What I’m Reading: The Deliberate Church

Mark Dever’s The Deliberate Church is as practical a book on ministry as you’ll find.  As I see it, the book is one part church handbook (here’s what to do) and one part philosophy of ministry (here’s why). Thus, Dever effectively bridges the gap between a right theology of the local church and a real-life, workable methodology.  The title aptly describes the book: Dever thinks ministry–all ministry–should be done on purpose.

I smile at the book’s title because I’ve said for years that TCBC strives to be “intentional.”  We never want to do what we do by accident or without thought.  We want to be intentional, carrying out every facet of our ministry with a clear biblical text or principle in mind.  Joe Tyrpak, our Assistant Pastor, has ribbed me by saying that I’m calling for our church to be Purpose-Driven.  No–a thousand times no!  That’s not what we want, at least not if the compound adjective “purpose-driven” begins with capital letters and requires a (TM) to follow it! :-)  He knows this, of course.  But now I can defend myself: when I say intentional, I mean deliberate.

I won’t unpack the book here.  Others have done so already, and you’d be better served to read it on your own anyway. If you’re wondering, though, The Deliberate Church gives practical counsel which shows what the Nine Marks of a Healthy Church look like, and how to pursue them. It’s a “how-to” book–or at least a “think about this” book–but it doesn’t come off as pedantic or condescending.
I suggest that you give it a read.  If, as you do, you’d like to comment on it or pose a question, you can do so here. Even if you just want to give a quick “I read it, and I thought ____,” I’d love to hear it!