Friday, February 22, 2008

Mark Dever in the Nine Marks Report Card

Pages 1 and 2 of the report card. Click to enlarge.











I want you to try a thought exercise. Suppose a business school class on non-profit organizations assigns its students the task of building a successful church. And Assume all the students are non-Christians. Could they succeed?

Sure they could! With the right poll-tested methods, just about anyone can draw a crowd. If ambiance sells coffee, why not use it to sell Jesus? If music sells clothing, why not use it to market the church? The church might even with a "Most Innovative!" award.

Yet think about this: what does it say about God if we need to market his glory and gospel with the same tools we use to sell toothpaste and laundry detergent? Is he really that desperate?

God is so much more glorious. He has declared a mighty gospel and then backed up his words by changing a group of people. There's the church's appeal: The wisdom of God. The might of God. The love of God. On display in the lives of a changed people for all the world to see!

Is you church is relying on natural appeal or supernatural? Whose glory does it display?


- Mark Dever

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