Local Church

“few books can match the way Brad Edwards shows us the need for the church amid rampant anxiety, division, and individualism.” - TGC

“Baptism and the Lord’s Supper happen in lots of places: on university campuses, in homes, among small groups, at weddings. And yet, few Christians stop to ask who the ordinances belong to, let alone who should be the ones administering them.” - 9 Marks

“Why was Ahmed not folded into the life of a local church from the beginning, whether Arabic or English, established or ‘underground’? The missionaries might say it was because of security risks….The problem was that these missionaries had a privatized understanding of the faith.” - 9 Marks

“Regardless whether a church calls it ‘membership’ or ‘partnership,’ here are a few reasons why, if you’re a Christian, you should join yourself to a gospel-believing local church.” - 9 Marks

“It was forty years ago that I began serving a small rural church in southern Indiana. I was so incredibly green then; I’m glad I didn’t always realize it. I loved those people in that church, and for some reason, they loved me, too.” - Thom Rainer

“Where did the idea of going to church originate? Some of the typical culprits suggested are Constantine, American business models, old people, or pastors desperately in need of jobs. But whose idea is it, really?” - 9 Marks

“None of this means that church strategy or mission statements are necessarily wrong-headed. But it does mean that if yours is to be faithful to Scripture, it will look pretty much the same as the strategy that every other gospel-preaching church in your city also has.” - 9 Marks

“Out of 160 covenant members, more than half live within a couple miles of the church building. Here are three reasons why I would encourage every pastor to teach his congregation the value of proximity.” - 9 Marks