Cliffe Knechtle Explains How Christians Should Vote—Without Endorsing a Party—at Passion 2026
During a session at Passion 2026, Christian apologist Cliffe Knechtle answered several questions relating to faith....
Church & Ministry
Church health, local church life, and ministry resources.
"I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail." — Matthew 16:18← Back to Home
Holy Door closes to end Jubilee Year — and a year of historic Vatican transition
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Rushed preparations, soaring pilgrim numbers and underwhelming financial returns defined a Jubilee Year shaped by an unexpected p...
Porn Star Who Had Sex With 1,113 Men In 12 Hours Gets Baptized, Says She Wants To Show Sex Work Is "Multifaceted"
So this happened....
Joy Moore steps down as Northern Seminary president after months of confusion over status
(RNS) — School officials say a misunderstanding and distrust led to Moore's departure. The post Joy Moore steps down as Northern Seminary president af...
The Roman Curia needs American management practices
(RNS) — Strong departments of justice and finance are essential if the Vatican is going to operate effectively and efficiently without more scandals. ...
These Michigan inmates joined arms on Christmas Eve and recited the Lord's Prayer together
Well, this is pretty darn cool....
Worship Circles: Worship Settings Don't Have to Look Like a Concert
Whether you’re a seasoned worship leader or someone seeking a deeper sense of community, consider exploring worship circles....
Do We Have Friends at Church – Or Are We a Lonely Crowd?
A lot of people have shared with me how tough it is to break into a new church. It’s the newcomer who has to break into conversations. The newcomer ha...
4 Weapons of Mass Distraction in the Lives of Leaders
In our fast-paced, demanding world, weapons of mass distraction lurk around every corner. When we heed Peter’s command in God’s Word, we can counter t...
Preparation for Worship – the Most Important Things You Can Do for the Team
A worship culture should remain free and uninhibited but with a foundation of excellence. Follow these tips to lay that foundation and it will create ...
Goals for Youth Ministry & How to Measure Success
Goals for youth ministry are essential. To know how you’re doing, determine how you’re measuring success....
How NOT to Burn Out Tech Volunteers
Churches that take good care of their tech volunteers well see more sustainable ministry, deeper commitment, and greater joy in service....
What's the Lifespan of a Small Group? Can a Small Group Stay Together Too Long?
At the heart of every small group is mission: to help people walk with Jesus. Jesus modeled this by investing in twelve disciples, engaging them deepl...
Children’s Church Ideas for Bible-Based Worship
These 7 children’s church ideas help kids engage in Bible-based worship....
MLK Day Lesson Ideas for Youth Ministry
An MLK Day lesson is powerful for youth groups. So much of what Dr. King said is still relevant....
Why Women Are Going to Therapy Instead of Church
Church members are increasingly looking only to therapists to help them with emotional and relational struggles because they don’t consider those prob...
Franklin Graham Believes the 'Lie of Socialism' Is Why Millennials and Gen Z Are Returning to Church
Franklin Graham believes the “lie of socialism” is one of the main reasons for a resurgence in church attendance among Millennials and Gen Z....
Does Every Outreach Event Require a Gospel Presentation?
Before you plan activities, ask: “How does this reflect Christ’s heart and point people to Him?” Intentional planning keeps the gospel at the center, ...
How to Use Stillness and Silence in Your Worship Set
When we intentionally weave stillness and silence into a worship set, we create breathing room for the Holy Spirit to work and invite our congregation...
Is a Preaching Calendar Really Necessary?
Ask questions, pray together, and build a rhythm that serves your ministry, not suffocates it. Your preaching calendar is more than dates; it’s a road...
Oklahoma Pastor Recovering After Being Stabbed During Attack Inside Church
An Oklahoma pastor is recovering from knife injuries after being attacked by an assailant at the Church of Christ in Pryor....
10 Ways to Renew (or Keep) Your Passion for Ministry
If going to work in the morning is a battle, perhaps these suggestions will help....
Developing a Youth Ministry Plan: 10 Must-Know Tips
For guidance on developing a youth ministry plan, use these 10 helpful tips....
Special Needs Families Deserve Care at Church
How can you support and celebrate special needs families? Learn how one church goes the extra mile....
