Don't Fire Your Church Members The Case for Congregationalism

Don't Fire Your Church Members The Case for CongregationalismChurch membership is not just a status, its an office. Leaders shouldnt fire members from the responsibilities given to them by Jesusthey should train them! When members are trained, the church grows in holiness and love, discipleship and mission. Complacency and nominalism are diminished. Jesus gives every church member an office in the churchs government: to assume final responsibility for guarding the what and the who of the gospel in the church

Church membership is not just a status, it’s an office. Leaders shouldn’t fire members from the responsibilities given to them by Jesus—they should train them! When members are trained, the church grows in holiness and love, discipleship and mission. Complacency and nominalism are diminished. Jesus gives every church member an office in the church’s government: to assume final responsibility for guarding the what and the who of the gospel in the church and its ministry. Similarly, Jesus gives leaders to the church for equipping the members to do this church-building and mission-accomplishing work. In our day, the tasks of reinvigorating congregational authority and elder authority must work together. The vision of congregationalism pictured in this book offers an integrated view of the Christian life. Congregationalism is biblical, but biblical congregationalism just might look a little different than you expect. It is nothing less than Jesus’ authorization for living out his kingdom rule among a people on mission.

Publisher: B & H
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781433686238

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Jonathan Leeman (Ph.D., Wales) is an elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC and the editorial director for 9Marks. He edits the 9Marks series of books as well as the 9Marks Journal. He is also the author of several books on the church, including The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love. Jonathan lives with his wife and four daughters in suburban Washington.

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Jonathan, as always, leads us to think deeper about ecclesiology than almost anyone in the history of the church ever. He is clear, precise, and even honest with gray matters. He will force you to think through what it means for the church to wield the "keys of the Kingdom" and all of its implications. He paints a beautiful picture of how eldership and congregationalism go hand in hand, as well as raises the level of seriousness for why every Christian must submit to and exercise authority within the local church. This book is a valuable contribution to the Kingdom of Christ and the conversation on local church matters. Todd Morikawa