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The Compelling Community: Where God's Power Makes a Church Attractive
The local church is meant to embody the vibrant diversity of the global church, transcending racial, cultural, and economic boundaries. Yet local churches too often simply reflect the same societal divisions prevalent in our world today--making them more akin to social clubs filled with like-minded people than the supernatural community the New Testament prescribes. Pastors Mark Dever and Jamie Dunlop argue that authentic fellowship is made up of two crucial ingredients: commitment (depth) and diversity (breadth). Theologically rooted yet extremely practical, this book sets forth basic principles that will help pastors guide their churches toward the compelling community that we all long for.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2015
157 people are currently reading
1083 people want to read
About the author
Mark Dever
126 books329 followersMark E. Dever serves as the senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC. Since his ordination to the ministry in 1985, Dr. Dever has served on the pastoral staffs of four churches, the second being a church he planted in Massachusetts. Prior to moving to Washington in 1994, Dr. Dever taught for the faculty of Divinity at Cambridge University while serving two years as an associate pastor of Eden Baptist Church.
In an effort to build biblically faithful churches in America, Dr. Dever serves as the executive director for 9Marks (formerly The Center for Church Reform, CCR) in Washington, D.C. 9Marks encourages pastors of local churches look to the Bible for instruction on how to organize and lead their churches. Dr. Dever also teaches periodically at various conferences, speaking everywhere from South Africa to Brazil to the United Kingdom to Alabama. Feeling a deep burden for student ministry, Dr. Dever often addresses student ministry groups at campuses throughout the country. He has also taught at a number of seminaries, including Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, AL, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL. Dr. Dever’s scholarly interests include Puritanism and ecclesiology.
Dr. Dever currently serves as a trustee of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; he also serves as a member of the board, vice-chairman, and chairman of the Forum for the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. From 1995 until 2001, he served on the steering committee for Founders Ministries, a pastoral movement for biblical teaching and healthy church life within the Southern Baptist Convention. As Guest Senate Chaplain for two weeks in 1995, Dr. Dever opened the daily sessions of the United States Senate in prayer. He is a member of the American Society of Church History and the Tyndale Fellowship. He also held the J.B. Lightfoot Scholarship at Cambridge University from 1989 to 1991.
In an effort to build biblically faithful churches in America, Dr. Dever serves as the executive director for 9Marks (formerly The Center for Church Reform, CCR) in Washington, D.C. 9Marks encourages pastors of local churches look to the Bible for instruction on how to organize and lead their churches. Dr. Dever also teaches periodically at various conferences, speaking everywhere from South Africa to Brazil to the United Kingdom to Alabama. Feeling a deep burden for student ministry, Dr. Dever often addresses student ministry groups at campuses throughout the country. He has also taught at a number of seminaries, including Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, AL, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL. Dr. Dever’s scholarly interests include Puritanism and ecclesiology.
Dr. Dever currently serves as a trustee of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; he also serves as a member of the board, vice-chairman, and chairman of the Forum for the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. From 1995 until 2001, he served on the steering committee for Founders Ministries, a pastoral movement for biblical teaching and healthy church life within the Southern Baptist Convention. As Guest Senate Chaplain for two weeks in 1995, Dr. Dever opened the daily sessions of the United States Senate in prayer. He is a member of the American Society of Church History and the Tyndale Fellowship. He also held the J.B. Lightfoot Scholarship at Cambridge University from 1989 to 1991.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
December 27, 2020
Best 9marks book
January 11, 2026
Helpful primer for the community of the local church. It is a lovely place. And I hope in this next season of life with a church plant that the Lord can bless this ministry to reflect the gospel of Christ.
December 11, 2024
The community of a church speaks to the supernatural Lord and gospel behind it.
May 29, 2016
While geared towards pastors and elders, I found this book helpful for guiding me in how to pray for church leaders. It was also helpful in showing the responsibilities of church leaders to the congregation and the congregation to the leaders.
October 26, 2017
An excellent description & practical discussion of how the Church of Christ should function. Not by imitating today’s cooperate structures but functioning as the warm, caring, living organism known as the Body of Christ.
October 20, 2023
One of the best books I’ve ever read on anything church/ministry related. Incredible 😳
October 26, 2023
I’ve heard many say this is their favorite 9Marks book. I think this is the case because it’s 9Marks on the ground.
