Allow me to plug an upcoming event that is being jointly sponsored by 9Marks and Matthias Media, and hosted at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC. It is called Gospel Growth vs. Church Growth.

Here's what the conference is all about. It is designed for pastors, evangelists and ministry trainees, and it aims to provide instruction in biblical principles and practices for the promotion of God-glorifying, Christ-exalting, Gospel-growth, as opposed to the kind of things often peddled as key to "church growth."

Why is there a need for a conference like this? Well, here's how the good folks at 9Marks explain it: "It's hard for pastors not to be mesmerized by church growth. Who doesn't want their congregation to grow? Who doesn't want to see numbers and budgets increasing year by year? And who isn't greatly interested when the latest growth model comes along, the latest research, the latest insight that promises us the key to such growth? But there's growth and there's growth. Understanding what the New Testament means by growth, and how that growth happens, sets us free. It liberates us from anxiety and self-doubt, and from the slavery of chasing the latest program."

The speakers are Phillip Jensen, Mark Dever and Tony Payne. There will also be a forum with all three speakers answering questions and engaging in further exploration of the ideas. The conference is slated for Tuesday, October 30 through Thursday, November 1, 2007. Registration will begin at 2:00pm on Tuesday, and the conference will conclude by noon on Thursday.

Roger Norris has written a nice review of Mark Dever's and Paul Alexander's The Deliberate Church, in the July edition of The Evangelical Times. Here it is (with thanks to ET).

"A few years ago Mark Dever gave us Nine marks of a healthy church — assessments that were deeply embedded in biblical theology and gave nine crucial qualities of a spiritually healthy church. In The deliberate church Dr Dever aims to help pastors and church leaders on the journey towards spiritual health and growth for the local church. Mark Dever is Senior Pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.

"The book is a reassuring antidote to the many pragmatic approaches of our day, addressing crucial issues of church life with clarity and insight. The authors are careful to trust the Word of God in the work of building the church, knowing that ‘the church itself is God’s evangelism program’.

"The chapters are set out in four sections; 1) Gathering the Church; 2) When the Church gathers; 3) Gathering elders; 4) When the elders gather. The authors make it clear in the first chapter that they do not have a great programme for the church; rather they rely on four basic areas of pastoral responsibility — preaching, praying, personal discipling relationships, and patience.

"Combining biblical principles with practical advice, the book goes on to address such issues as evangelism, membership, worship, fellowship, prayer, leadership and the role of the pastor. There are helpful notes on multiple Sunday morning services and contemporary influences, considered in the light of the biblical data.

"Each section of the book includes a ‘think tank’ of questions and ends with a list of recommended reading.

"The book is ideal for pastors and church leaders, who want to begin with the gospel and take seriously the biblical pattern for the church — and are looking for down-to-earth practical help. At the very least it raises searching and important questions for leaders in our contemporary ‘outcomes-driven’ culture.

"Not everyone will agree wholeheartedly with every point, but the book prompts us to make an honest assessment of the life of the local church. In giving direction to the task of building a ministry, The deliberate church points us away from the pragmatism of programmes to the priority of faithfulness to the gospel; to where the church’s character, privileges and responsibilities are biblically driven — deliberately.

Well, friends, I have been in Nashville for meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee and related events.  This happens twice a year as the work of the denomination and its agencies is coordinated, funded, budgeted, etc.  I am tired.  Meeting after meeting after meeting.  I serve as chairman of the Council of Seminary Presidents and was just elected chairman of the Great Commission Council.  More meetings.

It is tempting to complain and feel like it is all a bureaucratic drain of energy and time.  But, instead I am thankful for men and women -- men who are busy pastors and others who are busy church members -- who give so generously of their time in order to ensure denominational accountability and oversight.  And I genuinely enjoy working with my colleagues in ministry and denominational leadership.  We have a great time together.  This too is God's gift.

I detected a great deal of passion for evangelism, missions, and the local church -- as well as much support for what we are doing in theological education.  So, I will rest thankful and get ready for more meetings. 

This too shall pass away -- no budget meetings in heaven.

I'll pick up on my reading series with a new post very soon. 

Mark asked for responses to George Barna's latest book, Revolution.  I promised to do so and I have now published a full review, available here.  It may spark some further discussion -- at least I hope so.  In one sense, the book is something of a poison pill for evangelical Christianity.  Oddly enough, some denominational publishing houses (insert great SBC embarrassment here) have even advertised the book prominently, causing me to paraphrase Vladimir Lenin to the effect that when it comes time to hang the evangelicals, the evangelicals will fight over the contract for the rope.

Almost everything Barna says about the shortcomings and failures of evangelical churches is accurate.  Superficiality and worse mark so many churches, and it is no wonder that so many believers never develop into mature Christians and so many churches never experience the power and glory of God in congregational life.  Unfortunately, Barna's approach is even worse -- abandoning the local church altogether as the normative context for Christian involvement.

I say much more in the review, so I will leave it there.  But there is something seriously and tragically wrong with a book that includes just this one sentence alone:  There is nothing inherently wrong with being involved in a local church.

Thanks for your follow up post on reading Al. And thanks for your good question Mark. I'll try to scribble a quick thought or two in reply ASAP. Meanwhile, CJ and I are in LA for the CBMW Board meeting. It will be a delight to spend time with you CJ, and our faithful colleagues in CBMW.

Now, by way of encouragement, enjoy this rich quote on the church from Stephen Marshall (one of the famous "Smectymuans" during the lead-up to the calling of the Westminster Assembly):

"All the glory that [God] looks for to eternity must arise out of this one work of building Zion; this one work shall be the only monument of His glory to eternity; this goodly world, this heaven and earth, that you see and enjoy the use of, is set up only as a ship, as a workshop, to stand only for a week, for six or seven thousand years; and when His work is done He will throw the piece of clay down again, and out of this He looks for no other glory . . . . But this piece [the Church] He sets up for a higher end, to be the eternal mansion of His holiness and honour; this is His metropolis, His temple, His house."