Greetings, friends. Over the next several weeks at our international church plant in Dar, Reach Chapel, I will be preaching on growth edges related to church health. I wanted to share some of my notes here from my message today that gives an overview of the subject of church health. Maybe you can evaluate some growth edges your church has, and pray for wisdom in how to help the leadership of your church move toward greater health.<\/p>\n
Blessings to you this week as we strive for greater spiritual health. Eric<\/p>\n
Notes from message:<\/p>\n
Here is a thought I want to challenge you with: I would suggest that church health is even more important than church growth. If we want to grow as a church, we must first aim at health. You can be growing and not healthy, but if you are healthy, you will be growing.
\nIllustr. \u2013 When I was a small child, I had serious asthma. I had regular shots, took much medicine, and even stopped breathing a few times and was rushed to hospital. Due to this, my parents heard that I might not develop properly \u2013 might stunt my growth, or not be able to compete in sports. My health affected my growth. Praise God, asthma went away, and only adverse affects were some mental problems. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n
We just finished up a lengthy series from Bwana Fred on the seven churches in Revelation \u2013 the focus of which was the need for each of churches to grow in health. In each church, Jesus spoke not about the numbers of members, the size of building, the number of ministries they were doing, but he did speak about their health. So what message would the Lord have for us?<\/p>\n
Church health flows from healthy leadership. Unhealthy leaders produce unhealthy churches. Therefore ReachChapel leadership needs your prayers and support as they strive for health and effectiveness at our mission.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s dialogue a bit: When you think of a healthy church, what thoughts come to mind? What is an example of a healthy or unhealthy church in Bible, and why? How do we measure our church health?
\nApplic. – Beware thinking more highly or lowly than we ought to think of ourselves (Rom.12:3). Goal is to accurately assess and move toward greater health.
\nIllustr. – Let\u2019s use some of the illustrations used in the Bible for the church: When you think of a healthy body (Eph.1:22-23), what comes to mind? Healthy family (2:19)? Healthy building (2:20-22)? Healthy tree\/vine (John 15)?<\/p>\n
Book of Ephesians lists some of components for health \u2013 Theological grounding (ch.1), insight and discernment (ch.1), saved by grace (ch.2), doing good works (ch.2), united in Christ (ch.2), spiritual strength to love God and minister effectively (ch.3), unity (ch.4), engaged in service (ch.4), striving for purity in new life (ch.4), walking in truth and love (ch.5), healthy family focus (ch.5), engaged in spiritual warfare (ch.6).<\/p>\n
To summarize, one pastor in America said that every church needs to grow warmer through fellowship, deeper through discipleship, stronger through worship, broader through ministry, and larger through evangelism.<\/p>\n
The Evangelical Free Church has compiled 10 indicators of church health, and I want to talk about these for a few minutes. We arrive at health by growing in balance. All 10 of indicators are impt, and must be balanced. We will never be champions at all ten \u2013 no one will, but we need to strengthen our weaknesses, just as we would with a sick body part.<\/p>\n
10 Indicators of Church Health<\/u><\/strong> PASSIONATE SPIRITUALITY FRUITFUL EVANGELISM HIGH IMPACT WORSHIP MISSION AND VISION-DRIVEN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CHURCH PLANTING FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP INTENTIONAL DISCIPLEMAKING LOVING RELATIONSHIPS Greetings, friends. Over the next several weeks at our international church plant in Dar, Reach Chapel, I will be preaching on growth edges related to church health. I wanted to share some of my notes here from my message today that gives an overview of the subject of church health. Maybe you can evaluate some … Continue reading How healthy is your church?<\/span>
\nCENTRALITY OF GOD\u2019S WORD
\n\u201cAll Scripture is God-breathed and is useful…so that the man of God may be thoroughly
\nequipped for every good work.\u201d (II Tim. 3:16, 17)
\nWe are committed to a proclamation of God\u2019s Word which is clear, theologically sound and communicated in a relevant and practical way. The end result of our proclamation is people who are eager to please God by applying His Word to every area of life.
\n\u2022 The Bible is the focal point of our church\u2019s decision-making, teaching, and preaching
\n\u2022 We do not simply teach and preach about the Bible, we strive for ongoing life transformation
\n\u2022 Our people are equipped and growing in their ability to use the Bible for themselves<\/p>\n
\n\u201cBe filled with the Spirit…be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power…\u201d \u201cPut on the full armor of God…And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…\u201d (Eph. 5:18-21; 6:10-18). We recognize that it is only the presence and power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to live obedient, transformed lives. The prayer lives of our congregations reflect a deep dependence upon God. Experiencing God and following Him are hallmarks of our ministries.
\n\u2022 Our congregation emphasizes in practical ways the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to live transformed, obedient lives
\n\u2022 Prayer in our church reflects a deep dependence on God
\n\u2022 In every area of church life, we seek to experience God and follow him according to his word<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThe Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.\u201d (Luke 9:10)
\nWe are driven to reach our neighborhoods, our nation and our world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ regardless of racial, economic or political barriers. The budgets, programs and leaders of our local churches reflect a high commitment to outreach and evangelism, both locally and worldwide. Significant numerical growth through evangelism is an expected outcome of this commitment.