If you’re trying to figure out whether your discipling should be less programmed and more organic, or boggled that small groups aren’t actually creating “fellowship,” or maybe you want to grow in diversity; this book gives you wise principles rather than quick “how-tos.” You’ll find this book realistic and encouraging.
My favorite parts of this book are the challenges to “ministry by similarity”(e.g. entire churches aimed at specific homogenous groups, groups limited to single adults) and to “comfort-based commitment” (63 and 78).
“When Christians unite around something other than the gospel, they create community that would likely exist even if God didn’t” (23).
“Church membership means committing before we’re comfortable — because of our calling by God” (61).
If you’re trying to figure out whether your discipling should be less programmed and more organic, or boggled that small groups aren’t actually creating “fellowship,” or maybe you want to grow in diversity; this book gives you wise principles rather than quick “how-tos.” You’ll find this book realistic and encouraging.
My favorite parts of this book are the challenges to “ministry by similarity”(e.g. entire churches aimed at specific homogenous groups, groups limited to single adults) and to “comfort-based commitment” (63 and 78).
“When Christians unite around something other than the gospel, they create community that would likely exist even if God didn’t” (23).
“Church membership means committing before we’re comfortable — because of our calling by God” (61).
May 28, 2020
All church members and leaders should read this book! The Compelling Community is a guide for what the church looks like when it commits to the supernatural power of God and his Word, as opposed to the natural means of man. Leaning on the fundamental truth of Ephesians 3:10, Jamie and Mark propose a church practice that trusts in the transformative power of the gospel to enact change in people’s heart and to cause the church to display the supernatural power of God.
February 27, 2021
More heavily aimed to leaders then I expected, but is an immensely helpful vision of how God calls our churches to pursue community.
November 21, 2022
Finally! Membership is often spoken of by 9Marks.
But here its explained in a way that brings it to life!
Highly recommend!
But here its explained in a way that brings it to life!
Highly recommend!
January 21, 2023
I will probably continue to read this book every year or two with a handful of others such as deliberate church. Well worth it!
April 3, 2024
God creates a supernatural, “compelling community” in his church by transcending all human, natural bonds. Instead, the community is formed by our bond in Jesus Christ.
October 4, 2022
There are plenty of "how-to" books dealing with all things church. This is NOT one of those. Conversely, this book delves into the philosophy towards building a church with the right type of community. Yes, we know that God builds the church. However, He has uses people to do it. Too many of His people (often well-meaning) get the philosophy wrong when doing this.
Dever & Dunlop do not set out to correct all things wrong in the world of churches and church planting. However, they do set out a strong vision for "A Compelling Community: Where God's Power Makes a Church Attractive." I recommend this book to any pastor, church leader, or lay leader who is attempting to help lead a church in the Biblical right direction for God & community. In addition, any seminary student studying for ministry will be aptly helped thinking through some of these broader topics.
The humility that is often present in books published by 9Marks is a refresher in a church world that far too often says "do what we are doing for similar results." For instance, in the introduction to the book, the authors state the following:
"So what is the book you hold in your hand? It is not a method for building community that you should implement with expectation of immediate change. Instead, it's a set of biblical principles that can guide gradual change in your congregation over several years.
It's not a book that's simply about relational closeness or fulfillment. Instead, it's a book that attempts to focus on God's purposes for church community instead of our own.
It's not a 'new' book, but a modern-day retelling of truths that have been discussed throughout church history, and especially in the centuries following the Protestant Reformation. It's not just theory; it's come out of my own church's real-life struggles to shape a more biblical community.
It's not a how-to book that tells you to copy what worked in one church, as if that example were applicable for everyone. It's an exploration of what God's Word says about community - paired with practical advice for how you might work out these principles in your own local church."
-p14, Introduction
No doubt, I have underlined, marked up, and notated over one hundred different sentences, sections, and quotes in this book. Suffice it to say, I found this to be a solid book regarding church philosophy. The final chapter entitled "Fracturing Your Community (for the Community of Heaven)" is something I wish more of my Independent Baptist Church friends with larger churches would be willing to do instead of exclusively building their own kingdoms. Thankfully, there are many other gospel preaching churches that are doing this very thing today. May God continue to bless them!
