10 Traits of a Healthy Church

[AnotherTraveler]

Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

I want to beat the prayer drum again. If we really pray, our minds get renewed, and we can consider things as they really are verses our former blind acceptance that all is well even when we only pray a few minutes a day, and never pray an hour a day, like the early church did.

Prayer changes us. Moses came down from the mountain and his face glowed. Hearing from God allows us to understand the times we live in and respond to the will of God for our day.

Too many dear Christians are blinded into believing that if they acknowledge that the church needs improvement, they are somehow attacking the church, but nothing could be further from the truth.

When our minds are not renewed, can still quote scripture, preach, teach, witness, and many other works, but they are not able to be “perfect” because we are not walking in the Spirit, living in the Spirit, and we are often (in that state) grieving the Holy Spirit.

If we followed (personally) the biblical example in the new testament of an hour of prayer daily, we would be more willing to pray when the church calls for corporate prayer.

Also, many men don’t want to go to a powerless church. If they are not needed and made to be of real use, why come to just sit and listen? If you want men in church, there must be a real call to arms, a call to commitment, a call to prayer.

[Guest]

Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

I want to beat the prayer drum again. If we really pray, our minds get renewed, and we can consider things as they really are verses our former blind acceptance that all is well even when we only pray a few minutes a day, and never pray an hour a day, like the early church did.

Prayer changes us. Moses came down from the mountain and his face glowed. Hearing from God allows us to understand the times we live in and respond to the will of God for our day.

Too many dear Christians are blinded into believing that if they acknowledge that the church needs improvement, they are somehow attacking the church, but nothing could be further from the truth.

When our minds are not renewed, we can still quote scripture, preach, teach, witness, and many other works, but we are not able to be "perfect" because we are not walking in the Spirit, living in the Spirit, and we are often (in that state) grieving the Holy Spirit.

If we followed (personally) the biblical example in the new testament of an hour of prayer daily, we would be more willing to pray when the church calls for corporate prayer.

Also, many men don't want to go to a powerless church. If they are not needed and made to be of real use, why come to just sit and listen? If you want men in church, there must be a real call to arms, a call to commitment, a call to prayer.

Amen! Amen! Amen!

Thank You Matt

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in Thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Proverbs 3:6-8

[faith pleases God]

A healthy "church" is one where everyone is welcome and allowed to participate in whatever way they are gifted. Does this describe a building where everyone sits down for an hour while someone at the front yakks?

The structure we've used for the last 1700 years doesn't really cut it...but are we ready for a change?

Yes, it does include that. We haven't been wrong the last 1,700 years in how we present a church service mate...

Edited November 30, 2007 by faith pleases God