Book review: What is a Healthy Church Member?

I have preached entirely through the books of 1 and 2 Timothy, books devoted to the explanation of the function of the church.  I have preached multiple brief sermon series (2-4 sermons) on various aspects of church ministry.  Though I didn’t do it this fall, very often in September I will preach at least one sermon on the nature of church ministry.  I have also strongly considered preaching through Titus, the third of Paul’s pastoral letters.

Why all this talk about the church?  Is it self-serving for a pastor to talk so much about a church?  Do we really need one more sermon on the church?

And, do we really need one more book about the church?

Yes, we need another sermon (or sermon series), and yes, we need another book.  We need the truths about the nature and function of healthy churches expounded over and over again as timely reminders because 1) we are prone to forgetfulness about what a healthy church is and does; and 2) there are relatively few who do it well.

And that’s why I commend to you Thabiti Anyabwile’s new book, What is a Healthy Church Member? Written for 9 Marks (as a companion to several of Mark Dever’s books, including the important Nine Marks of a Healthy Church), this book succinctly defines 10 qualities of a healthy church member.  More of these members, and there will be more healthy churches!

What are these 10 marks?

1. A healthy church member is an expositional listener
2. A healthy church member is a Biblical theologian
3. A healthy church member is gospel saturated
4. A healthy church member is genuinely converted
5. A healthy church member is a Biblical evangelist
6. A healthy church member is a committed member
7. A healthy church member seeks discipline
8. A healthy church member is a growing disciple
9. A healthy church member is a humble follower
10. A healthy church member is a prayer warrior

Most of this week’s quotes for “Today’s Quote” come from this book, so I won’t belabor it even more, apart from saying, the book is a welcome contribution on a significant and needed (still) topic.  My only “criticism” — make the book a little longer to hang more meat on the skeleton of ideas, please.