Foreword by D.A Carson

Introduction

Section 1 - Gathering the Church
1 - The Four P's (Preaching, Praying, Personal Discipling Relationships, Patience)
2 - Beginning the work
3 - Doing responsible evangelism
4 - Taking in new members
5 - Doing church discipline

Section 2 - When the Church gathers
6 - Understanding the regulative principle
7 - Applying the regulative principle
8 - The role of the pastor
9 - The roles of the different gatherings
10 - The role of the ordinances
11 - Loving each other
12 - Music

Section 3 - Gathering Elders
13 - The importance of elders
14 - Looking for a few good men
15 - Assessment
16 - Why character is crucial
17 - Getting started
18 - Staffing

Section 4 - When the elders gather
19 - The Word and prayer
20 - The Agenda: what to talk about
21 - Decision making: how to talk about it

Conclusion
- A Godward-looking Church
- An Outward-looking Church

Appendix: Church membership interview form

"Here is one of the most faithful and insightful pastors of our time, addressing the most crucial issues of church life. Mark Dever refuses to separate theology and congregational life, combining pastoral insight with clear biblical teaching. This book is a powerful antidote to the merely pragmatic approaches of our day—and a refutation to those who argue that theology just isn't practical."
R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"This book is the perfect example of what a truly practical book on church health and growth should be—it gives concrete guidance for and examples of biblical principles being put into practice in the life and ministry of the local congregation."
J. Ligon Duncan III, Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi

"Rare indeed are books on the church that begin with the Gospel. Rarer still are books that derive methodology for building the church from the Gospel. This excellent book does both."
C. J. Mahaney, Sovereign Grace Ministries

"The Deliberate Church shares many of the ministry lessons that Dr. Dever and his colleagues have learned from Scripture and sought to implement in the life of their church community. This book is for anyone who wants to get serious about following the biblical pattern for the church and is looking for down-to-earth practical help."
Philip Graham Ryken, Senior Minister, Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia

"Here is a novel idea: use the Bible as a handbook to gather and guide the church! And The Deliberate Church is a novel volume indeed, standing amid the spate of 'church-as-corporation, pastor-as-CEO' manuals that glut church life. Here is a book that wafts a radical, refreshing breeze from the pages of Scripture that will breathe life into the church. A crucial read."
R. Kent Hughes, Senior Pastor, College Church in Wheaton (Illinois)