Nine Marks of a Healthy Church By Mark Dever – Marks 3, 4, & 5 Reflection:
How might you know when the ministries of a church are motivated by the gospel?
Mark 3 talks a lot about what the gospel is not. However, towards the end of the chapter, Dever gives an example of a gospel message. And he also writes about what our response to the gospel should be. That is, to repent and believe.
A gospel-centered ministry may have several goals. For example, a ministry may focus on aiding the homeless, visiting those in prison, or running a food pantry. These are all good things, but the ultimate goal of a gospel-centered ministry should be sharing the gospel. The natural outflow of which is leading the lost to repent and believe.
Therefore, we will know a ministry is motivated by the gospel by the fruit it produces. That is a fruit of conversion.
What are other factors that could motivate the ministry of the church?
As I look around, I think other motivators for ministries in our midst come from the needs of the society in which we live. Families in need, adoption, sex trafficking, and serving the church are all motivators for some of the ministries I see in Gateway. Meeting the immediate needs of those around us is a great way to reach the lost. But as previously discussed, our number one motivator should always be the gospel.
In your understanding how does conversion work?
Conversion is God’s work. That’s not to say that we don’t have a part to play, we most certainly do, but ultimately God is the one who stirs conversion in our hearts.
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. (John 6:44)
That is not to say that we don’t still have a part to play. We indeed do. We are all called, and commanded to evangelize and spread God’s word. As Paul points out, we are called to plant the seeds and to water them, but only God can make them grow.
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:5-7)
What fears do you have when it comes to evangelism?
I think the biggest fear I have is feeling ill-equipped. Not so much that I don’t know enough, but more so that I have difficulty supporting what I do know. I’ve become convicted of this during our meditation exercise this week. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells me that God’s word is all I need to be “complete,” and “equipped for every good work.”
What role does evangelism play as it relates to the health of the church?
Evangelism is essential to the health of the church. First and foremost, it is required to live out what the Bible calls us to. As a church, it is vitally important that we practice what we preach, and it is vitally important that we preach the Bible. The Bible calls us to evangelism. Walking in obedience to this calling not only pleases God, but it also displays an authenticity that is appealing to those we are trying to reach.
Additionally, evangelism plays a key role in the growth of the church. Yes, God is ultimately the one who draws people in, but we still need to plant and water the seeds. I can’t remember if it was Mark 4 or 5 where Mark Dever says that God could have just ‘zapped’ Cornelius, but that’s not the way God works. He works through each one of us. He works through the church. If each church member would faithfully evangelize, and the seeds they planted or watered resulted in just two true conversions, then the church would explode and grow at exponential rates.