Comments on: Recommendation and Review: What is a Healthy Church? by Mark Dever http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-what-is-a-healthy-church-by-mark-dever ...dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:29:22 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: fr'nklin http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-what-is-a-healthy-church-by-mark-dever/comment-page-1#comment-108832 fr'nklin Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:17:53 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-what-is-a-healthy-church-by-mark-dever#comment-108832 Sounds interesting and I hear great things about Dever. I just hope this isn't another book where the author shows how he is right and everyone else is wrong. Deconstructing is easy. I know, I've been pretty good at it. To my shame. Deconstructing without constructing is pretty weak in my opinion - and I have been very much a deconstructor...and only now a weak constructor. I doubt Dever's book is like that. I look forward to getting it. Sounds interesting and I hear great things about Dever. I just hope this isn’t another book where the author shows how he is right and everyone else is wrong. Deconstructing is easy. I know, I’ve been pretty good at it. To my shame. Deconstructing without constructing is pretty weak in my opinion – and I have been very much a deconstructor…and only now a weak constructor.

I doubt Dever’s book is like that. I look forward to getting it.

]]> By: Nance http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-what-is-a-healthy-church-by-mark-dever/comment-page-1#comment-108433 Nance Tue, 26 Jun 2007 15:42:47 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-what-is-a-healthy-church-by-mark-dever#comment-108433 I was at a staff meeting yesterday for the first time at the mega-church that I'm interning at this summer. The conference room has some long, built-in book shelves on one wall, and these currently hold I'd wager about 75 copies of The Purpose Driven Life. The book can be found in other random cabinets and shelves around the church... this recommendation sounds good; I'll definitely look a little further into it. I was at a staff meeting yesterday for the first time at the mega-church that I’m interning at this summer. The conference room has some long, built-in book shelves on one wall, and these currently hold I’d wager about 75 copies of The Purpose Driven Life. The book can be found in other random cabinets and shelves around the church… this recommendation sounds good; I’ll definitely look a little further into it.

]]> By: Alex Chediak http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-what-is-a-healthy-church-by-mark-dever/comment-page-1#comment-108385 Alex Chediak Tue, 26 Jun 2007 14:11:42 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-what-is-a-healthy-church-by-mark-dever#comment-108385 John, Dever helpfully talks about loving your church, and being patient while praying for change. There's also a good section on "If You're Thinking about Leaving a Church.." Alex John,

Dever helpfully talks about loving your church, and being patient while praying for change. There’s also a good section on “If You’re Thinking about Leaving a Church..”

Alex

]]> By: Alex Chediak http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-what-is-a-healthy-church-by-mark-dever/comment-page-1#comment-108381 Alex Chediak Tue, 26 Jun 2007 14:08:21 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-what-is-a-healthy-church-by-mark-dever#comment-108381 Great review, Michael. Thanks. Alex Great review, Michael. Thanks.

Alex

]]> By: Nicholas Anton http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-what-is-a-healthy-church-by-mark-dever/comment-page-1#comment-108378 Nicholas Anton Tue, 26 Jun 2007 14:02:46 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-what-is-a-healthy-church-by-mark-dever#comment-108378 Michael Your posts on the church are quite helpful. I would however like to see a much larger discussion on what the church was/is to be according to Jesus’ teaching, especially as seen in Matt. 20 and 23. Too often I see a total disregard of Matt. 20:26; Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister (diakonos/servant); We tend to interpret the term minister according to the English definition rather than according to the original Greek term. During my association with and participation in churches of various denominations, including Baptists, I have been astounded at the amount of and severity of church fights and power struggles. What is the Church to be according to Jesus’ teaching? 1) An autocracy like Rome? 2) A democracy like Greece? 3) A Theocratic Patriarchy like Israel (God the Father, and Jesus as Master-Teacher)? 4) Non of the above. All of the above concepts need definition and clarification. Michael

Your posts on the church are quite helpful. I would however like to see a much larger discussion on what the church was/is to be according to Jesus’ teaching, especially as seen in Matt. 20 and 23. Too often I see a total disregard of Matt. 20:26;
Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister (diakonos/servant);
We tend to interpret the term minister according to the English definition rather than according to the original Greek term.

During my association with and participation in churches of various denominations, including Baptists, I have been astounded at the amount of and severity of church fights and power struggles. What is the Church to be according to Jesus’ teaching?
1) An autocracy like Rome?
2) A democracy like Greece?
3) A Theocratic Patriarchy like Israel (God the Father, and Jesus as Master-Teacher)?
4) Non of the above.
All of the above concepts need definition and clarification.

]]> By: Dan Sheffler http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-what-is-a-healthy-church-by-mark-dever/comment-page-1#comment-108353 Dan Sheffler Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:26:27 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-what-is-a-healthy-church-by-mark-dever#comment-108353 I have always thought that the focus on church growth is a bit silly if the church that is being grown isn't healthy to begin with. If there is internal decay, what are we pulling people into? For our churches to be effective vessels for evangelism there must first be holiness in our lives and love in our relationships. I have always thought that the focus on church growth is a bit silly if the church that is being grown isn’t healthy to begin with. If there is internal decay, what are we pulling people into? For our churches to be effective vessels for evangelism there must first be holiness in our lives and love in our relationships.

]]> By: Rick http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-what-is-a-healthy-church-by-mark-dever/comment-page-1#comment-108336 Rick Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:03:55 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-what-is-a-healthy-church-by-mark-dever#comment-108336 This is on my To Buy list for this week! Ironically, I'm a pastor who enjoys the Purpose Driven titles, but lately I've been asking myself the same question over and over again: Are we a healthy church? Are we having a healthy rate of growth-personally and spiritually, not just numerically. Thanks for the recommendation. This is on my To Buy list for this week! Ironically, I’m a pastor who enjoys the Purpose Driven titles, but lately I’ve been asking myself the same question over and over again: Are we a healthy church? Are we having a healthy rate of growth-personally and spiritually, not just numerically. Thanks for the recommendation.

]]> By: John M. http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-what-is-a-healthy-church-by-mark-dever/comment-page-1#comment-107743 John M. Mon, 25 Jun 2007 21:00:49 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/recommendation-and-review-what-is-a-healthy-church-by-mark-dever#comment-107743 I think I'd be afraid to read this book, because I might realize that the number of churches in my community that match the criteria is zero. I think I’d be afraid to read this book, because I might realize that the number of churches in my community that match the criteria is zero.

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