The Master's Plan for the Church

This is an excellent work by pastor MacArthur explaining what the true church is. The book is full with biblical references where pastor MacArthur demolishes worldly concepts of church and turns to the only reference we have, that is the Word of God. As a Brazilian who has visited Grace Community Church (pastor MacArthur's church in California) many times in the past decade, coming from Brazil, I could visualize many characteristics of the true church written in this book at the time of my visits. The congregants there really have someone to tech them the true biblical principles of the church! This is an amazing study on the topic and it transcends the denomination lines, for it speaks of the only true church there is: The church of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is another gem by pastor MacArthur and a must read for all Christians.

This book is amazing lots of information and very helpful to grow in the word

Very thorough and to the point in so many aspects of the church. From backing up why a plurality of elders to church discipline. A very good read that will point the reader of what God truly wants from His church based on the biblical model set forth in the New Testament. I extremely liked the area describing the elder; his qualifications and disqualifications based on what the Greek text provides.In the back of the book in the appendixes he then tackles questions regarding different aspects of the church, such as major questions regarding elders and deacons. He defends many topics including having one of the elders being the lead (teaching pastor) to why the elders can, but not as a rule, be paid.I would recommend this to anyone wanting to reconfirm what the Bible teaches on the church and not our traditions passed on generation upon generation. Very big help!

Although the "Master's Plan for the Church" (MPftC) came out before "Ashamed of the Gospel" (AotG), I recommend reading AotG before MPftC. AotG presents a broader base for what problems exist (e.g., watering down the gospel) and why they exist. MPftC is more of a practical application -- now that AotG has shown what to avoid, MPftC shows a better way to implement things in your church. Our denomination (CRC - Christian Reformed Church) has most of those things in place and does a pretty good job of staying true to how a church should be run. MPftC helps keep our minds in line with doing the right things and not just things because "we've always done it that way". Most of the chapters and appendixes are taken from sermons at the author's church. The format is easy to read and well organized. The appendixes fill the final one-third of the book and are required reading. I recommend getting both books for your church library (we have AotG and probably will get MPftC soon).

There definitely isn't a "perfect" way to do church, but there certainly are wrong ways. John MacArthur gives us a look into his thought process and why he has maintained certain distinctives in his church. Having gone to his church for the past seven years, I learned many things that I had either not noticed or had just taken for granted. One thing I appreciate about his is that he is writing from having spent over 40 years pastoring the same church. You just can't find that anywhere. A great book to glean insights from and heavily backed by verses in the Bible which should be our guide in how the church should function.

I have researched and studied several books on ecclesiastical topics and pastoral ministry and I must say this book is probably the most biblical, historical, and theological book I have read on the topic. MacArthur as always is concerned only with what the Scriptures say to us when it comes to who a pastor is to be, what is he to do, and how a local congregation is to minister. In a culture saturated with pragmatism and C.E.O type pastors a book like this truly is a treasure. Every seminary should teach with resources like this!

I think this is a good book on church leadership MacArthur rejects all cultural and pragmatic approaches to church leadership for a strict Biblical approach which is refreshing . He has a low opinion of people who read secular books on leadership as a way to develop church leadership pointing out the church is radically different than any secular organization .I think he discounts the value that can be found in such books but his emphasis on the Bible as the guide to leadership is refreshing and I think also correct. He actually could have gone into more detail on some of the topics but this is a very good book

I ordered this book after seeing it advertised on John MacArthur's website. When I first started reading it, I mistakenly thought I had purchased a textbook for church pastors, but as I read further, I discovered that it describes in detail the components that make up a healthy, dynamic church. It's an interesting read, based on what God's Word says about church leaders and church members alike, written by a gifted theologian, pastor and teacher. This is a valuable addition to my personal library.