\n\u2022 We are driven to reach our neighbors with the gospel of Christ
\n\u2022 The budgets, programs, and leaders of our church reflect a high commitment to outreach and evangelism, both locally and worldwide
\n\u2022 We expect significant conversion growth in our church<\/p>\n
\n\u201cShout for joy…Worship the Lord…Enter His gates with thanksgiving…\u201d (Psalm 100)
\nInspiring worship which glorifies God and engages the heart, mind and emotions of people with God must be a hallmark of our public services. We are committed to meeting the worship needs of the various generations attending our churches. Healthy churches are characterized by a spirit of joy expressed in worship.
\n\u2022 Inspiring worship that glorifies God and engages the heart, mind, and emotions of people with God is a hallmark of our
\npublic worship
\n\u2022 We are committed to meeting the worship needs of the various generations attending our church
\n\u2022 Our worship is characterized by a spirit of joy<\/p>\n
\n\u201cTherefore go…\u201d (Matt. 28:19-20)
\nOur congregations must have a clear sense of God\u2019s mission and a compelling vision for the future that is communicated clearly to all members and that drives their programs, budget, personnel and priorities. We need church structures that facilitate mission and vision. A willingness to change and take risks are crucial to ongoing effectiveness for local church ministry.
\n\u2022 Our congregation has a clear sense of God\u2019s mission and a compelling vision for the future
\n\u2022 We regularly and systematically measure all areas of our church\u2019s effectiveness\u2014leadership, ministries, and organizational structure\u2014based on our mission and vision
\n\u2022 We are willing to change and take risks to fulfill our God-given mission<\/p>\n
\n\u201cEntrust to reliable men…\u201d (II Tim. 2:2, I Tim. 3:1-13; I Pet. 5:1-11)
\nWe are committed to intentional leadership development and the exercise of the leadership gifts. We desire to see trained, godly individuals who are spiritually mature lead our local congregations. We desire to see mature leaders deployed in full-time vocational ministry as workers for the harvest.
\n\u2022 We are committed to intentional leadership development and the exercise of the leadership gifts
\n\u2022 We desire that trained, godly individuals who are spiritually mature lead our congregation
\n\u2022 We regularly see mature leaders deployed in full-time vocational ministry<\/p>\n
\n\u201c…in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth,\u201d (Acts 1:8; Acts 13-28)
\nHealthy congregations are committed to reproducing themselves. We have a vision for planting or facilitating the planting of churches in our community, district and world. Believing that God desires the EFCA to reflect the economic and ethnic diversity of our nation, we will be intentional in planting churches
\namong all people who make up our nation and our world.
\n\u2022 Church planting is one of our core values as a congregation
\n\u2022 We have a measurable commitment to \u201creproduction\u201d as a church
\n\u2022 We have a vision for the planting of churches in our community, district, and the world<\/p>\n
\n\u201cCommand…not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth…but to put their hope in God…Command them to do good…and to be generous and willing to share…\u201d (ITim.6:17-19)
\nOur churches must be financially strong through ongoing stewardship education and the challenging of our congregations to make sacrificial investments in eternity through regular and special gifts. Our pastors must address the issue of money and possessions in a biblical, relevant and practical way. Our congregations must adopt God\u2019s heart for the poor, disadvantaged and needy in their allocation
\nof available resources.
\n\u2022 Faithful stewardship of all our resources\u2014including possessions and money\u2014is systematically modeled and taught in our church in biblical, practical ways
\n\u2022 People in our congregation are challenged to make a sacrificial investment in eternity through regular and special financial gifts
\n\u2022 A mark of discipleship in our church is the willingness to be generous and share<\/p>\n
\n\u201cEntrust to reliable men…\u201d (II Tim 2:2)
\n\u201cTherefore go and make disciples…\u201d (Matt. 28:19-20)
\nIntentional disciplemaking processes to the next level of spiritual maturity must be built into the fabric of every local church. These disciplemaking pathways must be able to take a majority of local church members from new life in Christ to spiritual maturity. We have a commitment to see each member of our
\ncongregations using their spiritual gift(s) within the context of the local church.
\n\u2022 Our church measures its disciplemaking effectiveness by the Great Commission and the Great Commandment
\n\u2022 We have a clear picture of the disciplemaking process\u2014from new life to spiritual maturity\u2014that is built into the fabric of our church
\n\u2022 We have a commitment to see each member of our congregation using their spiritual gift(s) in the context of the church<\/p>\n
\n\u201cBy this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.\u201d (John 13:35)
\nRecognizing that all men are made in God\u2019s image and are loved by Him, we believe that our churches must reach across social, economic and racial lines with practical acts of love within the church and the community – with special care for the needy, forgotten and defenseless. We also believe our churches must be characterized by believers who are committed to the reconciliation of relationships among all people. Within the local church, loving relationships produce unity, accountability and a powerful demonstration of God\u2019s presence within our communities.
\n\u2022 We know our neighbors and we know how to love them
\n\u2022 Our church helps people grow in their ability to love and connect with one another
\n\u2022 As a congregation, we model and provide a meaningful experience of \u201ccommunity\u201d\u2014especially through small groups<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"