9Marks eJournal
November/December 2009, Volume 6, Issue 6

Church discipline is one place where everything in a church's life collides. Theory and practice collide. The doctrines of God, sin, judgment, redemption, and eschatology collide. Sometimes personalities collide. And, hopefully, sin and grace collide.

This means that practicing discipline well requires good pastoral and theological sensibilities. So we're devoting a second eJournal in a row to the topic, both to exercise our own sensibilities and yours. Mark Dever and Greg Gilbert provide counsel on what to do beforeyou practice discipline. Matt Schmucker, both in his new article and in the one from the archives, offers advice on dealing with the non-attenders. Stephen Matteucci considers the importance of the one or two witnesses in Matthew 18. And I tackle the question of whether a member can resign his or her membership in order to avoid discipline altogether.

Finally, several pastors recall lessons they've learned the hard way in the forum, where Bob Johnson states the conclusion of the matter well: discipline in a church should be as normal and regular as preaching, teaching, and evangelism. That's a tough idea to accept, and one more reason we think it's worth coming back to this issue yet again. May Christ's bride be made ready.

—Jonathan Leeman

PRACTICING CHURCH DISCIPLINE

"Don't do it!!"—Why You Shouldn't Practice Church Discipline
Not the advice you were expecting from this pastor, but it's important to shepherd your church toward discipline the right way, not the wrong way.
By Mark Dever

Before You Discipline, Teach This First
Convinced it's time for your church to begin practicing discipline? Make sure you teach these things first. 
By Greg Gilbert

Those Toxic Non-Attenders
Believe it or not, some of the most dangerous people in your church are the ones who are absent.
By Matt Schmucker

The Preemptive Resignation—A "Get Out of Jail Free" Card?
Can church members resign their membership to avoid discipline?  
By Jonathan Leeman

Grabbing a Dog by its Ears: The Role of Witnesses
While it's generally wise (and biblical!) to stay out of other people's quarrels, sometimes Jesus commands it.
By Stephen Matteucci

Pastors' and Theologians' Forum
What lessons on church discipline have you learned the hard way?
Answers from Tom Ascol, Bob Johnson, Dennis Newkirk, Walter Price, and Philip Ryken

One From the Archives: Matt Schmucker's classic article Cleaning Up the Rolls

Book Review: Walking Together: A Congregational Reflection on Biblical Church Discipline, by Wyman Richardson
Reviewed by Jonathan Leeman

MISCELLANEOUS BOOK REVIEWS

Book Review: Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional, by Jim Belcher
Reviewed by Greg Gilbert

Book Review: Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches that Reach Them, by Ed Stetzer, Richie Stanley, and Jason Hayes
Reviewed by Bobby Jamieson

Book Review: Perspectives on Christian Worship: Five Views, edited by Matthew Pinson
Reviewed by Bob Kauflin

Book Review: The God-Centered Life: Insights from Jonathan Edwards for Today, by Josh Moody
Reviewed by Andrew Davis

AUDIO – LEADERSHIP INTERVIEWS

Inspiring Lives with Iain Murray
Posted on November 1, 2009
Iain Murray, one of evangelicalism's premier biographers, points to several luminaries from church history you might have missed.

Christian Rap with Shai Linne and Voice
Posted on October 1, 2009
Are "Christian" and "rap" mutually exclusive? Hardly. Shai Linne and Voice explain hip hop culture, rap music's potential for the gospel, and why rap can't replace preaching.

UPCOMING 9MARKS EVENTS

NEW TRANSLATIONS

The Chinese translation of Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever can be purchased here.

The German translation of Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever can be purchased here.

The French translation of What is a Healthy Church? by Mark Dever can be purchased here.

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