Dever & Dunlop do not set out to correct all things wrong in the world of churches and church planting. However, they do set out a strong vision for "A Compelling Community: Where God's Power Makes a Church Attractive." I recommend this book to any pastor, church leader, or lay leader who is attempting to help lead a church in the Biblical right direction for God & community. In addition, any seminary student studying for ministry will be aptly helped thinking through some of these broader topics.
The humility that is often present in books published by 9Marks is a refresher in a church world that far too often says "do what we are doing for similar results." For instance, in the introduction to the book, the authors state the following:
"So what is the book you hold in your hand? It is not a method for building community that you should implement with expectation of immediate change. Instead, it's a set of biblical principles that can guide gradual change in your congregation over several years.
It's not a book that's simply about relational closeness or fulfillment. Instead, it's a book that attempts to focus on God's purposes for church community instead of our own.
It's not a 'new' book, but a modern-day retelling of truths that have been discussed throughout church history, and especially in the centuries following the Protestant Reformation. It's not just theory; it's come out of my own church's real-life struggles to shape a more biblical community.
It's not a how-to book that tells you to copy what worked in one church, as if that example were applicable for everyone. It's an exploration of what God's Word says about community - paired with practical advice for how you might work out these principles in your own local church."
-p14, Introduction
No doubt, I have underlined, marked up, and notated over one hundred different sentences, sections, and quotes in this book. Suffice it to say, I found this to be a solid book regarding church philosophy. The final chapter entitled "Fracturing Your Community (for the Community of Heaven)" is something I wish more of my Independent Baptist Church friends with larger churches would be willing to do instead of exclusively building their own kingdoms. Thankfully, there are many other gospel preaching churches that are doing this very thing today. May God continue to bless them!
December 16, 2021
The general aim of this book is one to be adopted. May every church be a gospel-centered church that is dependent on the supernatural power of God within his people. I love that the gospel can unite a people that otherwise would have nothing In common. The gospel is what makes a church compelling and attractive. This book excels at encouraging that. However, I felt that many of the illustrations and examples in the last half were sometimes off putting and needed further explanation.
July 17, 2017
Um livro que todo pastor, líder de ministério e membro de igreja deveria ler. Nele Mark Dever fala sobre como construir uma comunidade sobrenatural que se torna cativante pelo evangelho vivido em unidade e não por outras coisas secundárias. Uma boa abordagem em oposição ao estilo de igreja sensível ao que busca.
March 23, 2019
Really great look at the Christian community - the local church. A great mix of practical and conceptual. So much of local church ministry can seem mysterious when you’re not sure what the point of your community is. Dever and Dunlop give honest, biblical clarity to the mystery. 9Marks is straight killing it in the local church game. Can’t get enough of it!
March 22, 2023
I loved this book. Mark Dever has written in this book a lot of practical advice on how to center your church on reaching the community with the Gospel. How to get past a church built around small groups in specific walks of life and building a community that is comprised of all generations.
December 28, 2021
I always enjoy reading the 9marks book. They take the sane and simple truths of the Bible and help us think through what a God glorifying church looks like.
Dunlop gives us a compelling vision of a supernatural community that shines in the darkness.
Dunlop gives us a compelling vision of a supernatural community that shines in the darkness.
March 21, 2022
Here Dever and Dunlop provide helpful “color” for the framework of ecclesiology that I’ve seen and heard for some years now. Though this is written for pastors there is a clear vision for church culture that any Christian can catch.
August 24, 2022
As with most books by Dever I found this book very practical and helpful. I have already used portions of it for a sermon on community from Romans 15:1-7 and will also apply some of the later chapters to future plans. Recommended
September 15, 2023
Excellent. Convicting and helpful. Contains rich theology and great practical applications. Paints a beautiful picture of the church community. Written for elders, but is absolutely useful for all church members.
July 12, 2017
An excellent Gospel-centered philosophy of ministry. I recommend this to all pastors.
August 18, 2021
I really enjoyed this view on group life and church community. There are moments of authorial certainty that I couldn't get to, but those were rare.
February 3, 2024
9/10
One of my favorite books so far in my pastoral residency!
One of my favorite books so far in my pastoral residency!
