Podcast Episode #476
SUBSCRIBE:
iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play • iHeart Radio • Spotify
We need healthy churches. I’ve committed my ministry to helping churches grow healthier. But what does a healthy church look like? Today, we discuss seven traits they exhibit.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
- For too many churches, believing in the power of the gospel is nothing more than lip service.
- Courageous leaders believe God will work in their churches.
- Too many leaders know what needs to change in their church and either don’t have the knowledge or the courage to make it happen.
- If you’re not facing reality as a church, you likely won’t be moving forward.
- Healthy churches have leaders who take responsibility.
The seven traits of healthy churches that we discuss are:
- They truly believe in the power of the gospel.
- They have courageous leaders.
- They embrace change.
- They are not nostalgic.
- They see reality.
- They intentionally intersect their lives with non-Christians.
- They accept responsibility.
Resources mentioned in today’s podcast
Episode Sponsors
Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped thousands of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.
For more information, visit WeStaffTheChurch.com.
The ministry landscape is changing, and the need for biblical training is more necessary than ever. It’s time to get your Master of Divinity degree. The M.Div —Midwestern Seminary’s flagship degree program — is the primary track for ministry preparation. At just 81 hours, the Midwestern M.Div offers a complete foundation for full-time ministry leaders, offering everything you need, and nothing you don’t. Join other students in vibrant Kansas City as you train in a unique collaborative environment focused on the local church or study online in your current ministry context. Midwestern Seminary is developing a discipleship culture devoted to the local church and committed to God’s unchanging Word. Why not start your training today?
Find out more at mbts.edu/mdiv.
Feedback
If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Becoming a Welcoming Church.
In my unscientific researched observation, less than 1% of churches have any ongoing effective training training in personal evangelism. No such church will ever be truly healthy. See my book, Train Disciples….. under free books at http://www.itsallaboutrelationship.org
I teach Relational Evangelism 5 times a year through Hope Int Uni. Also with YWAM groups. The next 12 months will train in Peru, Chile, Mexico, Ethiopia, Kenya, Philippines, Egypt, India and Ghana.
John.hendee@cox.net
8. They pray with desperation because they know without God, their efforts are futile.
I think the lists above describe symptoms observed when organizational health exists–but not where that health comes from. Congregations are purposeful people-groups (social systems existing in open environments to whose influences they must respond) whose brighter tomorrows depend on dealing well with four main problems today; doing so results in degrees of organizational health and then the results we like to see. Those four problems (that your church and mine must address consistently) are: integration, motivation (opposite of latency), adaptation, and goal achievement (do, celebrate, repeat). The first two are inward-looking, the second two are outward-looking; prep for outward-looking by looking inward.
90% of everything blogged about by everyone at this website is talking about one or more of those four problems. Check it out.
🙂
I have placed this list along side the other “!5 Lists” that I have assembled over the years for the purpose of comparison…
In the previous comments, David mentions these are organizational health and Dean mentions prayer.
It is interesting to me that, of the 15 lists of Church health I have found, only 2 even HINT at PRAYER – yet, not attempting to sound super spiritual – but, it seems to me, that a church absent prayer cannot be deemed a healthy church.
In the words of Michael Catt, “Let us not be known as a church that prays, but rather, let us be known as a praying church.” The difference is stark.
I guess the idea is “It goes without saying . . .” among Christian folk. In regard to prayer, it can go without saying–as long as it doesn’t go without doing! 🙂
Social system problem 1 is integration–or, assimilating members to all that it means to be . . . whatever the group stands for. In regard to churches, integration would include the disciplines of the Christian life–including prayer, Bible study, evangelism, etc. Cf. Saddleback’s 101/201/301/401 approach (membership, maturity, ministry, missions).