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What
is a healthy church?
That’s
a critical question for which all of my church friends seem to
be trying to answer. For my business-minded, chart
loving friends the answer to this question is a growth equation:
new members + more money + better facilities = a healthy
church. My post-modern, flip-flops and t-shirt wearing
friends often give a soulful answer saying a healthy church
can’t be defined only experienced in a community of authentic
discipleship. My white shirt, navy suit, traditional
friends often define a healthy church by a strong belief in
Scripture, sound doctrine, missions, and evangelism.
And my purpose driven Hawaiian shirt and horn-rimmed glasses
wearing friends might define it as balanced approach to
missions, evangelism, discipleship, worship, and fellowship.
So with all of these varying thoughts on the matter, I thought
why don’t I take a shot at defining a healthy church as well.
Hence, with no further ado, here are Lash’s Seven Vital Signs
of a
Healthy
Church
:
High
Sense of Purpose—A
church must know its reason for existence and have a clear
process for biblically leading people from spiritual lostness to
spiritual maturity.
Effective
Evangelism—A
church must see its community as a mission field and develop
ways to contextually communicate the gospel to the people living
in the community.
Acceptance
of Change—A
church must be creative, understanding the changing needs of
people and meeting people at their point of need.
Leadership
that Empowers—Church
leaders must be servant leaders helping others identify
spiritual gifts and empowering them to use these gifts in
ministry.
Transforming
Worship—True
worship brings glory to God and leads to change. Each time
the church gathers for worship the primary goal is to encounter
God and His truth which leads to transformed lives.
Help
with Life—A
healthy sense of community is built through healthy, caring
relationships. Church leaders must be consumed with
leading people to live out Jesus’ Great Commandment: to love
one another.
Yes
to God—Healthy
churches diligently seek God’s answers and direction through
faithful prayer and study of His Word always bending our will
and our beliefs to God’s.
Blessings,
Lash
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