After Devastating Fire, Minnesota Church Celebrates Christmas in Borrowed Space
Grace Slavic Church in Eagan, Minnesota, will celebrate Christmas in a borrowed space after a fire broke out in its building on Friday....
Reflecting on 20 Years of God’s Faithfulness
In this panel discussion recorded at TGC25, Mark Vroegop, Nancy Guthrie, Collin Hansen, Juan Sánchez, and Ligon Duncan talk about all God has done in ...
Not a New Communion: Anglican Reformers Are Always Called Schismatic
Division for pride is sin; separation for truth is faithfulness....
Don't Overlook the Ministry of Church Greeters
In a world where houses double as impenetrable castles and most shopping is done online, serving as a greeter is countercultural....
The Scopes Trial at 100: Fact, Fiction, and the Christian Historian
The church needs faithful historians who can help us understand what really happened in the past, as reconstructed through the best evidence available...
A Gentle Pastor Isn’t a Weak Pastor
Pastors: If we cannot be described as gentle, we’ve abandoned a fruit of the Spirit and a qualifying mark of a pastor....
The Hidden Danger of Online Sermons
Our primary discipleship, through preaching and teaching, should come from the pastor and saints of the local church where we’re covenant members....
Youth Sports and the Church: 8 Ministry Strategies for Engaging Families
How can youth sports function practically as a church’s unsuspecting teammate instead of as a primary competitor?...
Make Room at Church for Special-Needs Families
Most families affected by disability aren’t looking for a perfect ministry. They’re looking for a community that makes an effort to welcome their whol...
Are Young Men Being Drawn to Christ or Christian Culture?
More and more young men are being drawn to the culture of the church. Let’s invite them into obedience to Christ....
4 High-Impact Ways Your Church Can Serve the Poor
God has given us more than enough to make a difference....
Giving and Budgeting (with Jamie Dunlop)
A church budget isn’t primarily a financial tool but a spiritual one....
Expanding Reach of the 9Marks Journal
Published quarterly, the 9Marks Journal features articles from pastors and for pastors. It focuses on a single topic—like preaching, pastoral burnout,...
Building Healthy Churches in Sub-Saharan Africa
All across the great continent of Africa, men and women are coming to Christ. That’s what the reports say—and that’s what our friends on the ground sa...
International Director’s Summer in Europe | Stay tuned
This summer, our international director Rick Denham spent time with various European partners. Over two months, he traveled to ten countries where he ...
Small Footprint, Big Impact at the SBC
Ten years ago, when 9Marks walked into the SBC, no one knew who we were. Thankfully, that’s no longer the case. Now it’s a gathering with lots of frie...
International Director’s Summer in Europe
While in Europe this summer, Rick visited the church of Christian Schmid, one of our partners in Bern, Switzerland. This congregation is part of the E...
Praying Together
When did you learn to cry out to God in prayer? For John Onwuchekwa, the answer is “6 weeks before I planted Cornerstone Church in Atlanta.” But the s...
9Marks at SEBTS 2018 – Missions
How did the message of Jesus get from first-century Jerusalem to where you live 20 centuries later? Consider the barriers the gospel had to cross to r...
What Moves You?
The effort you expend to get to a destination says something about its importance. If the journey is difficult, the destination must be worth it. I wa...
The Impact of One Man with a Church: Training Pastors in Russia
A couple years ago, 9Marks sent one man back to Russia to be our pointman for translating resources and building relationships. Yet he didn’t do his w...
Why India Needs 9Marks
I recently returned from a two-week trip to India. During my time there I taught two 9Marks conferences for pastors and seminarians. I came away from ...
New 9Marks website in Spanish!
Do you or someone you know speak Spanish? Do you have a passion for cultivating God-glorifying, healthy churches in the Spanish-speaking world? The po...
New Multimedia Resource: Jonathan Leeman on God's Word
How should we as Christians view God's Word? How does God's Word give life to a congregation? Is God's Word really that important in the local churc...
Sowing Gospel Seeds in Uganda
Matt Schmucker, vice president of 9Marks, recently traveled to Uganda to take part in an amazing opportunity to equip and encourage thousands of Afric...