How to Use This Book
Introduction    
An Important Mark of a Healthy Church: Biblical Church Leadership, by Mark Dever        
 
Lesson 1: Who Runs the Church?      
Lesson 2: Is Authority Bad?     
Lesson 3: Elders: Ministers of the Word and Shepherds of the Church         
Lesson 4: Finding the Right Men: Qualifications for Elders    
Lesson 5: Deacons: Servants of the Church   
Lesson 6: Your Responsibility for the Church

Teacher's Notes

“How fitting that 9Marks would put together a substantial resource for pastors and church leaders! For the past two decades, 9Marks has led the way in renewing a biblical passion for the local church. These resources will enable pastors, elders, and church leaders to have quick reference and instruction on the broad range of issues that their congregations face. I’m grateful for this toolkit!”
Phil A. Newton, Director of Pastoral Care and Mentoring, Pillar Network; Visiting Professor of Pastoral Theology, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; author, 40 Questions about Pastoral Ministry; Elders in the Life of the Church; and Mending the Nets

“For decades, I have benefited from 9Marks. I am thankful to see all those years of conversations, counsel, and teaching through articles, conferences, and podcasts now immediately available in The 9Marks Church Leadership Toolkit. This toolkit will be an invaluable resource for pastors and church leaders of both new and established churches to train the next generation of faithful leaders. It will also help church members understand their roles and responsibilities in the life of the church. Imagine a growing number of healthy churches providing a powerful witness to the glory and wisdom of God through their life together. That’s why the local church exists (Eph. 3:10). May we encourage one another toward that end, using every available resource, beginning with Scripture. The 9Marks Church Leadership Toolkit is one such resource.”
Juan R. Sanchez, Senior Pastor, High Pointe Baptist Church, Austin, Texas; author, The Leadership Formula: Develop the Next Generation of Leaders in the Church

“For years, 9Marks has served pastors and churches around the world through resources that foster a biblical vision for the local church. The 9Marks Church Leadership Toolkit provides pastors with a detailed manual for the process of church reform. This treasure trove not only teaches biblical church polity but also shows how to implement it practically. I am thrilled to see this toolkit available and am confident that it will help many church leaders as they lead their congregations to more closely conform to God’s word.”
Aubrey M. Sequeira, Senior Pastor, Evangelical Community Church of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

“This is an excellent resource for those who want both theological and practical instruction for building and maintaining a healthy church. Godly leaders (elders) and servants (deacons) are essential. It is of the utmost importance we get this right. This toolkit will help churches get there. I will be enthusiastically recommending it to the students and graduates of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.”
Daniel L. Akin, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

“To sign up for the work of pastoring is to sign up for constant reminders of your deficiencies in wisdom, knowledge, and the experience necessary for the very work you have signed up for. 9Marks has assembled a resource that pastors who are engaged in the work of shepherding will find invaluable—a litany of practical and theological questions answered by a variety of experienced pastors from across the world. If you are looking for concise, biblical, and practical wisdom for shepherding, turn to this tool and find ministry friends with useful instruction for the work at hand.”
Kenneth Mbugua, Senior Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Nairobi, Kenya

“The Apostle Paul says that ‘through the church the manifold wisdom of God’ is being made known to ‘the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places’ (Eph. 3:10). He also calls the church a ‘pillar and buttress of the truth’ (1 Tim. 3:15). It seems vital then that as church leaders we do all we can to help build, serve, and lead our churches to be faithful and robust. It is precisely because of the church’s lofty and primary role in the fulfillment of the Great Commission that I want to commend to you The 9Marks Church Leadership Toolkit. In our day, no group that I know of has thought or written more extensively about the church. This resource will not only provide you with significant theological insights but will also equip you to apply those insights practically to the daily life of your church as she seeks to be a faithful pillar of the truth for the one who has obtained her ‘with his own blood’ (Heb. 9:12).”
Nate Akin, Executive Director, Pillar Network

“This is an invaluable resource for pastors and leaders who not only want to understand biblical ecclesiology but also need practical help in implementing it within their churches. I especially appreciate how it bridges the gap between knowing what to aim for and understanding how to get there. The videos and sample documents are outstanding! This toolkit is a must-have for any church leader committed to fostering a thriving, biblically faithful local church.”
Marwan Aboul-Zelof, Lead Pastor, City Bible Church, Beirut, Lebanon

“I remember 9Marks as a sermon series over two decades ago. So it has been encouraging to watch this excellent ministry and its content grow, evolve, and impact so many, including myself. And yet, there was always a nagging question that loomed over these important resources: How do I practically apply this biblical content to my unique local church context? That question has been finally answered. The 9Marks Church Leadership Toolkit takes decades of solid biblical content about church leadership and polity and demonstrates how it applies in any church context. It features a variety of skilled and faithful pastors who speak from their own experiences to help connect the dots for the normal, faithful pastor. The wait is over! Every pastor should invest in this toolkit.”
Brian Croft, Executive Director, Practical Shepherding

“For many years, 9Marks has led the way in defining healthy church life for Christian leaders all over the world. Now this wisdom is more readily accessible than ever before with The 9Marks Church Leadership Toolkit. I will be recommending this to church leaders for years to come, knowing that our Lord will be glorified by the eternal fruit harvested from these biblical insights and practical wisdom.”
Andy Davis, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Durham, North Carolina; Founder, Two Journeys; author, An Infinite Journey