Bobby Jamieson - Sound Doctrine: How a Church Grows in the Love and Holiness of God

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Scripture is for sound doctrine, sound doctrine is for real life, and real life is for real church growth. So says Jamieson, and he hits the nail on the head brilliantly every time.

J. I. Packer, Board of Governors, Professor of Theology, Regent College

Pay heed to your doctrine. That imperative for faithful Christianity sounds to many Christians altogether abstract and remote from the life of the church. Bobby Jamieson believes otherwise, and Sound Doctrine is a masterful argument for doctrine that is not only deeply rooted in the church, but also produces a church that demonstrates both the grace and glory of God.

R. Albert Mohler Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

A true Christian experience involves more than sound doctrine, but it is nothing without it. Bobby helps us see how sound doctrine not only shapes but also empowers all ministries in the local church, from effective outreach to authentic small groups. This book could serve as a starting point for thinking through a philosophy of ministry.

J. D. Greear, Lead Pastor, The Summit Church, Durham, North Carolina; author, Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart: How to Know for Sure You Are Saved

Truth is for life. Teaching is for living. Sound doctrine is for love, unity, worship, witness, and joy. That is what this book is all about. Christians need to understand how sound biblical teachingdoctrine that is based on and drawn from the Holy Scripturesinforms every aspect of Christian life and experience. Bobby Jamieson makes that case in Sound Doctrine . The argument is brief, biblical, interesting, and compelling. The book wont take you long to read, but its contents will pay dividends to Christians and churches for a long time to come.

J. Ligon Duncan, Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi; John E. Richards Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary

Do you think doctrine is at least impracticalat worst, loveless? Give this author a few minutes to help you reconsider this. Well-written, precise, provocative, and practicalJamieson has produced a jewel.

Mark Dever, Senior Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, DC

I sit next to Bobby Jamieson in a seminary class, so I can tell you that he is a very smart guy, a genuine nerd, theologically discerning, andsurprisinglyan avid surfer. Prior to my conversion, I sat next to smart guys like Bobby in order to cheat, but now I do it to learnand theres a lot to learn from Bobby! If you dont understand why sound doctrine is important, or realize the difference it can make, then Bobby has something to teach you. In this book youll learn that sound doctrine is as delightful as it is practicalfor everyday life and for the church. Come sit next to Bobby with me.

C. J. Mahaney, Sovereign Grace Ministries

Doctrine that is biblically faithful and practically relevant is essential to the health and life of the church. Without it, churches will become anemic and eventually die. Sound Doctrine is a short primer on the key doctrines of holiness, love, unity, worship, and witness. In a careful and well-written treatise, Bobby Jamieson walks us through these crucial doctrines, revealing their importance to our mind and heartto our individual lives and the community of faith.

Daniel L. Akin, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

If ever youve been tempted to think that doctrine is boring, divisive, or just plain pointless, this is a book for you. Bobby Jamieson shows that sound doctrine is beautiful, life imparting, and deeply desirable. I hope this message goes far and wide.

Michael Reeves, Head of Theology, UCCF (UK); author, Delighting in the Trinity and The Unquenchable Flame

SOUND DOCTRINE

Also Available in the 9Marks:
Building Healthy Churches series

Series Editors: Mark Dever and Jonathan Leeman

Church Membership: How the World Knows Who Represents Jesus, Jonathan Leeman

Church Discipline: How the Church Protects the Name of Jesus, Jonathan Leeman

Sound Doctrine: How a Church Grows in the Love and Holiness of God

Copyright 2013 by Robert B. Jamieson III

Published by Crossway
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law.

Cover design: Dual Identity inc.

Cover image: Wayne Brezinka for brezinkadesign.com

First printing 2013

Printed in the United States of America

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible ( The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway. 2011 Text Edition. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-3589-5
PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-3590-1
Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-3591-8
ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-3592-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Jamieson, Bobby, 1986

Sound doctrine [electronic resource] : how a church grows in the love and holiness of God / Bobby Jamieson.

1 online resource (9marks)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-4335-3590-1 (pdf) ISBN 978-1-4335-3591-8 (mobi) ISBN 978-1-4335-3592-5 (epub) ISBN 978-1-4335-3589-5 (hc) ISBN 978-1-4335-3589-5 (hc)

1. Church growth. 2. Theology, Doctrinal. I. Title.

BV652.25

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

LB 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13

15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For Kristin,
with all my love.

For what use is it to know the truth in words, only to defile the body and perform evil deeds? Or what profit indeed can come from holiness of body, if truth is not in the soul? For these rejoice together and join forces to lead man to the presence of God.

IRENAEUS OF LYONS, ON THE APOSTOLIC PREACHING

Irenaeus of Lyons, On the Apostolic Preaching (Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimirs Seminary Press, 1997), 40.

Ive always had a thing for maps. When I was a little kid and my family went on a road trip, Id monitor our progress from the back seat, eagerly poring over the easel-sized Rand McNally Road Atlas that sprawled over my lap. Call me a nerd if you like, but it sure beat asking, Are we there yet? every five minutes.