9Marks Conference Reflections: Captivated by Christ, Not Innovation
Recently, I had the blessing and privilege of traveling to visit our partner, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, for a 9Marks Conference. The conference didn't offer groundbreaking principles to those of us who have been in a structured local church, but it did reinforce the "marks" we already believe to be right and true according to Scripture.
The speakers taught well, and the discussion panels were thoughtful. While I don’t have any earth-shattering sentiment to bring back from these men, my biggest takeaway comes from what I saw among the brothers and sisters in attendance. Many, like us, were striving to implement and model what they believed to be a healthy church. Others were curious, searching, and questioning.
I walked away with one overwhelming thought: Christ is building His church. In a world full of noise, opinions, distractions, and endless approaches to ministry, this simple truth remains: the Church is being built, and Christ is on the throne.
There are people tired and weary from searching for better strategies, stronger personalities, and more polished programs. What they need is Christ.
There were many memorable moments and relationships built among those of us who traveled. (I could write about God’s kindness in protecting us as Cory navigated Kansas City—it’s almost like being on a cheaper amusement park ride.) But one moment stands out above the rest. During one of the worship gatherings, I watched a man who could hardly stand as we sang together. He sat weeping while truth was sung over him. I don't remember the song, but I remember what it revealed. Later, we learned he was a new pastor inheriting a dying church with weak membership, difficult circumstances, and countless challenges ahead of him. Through his suffering and the long road ahead, I’m reminded of the truth: Christ is building His church.
There is something deeply encouraging about seeing believers and pastors longing to build their lives and churches upon the Word of God. In a culture that constantly pressures the church to soften conviction and reshape itself around the spirit of the age, it is refreshing to remember that God still works through ordinary means and ordinary faithfulness. His people still hunger for sound doctrine, biblical preaching, Christ-centered fellowship, prayer, and discipleship.
Paul writes in Ephesians 4:13 that the church is to grow “to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.” True unity is not found in shared preferences or personalities. It is found in shared submission to Christ and His Word. The closer we as believers grow to Christ, the closer we grow to one another.
That kind of unity requires humility. It requires us to lay down our own wisdom and sit under the authority of Scripture. It requires us to be open and vulnerable with one another, just as Christ became vulnerable for us. Yet this is precisely how Christ strengthens His church. He shapes His people through the ordinary means of grace: the preaching of the Word, prayer, confession, repentance, discipleship, fellowship, and faithful service.
One of the greatest parts of this trip was having the privilege to visit the Spurgeon Library. This library contains many historical pieces from Charles Spurgeon’s life and ministry, including his pastoral library. We also had the pleasure of meeting Geoff Chang, pastor, author, and curator of the library. The hospitality was incredible, and the care and love shown to us by our brothers on that campus will always be remembered. Yet, in this great curation, I saw a preserved piece of history to remember the life of a suffering, faithful saint that Christ used to build His church.
I’d like to echo the words of Charles Spurgeon, “The church is most instructive when she holds most closely to her Head.”
That statement feels increasingly important in our day. The church does not ultimately need more creativity or innovation to accomplish its mission. It needs men and women captivated by Christ. It needs believers convinced that the gospel is sufficient, that God’s Word is trustworthy, and that Christ truly is the Head of His church.
What encouraged me most from this trip was not ultimately the conference itself, but the reminder that God continues to preserve faithful churches across the world—imperfect churches, weak churches, struggling churches, churches filled with ordinary people being faithfully sustained by an extraordinary Savior.
And through it all, Christ continues to do exactly what He promised: Building His Church.
The speakers taught well, and the discussion panels were thoughtful. While I don’t have any earth-shattering sentiment to bring back from these men, my biggest takeaway comes from what I saw among the brothers and sisters in attendance. Many, like us, were striving to implement and model what they believed to be a healthy church. Others were curious, searching, and questioning.
I walked away with one overwhelming thought: Christ is building His church. In a world full of noise, opinions, distractions, and endless approaches to ministry, this simple truth remains: the Church is being built, and Christ is on the throne.
There are people tired and weary from searching for better strategies, stronger personalities, and more polished programs. What they need is Christ.
There were many memorable moments and relationships built among those of us who traveled. (I could write about God’s kindness in protecting us as Cory navigated Kansas City—it’s almost like being on a cheaper amusement park ride.) But one moment stands out above the rest. During one of the worship gatherings, I watched a man who could hardly stand as we sang together. He sat weeping while truth was sung over him. I don't remember the song, but I remember what it revealed. Later, we learned he was a new pastor inheriting a dying church with weak membership, difficult circumstances, and countless challenges ahead of him. Through his suffering and the long road ahead, I’m reminded of the truth: Christ is building His church.
There is something deeply encouraging about seeing believers and pastors longing to build their lives and churches upon the Word of God. In a culture that constantly pressures the church to soften conviction and reshape itself around the spirit of the age, it is refreshing to remember that God still works through ordinary means and ordinary faithfulness. His people still hunger for sound doctrine, biblical preaching, Christ-centered fellowship, prayer, and discipleship.
Paul writes in Ephesians 4:13 that the church is to grow “to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.” True unity is not found in shared preferences or personalities. It is found in shared submission to Christ and His Word. The closer we as believers grow to Christ, the closer we grow to one another.
That kind of unity requires humility. It requires us to lay down our own wisdom and sit under the authority of Scripture. It requires us to be open and vulnerable with one another, just as Christ became vulnerable for us. Yet this is precisely how Christ strengthens His church. He shapes His people through the ordinary means of grace: the preaching of the Word, prayer, confession, repentance, discipleship, fellowship, and faithful service.
One of the greatest parts of this trip was having the privilege to visit the Spurgeon Library. This library contains many historical pieces from Charles Spurgeon’s life and ministry, including his pastoral library. We also had the pleasure of meeting Geoff Chang, pastor, author, and curator of the library. The hospitality was incredible, and the care and love shown to us by our brothers on that campus will always be remembered. Yet, in this great curation, I saw a preserved piece of history to remember the life of a suffering, faithful saint that Christ used to build His church.
I’d like to echo the words of Charles Spurgeon, “The church is most instructive when she holds most closely to her Head.”
That statement feels increasingly important in our day. The church does not ultimately need more creativity or innovation to accomplish its mission. It needs men and women captivated by Christ. It needs believers convinced that the gospel is sufficient, that God’s Word is trustworthy, and that Christ truly is the Head of His church.
What encouraged me most from this trip was not ultimately the conference itself, but the reminder that God continues to preserve faithful churches across the world—imperfect churches, weak churches, struggling churches, churches filled with ordinary people being faithfully sustained by an extraordinary Savior.
And through it all, Christ continues to do exactly what He promised: Building His Church.