Dever's 9 Marks and NCD are both valid, helpful, a...

2008-04-13T13:55:00.000-05:00

Dever's 9 Marks and NCD are both valid, helpful, and orthodox ways at looking at church health. I am not saying one is better than the other. The two systems just obtained their information using different criteria.

NCD's eight principles were formulated by documented field research not merely through theological/biblical research. I find these principles to be biblical and in line with sound doctrine. Healthy churches DO need:

1) Empowering Leadership
2) Gift-oriented Ministry
3) Passionate Spirituality
4) Functional Structures
5) Inspiring Worship Services
6) Holistic Small Groups
7) Need-oriented Evangelism
8) Loving Relationships

Hi there. I know this was posted last fall but I ...

2008-04-13T11:01:00.000-05:00

Hi there. I know this was posted last fall but I was searching the web for more information on NCD as I attended a friend's service last night by where the Pastor preached on the first three essentials (according to NCD) of church health.

I don't regularly attend that church so I spoke to the pastor after service to ask for the other 5 and didin't hear anything of sound doctrine/theology, discipleship etc and was concerned.

I appreciated reading your post in that it verified my original concern but also brought awareness of Dever's reflections.

Thank you for this post as I am very interested in tangible assessments of church health outside of numbers.

Sincerely,
Chelle' Wargo
(Blessed member of Northway Christian Community, Wexford PA.)

Comments on derek vreeland's blog: Mark Dever: What is a Healthy Church?

Dever's 9 Marks and NCD are both valid, helpful, a...

Hi there. I know this was posted last fall but I ...