October 23, 2022
This book is absolutely fantastic. It is a deep dive into what the true and biblical purpose of church community is. As culture, social media, the world, and my idolatry has slowly leaked into the church, I have obsessed over what a church should look like but have completely forgotten what the church is actually made of.
Church community is how the world will know who we believe in and it is how we will show them Jesus. This is said so clearly by Christ. If this is what we believe, and believe it we MUST, then we should see the way we live out our Christian fellowship as utter importance. We must show the world Christ and how blessed are we to have fellowship within it?
Christ must be displayed. Let us be the city on a hill that all know of and let us never put our light under a basket.
Church community is how the world will know who we believe in and it is how we will show them Jesus. This is said so clearly by Christ. If this is what we believe, and believe it we MUST, then we should see the way we live out our Christian fellowship as utter importance. We must show the world Christ and how blessed are we to have fellowship within it?
Christ must be displayed. Let us be the city on a hill that all know of and let us never put our light under a basket.
November 3, 2020
This book answers the question, “How does a church build community?” There are many ways to answer this question, but this book and its authors cast a vision for establishing a church community that is supernatural, one that is centered on the gospel, a community that would never exist but for the truth and power of the gospel. Dever and Dunlop have a desire for churches to have deep relationships that grow organically, not institutionally, meaning relationships that are not established because of church programs and events, but through Christians reaching out to other Christians and loving each other in unspectacular ways through normal everyday life. This book is not just for pastors, but every Christian can gain insight from these pages on how to practice the one anothers and do church as Christ would have us do it.
September 10, 2022
"Have you turned community-building into so much of a science that the supernatural has become optional?" (36)
"Healthy churches need providers, not consumers." (49)
"Church membership means committing before you're comfortable." (61)
"Preaching should create a congregation of minipreachers." (87)
"Left to ourselves, we pray most fervently about relatively trivial things." (107)
"A wise life will be one centered on the local church." (124)
"Pray that when God brings a friend of yours to Christ, your church community will have so embraced him that he wouldn't actually know who "won" him to faith." (192)
"No matter how relevant you attempt to be to a non-Christian world, the main way non-Christians will come to you is through a relationship they already have with a Christian in your church." (194)
"Healthy churches need providers, not consumers." (49)
"Church membership means committing before you're comfortable." (61)
"Preaching should create a congregation of minipreachers." (87)
"Left to ourselves, we pray most fervently about relatively trivial things." (107)
"A wise life will be one centered on the local church." (124)
"Pray that when God brings a friend of yours to Christ, your church community will have so embraced him that he wouldn't actually know who "won" him to faith." (192)
"No matter how relevant you attempt to be to a non-Christian world, the main way non-Christians will come to you is through a relationship they already have with a Christian in your church." (194)
May 6, 2020
Excellent. Dunlop describes a vision for community that is both deep (committed) and broad (diverse). This book introduces us to how the local church can cultivate biblical community through the Word (ch. 5), prayer (ch. 6), relationships (chs. 7-8), troubleshooting (ch. 9), and confronting sin (ch. 10). A healthy community will naturally reach out in evangelism (ch. 11) and church planting (ch. 12). This is a fantastic introduction to the 9 Marks world of "healthy church."
"When we encourage community that is obviously supernatural, it makes the gospel visible" (p. 23).
"When we encourage community that is obviously supernatural, it makes the gospel visible" (p. 23).
December 29, 2020
This book is written for pastors, but would be extremely beneficial for church members to read. We as church members must stop seeking how our needs can be served by a church, but look to how we can build a community within our church that “Gods way may be known on the earth, His saving power among all nations.”
This is not the sole responsibility of pastors, but one that each member must take on in some capacity. If you’re a pastor of a church, this book is essential. If you’re a member of a church, I encourage you to read this as well.
This is not the sole responsibility of pastors, but one that each member must take on in some capacity. If you’re a pastor of a church, this book is essential. If you’re a member of a church, I encourage you to read this as well.
March 29, 2019
This book gives practical instruction which is part of the worship at CHBC. The book encourages pastors and leaders to make the worship in their assembly more compelling. The encouragement is to make the assembly not just a place to attend to satisfy your spiritual obligations, but a place where God is worshiped.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews