the main point of what God’s Word is saying.
In this new 4th edition, Dever has revised Mark Two and Mark Three. He combined messages on biblical theology and the gospel into “Gospel Doctrine” (Mark 2), and combined conversion and evangelism into “A Biblical Understanding of Conversion and Evangelism” (Mark 3). In these chapters, Dever focuses on the core doctrines that the God of the Bible is a Creating God, a Holy God, a Faithful God, a Loving God, and a Sovereign God. Dever also helps us see that evangelism is not marketing—and only God can change our hearts.
Membership and Discipleship
Mark Four is “A Biblical Understanding of Church Membership.” Duties towards members and duties towards pastors are mentioned, and I found it especially helpful to hear how Dever’s Capitol Hill Baptist Church has special responsibilities for her members. Mark Five is “A Biblical Understanding of Church Discipline,” and Dever succinctly examines eight passages that deal with this issue.
Mark Six is “A Biblical Concern for Discipleship and Growth.” Growth is a sign of true spiritual life, and Dever is not afraid, like the Apostle Paul, to rebuke seemingly “carnal” Christians. Mark Seven is “Biblical Church Leadership,” and Dever deftly ties leaders as members of the congregation, reflecting God’s own character in loving, caring, and belonging to his people.
Healthy and Whole
Two new marks were included: “A Biblical Understanding and Practice of Prayer” (Mark 8) and “A Biblical Understanding and Practice of Missions” (Mark 9). Dever gives a rundown of how local church congregations can practice praying together, and details what churches should believe and do about missions. These two chapters are a fitting conclusion to find power in God for the local and global Kingdom-cause of Christ.
We have seen the resilience of the Church in the midst of a global pandemic. My home church is almost ready to open our new multi-purpose building. Other churches are growing and finding ways to continue to meet and serve Christ’s kingdom despite uncertainty.
This book is more than a handbook. It is a helpful guide, full of Biblical truth to help the Church shine brightly in our dark world. Let us point to and reflect Christ—who gave his life to keep his Church healthy and whole.