8 Characteristics of a Healthy Church
Empowering Leadership
Healthy pastors recognize their role in equipping Christians to minister. Healthy churches recognize that the pastor is not a “hired holy man” who does all the ministry, but is a “player coach” who works alongside fellow team members in carrying out Christ’s commission. Leaders realize their God-given calling by enabling others to use their spiritual gifts to help the church grow into health.
11 He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, 13 until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13
Gift-oriented Ministry
Healthy churches don’t just fill positions. They seek to place people in their area of spiritual giftedness. This area offers the most influence on both personal and church life. Christians serving in their area of giftedness function less in their own strength and more in the power of the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving. 6 There are different ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work through all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another he gives the gift of special knowledge. 9 The Spirit gives special faith to another, and to someone else he gives the power to heal the sick. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and to another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to know whether it is really the Spirit of God or another spirit that is speaking. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, and another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Passionate Spirituality
Faith is not mere formalism or religious routine. Members of healthy churches live out their faith with contagious enthusiasm, sharing it with others, and experiencing inspirational prayer in their daily walk. It is both vertical, living out a personal relationship with God, and horizontal, a genuine love for people for whom Christ died.
37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'” Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)
Functional Structures
Many churches struggle at this point because it means change. Many churches cannot move from a “mom & pop” mentality, to a structure that will promote growth and health. Unless churches adapt and change their structures they will not be healthy or grow. A healthy church will need to develop structures that promote an ongoing multiplication of the ministry. Leaders are not to simply lead, but to develop other leaders. Church members should welcome new members onto the leadership team gladly and not feel a need to stay “in control.”
1 [Seven Men Chosen to Serve—] But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. Those who spoke Greek complained against those who spoke Hebrew, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. "We apostles should spend our time preaching and teaching the word of God, not administering a food program," they said. 3 "Now look around among yourselves, brothers, and select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of this business. 4 Then we can spend our time in prayer and preaching and teaching the word." 5 This idea pleased the whole group, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (a Gentile convert to the Jewish faith, who had now become a Christian). 6 These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them. 7 God's message was preached in ever-widening circles. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too. Acts 6:1-7
Inspiring Worship Service
Healthy worship services are filled with joy, even laughter as well as a holy reverence. The entire atmosphere of the gathering will be inspired when the Holy Spirit is truly at work and His presence is not merely presumed.
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:1-5
Holistic Small Groups
Caring nurturing groups of people who go beyond just discussing Bible passages to the application of God’s message in their daily lives. Healthy churches see small groups not just as another program but the very life of the church where nurturing, worship, evangelism, discipleship and ministry occur.
42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. Acts 5:42
Need Oriented Evangelism
Healthy churches find bridges of concern, which will help non-believers come to Christ. Ministry Evangelism puts “work clothes” on the gospel so that a lost and waiting world doesn’t just hear the message but they see it in a tangible and caring way. The gospel is presented as we care for people in need.
14 {Faith without Good Deeds Is Dead] Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone. 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, 16 and you say, "Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well"— but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all— it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." I say, "I can't see your faith if you don't have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds." James 2:14-18
Spending time outside of church with fellow members, sharing personal needs and joyful moments, while living ‘practical love’ brings about the safe environment where Christ flows in and through the hearts and minds of His people.
Loving Relationships
34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35