10 Signs Of A Healthy Church And How To Become One

Understanding what it means to be a healthy church from the rich principles of the Bible, and figure out how to bring God’s love to your community. With the increasing number of stories featuring church hurt, declining attendance, and controversies, it’s evident that we’ve perhaps gotten it wrong somewhere. It is time for us to reevaluate what a healthy church consists of by biblical standards.

The word church is translated from ‘ekklesia’ meaning ‘gathering of called-out ones. A healthy church is not just one with a lot of people, but one where the people thrive in love and their uniqueness.

It is a family of people who recognize their imperfections and sins but strive to be better by renewing their minds. It is a gathering of brothers and sisters united by the name of Jesus, bearing each other up in Christ, and seeking to spread His light to the darkness of this world.

Yes, no human being is perfect, but the church is a place where imperfect hearts gather together to submit to a process and pruning, to progress toward who God calls them to be.

The early church was like that and is therefore the standard for a healthy gathering of believers. It is by engaging the Scriptures and the commandments we have been given in them that we can in turn grow healthy churches.

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What Are The Signs Of A Healthy Church Displaying God’s Love?

Biblical evangelism

The ministry of the believer is that of reconciliation. We are called out to also call others out from darkness into God’s marvelous light.

Jesus Himself commanded us to be His witnesses in Judea, Samaria, and all the ends of the earth.

A church that doesn’t go out, proclaiming the gospel of the salvation of mankind through the sacrifice of Jesus isn’t a healthy one.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

Discipleship

Evangelism is where it begins, but not where it ends. The church is supposed to be a place for people to grow in their faith by being fed the ‘sincere milk of the world’ as Paul puts it in 1 Peter 2:2.

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. 1 Peter 2:2

Converts are to be disciplined in prayer, service, giving, the love walk, etc so that they, in turn, can go out to win and disciple others and expand God’s Kingdom.

Biblical membership

A healthy church should be one where everyone recognizes that they are part of the universal church, notwithstanding things like denominations or differences in doctrine.

There should be oneness among them locally, walking in love with one another, and using their gifts and talents to serve others. A church where there is strife and division among the members or one that considers itself more important or true compared to other parts of the universal church is grossly unhealthy.

Christ-like leadership

Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!” declares the Lord Almighty. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones. Zechariah 13:7

Leadership is important in every social setting, the church inclusive. If the shepherd is struck, the sheep will scatter (Zechariah 13:7). A church in health has good and exemplary leadership over it.

The leaders have to follow the example of Christ in being meek and humble, feeding His flock and shepherding them, not controlling them. 

A good leader shows compassion for the plights of his members and takes their lives to be as important as his own.

A tyrannical or selfish leader is a sign of an unhealthy church.

Bible-based teaching and preaching

A flourishing church is one where sound doctrine and Christian dogma are preached. These dogmas are the foundations of our faith. Here, they don’t just rely on individual study but they prioritize the collective study of the Word to learn as a whole. 

Jesus didn’t just tell His disciples what to do, He taught them by referencing scripture and by living it out as the ultimate breathing example.

Their pastors also put time into the study of the Word and so when members come, they hear God’s rich and unfiltered word and are transformed by it. 

The health of a church is largely dependent on how seriously they take God’s Words and obey the principles displayed in the scripture.

Biblical ordinances

A healthy church observes biblical ordinances like baptism and communion. These rites ordained in the Bible by Jesus help us remind ourselves each time of who we are in Christ and the commitment we have made to follow Him. 

Worship

God’s presence always follows worship. One of the marks of a healthy church is knowing the importance of glorifying God in songs of praise and following biblical dictates for worship.

Prayer

The ministry of prayer has been given to every believer, but a church united in prayer is formidable. They understand that personal prayers are important, but praying together is even better.

Nothing can withstand corporate anointing. Not only does it breed love among the members, but we see major advances and growth in such a church.

Fellowship

The Christian life isn’t meant to be lived alone and that’s why a church in health is one where its members share a communal mindset.

Like the early church, they share their lives; victories, and sorrows, bearing each other up in prayer, love, and service. Iron sharpens iron, so each member of the church is spurred to growth and development by each other.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

Giving

Giving is the nature of God and in turn ours. We are blessed when we give without expectations. A healthy family of believers places giving as one of its core values and practices giving to God, one another, and the communities they live in.

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7 Great Ways Churches Can Engage With Their Communities

Here are a few ways to promote unity and togetherness amongst church members, as well as help more community people get involved in the church and its mission.

Hold community events

Make church events open to the entire community. Try putting up posters around town and spreading the news by word of mouth. The purpose of this isn’t necessarily to convert people at once but to show them God’s love and care irrevocably.

Community service

This is a great way to give back to the community where the family of believers is located. You can try cleaning up the area, running errands for the elderly, and so on. This is also to carry God’s love to them.

Help those in need

This could be in the form of starting a shelter for the homeless, taking in orphans, or fundraising for people in financial difficulties. It is a commandment from God to care for those who are not as privileged as we are (Proverbs 19:17).

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17

Get involved in the sports teams

This is a very effective way of driving community engagement. Nothing brings people together like sports. You could start up a team where there is none, or join the local league. It gives a platform for meeting people and sharing the Word of God with them.

Share the talents of your congregation

You can start a volunteer team with members of the flock willing to offer their services for free to community members who need them. From free plumbing to medical or legal advice, this is another great approach to taking God’s love to the people.

Help the community stay in touch with your church

Social media is a great way to get started. You can send email blasts as a way to communicate with members after service hours, start a blog with inspiring and uplifting content, and open up Facebook groups for your community where you can share opportunities and resources like scripture of the day and encouraging messages.

You can also put out a prayer request box so that those with burdens who want to be prayed for can be catered to.

The Church is God’s end-time army. If we can’t get it right and show others how to live, how can we establish God’s Kingdom on Earth?

This Post is written by Ted Atkins: Best Daily Prayer

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