Church Basics

Understanding the Congregation’s Authority

Author and Series Editor Jonathan Leeman

Nashville, Tennessee

Copyright © 2016 by 9Marks and Jonathan Leeman

All rights reserved.

978-1-4336-8893-5

Published by B&H Publishing Group

Nashville, Tennessee

Dewey Decimal Classification: 262

Subject Heading: CHURCH MEMBERSHIP \ CHURCH RENEWAL \ CHURCH GOVERNMENT AND POLITY

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the Holman Christian Standard Bible (hcsb), copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Also used: English Standard Version, (esv) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv Text Edition: 2007. All rights reserved.

CONTENTS

Church Basics Series Preface

1. Jesus’ Discipleship Program

2. The Big Picture

3. Adam Had a Job

4. Now Jesus Gives the Job to Your Church

5. Your Pastors Train You for Your Job

Conclusion: Your Job Responsibilities

Appendix: Quick Answers to Critiques of Elder-Led Congregationalism

Scripture Index

“Church member, did you know you have a job every bit as important as the pastor’s? This book explains what that is.”

—Mark Dever

Church Basics Series Preface

The Christian life is the churched life. This basic biblical conviction informs every book in the Church Basics series.

That conviction in turn affects how each author treats his topic. For instance, the Lord’s Supper is not a private, mystical act between you and Jesus. It is a meal around the family table in which you commune with Christ and Christ’s people. The Great Commission is not a license to head into the nations as Jesus’ witness all by oneself. It is a charge given to the whole church to be fulfilled by the whole church. The authority of the church rests not only with the leaders, but with the entire assembly. Every member has a job to do, including you.

Every book is written for the average church member, and this is a crucial point. If the Christian life is a churched life, then you, a baptized believer and church member, have a responsibility to understand these basic topics. Just as Jesus charges you with promoting and protecting his gospel message, so he charges you with promoting and protecting his gospel people, the church. These books will explain how.

You are like a shareholder in Christ’s gospel ministry corporation. And what do good shareholders do? They study their company, study the market, and study the competition. They want the most out of their investment. You, Christian, have invested your whole life in the gospel. The purpose of the series, then, is to help you maximize the health and kingdom profitability of your local congregation for God’s glorious gospel ends.

Are you ready to get to work?

Jonathan Leeman

Series Editor