What is a Healthy Church?

Dever's first book on the subject of local church health was 'Nine Marks of a Healthy Church'. But following its success, Dever revamped it into the more lay friendly title, 'What is a healthy church?' I would recommend starting with the later book and then moving to the longer earlier title if you're still hungry. \\r\\n\\r\\nIn his books Dever believes that there are three essential marks of a healthy church:\\r\\n(i) expositional preaching;\\r\\n(ii) Biblical theology;\\r\\n(iii) a Biblical understanding of the good news. \\r\\n\\r\\nThen Dever adds that there are six important marks of a healthy church:\\r\\n(i) a Biblical understanding of conversion;\\r\\n(ii) a Biblical understanding of evangelism;\\r\\n(iii) a Biblical understanding of membership;\\r\\n(iv) Biblical church discipline;\\r\\n(v) Biblical discipleship and growth;\\r\\n(vi) Biblical church leadership. \\r\\n\\r\\nThis is not to suggest that the many things you would expect to find in churches shouldn't be there, e. g. prayer. But Dever's lists are meant to be diagnostic of when a church might be unhealthy, not a comprehensive list of what makes a local church in general. \\r\\n\\r\\nBottom line is that if you love Jesus, then you must also love his bride. And the best way to love his bride is by keeping her healthy. And thankfully Dever gives us a great deal of good advice as to how go about the task.

While many spend time criticizing the obviously imperfect church, Dever passes his time trying to help christians know what to look for, and what God desires the church to look like. He leads a local church himself, which is always a good qualifier when wanting to commentate on her. This has become a text book on my shelf. It's tiny, you'll read it in an hour. . . but then you'll go back to it again and again. He understands christians, he is committed to Biblical truth, and he is not given to cultural fads; pastoral and pure. Enjoy the book, but don't put it away. . . because you'll want to remind yourself many times of the truths it makes so clear. \\r\\nEnjoy. . . but then get yourself into a healthy local church and contribute. \\r\\n