What constitutes a healthy church? Here's my rather wordy response to that question.
A healthy church, faithful to the Word of God and pursuing God’s mission in its particular cultural context, communicates, demonstrates, and celebrates the gospel of Christ in worship, prayer, witness, discipleship, fellowship, stewardship and loving service -- so that:
persons experience the saving grace of God in abundant and eternal life;
people exhibit love for God, for neighbor, for one another in the household of faith, and for all people in God’s world;
individuals, families and the congregation learn to base decisions on seeking first God’s Kingdom;
the number, and commitment, of Christ’s disciples increases through spiritual and quantitative growth;
all ministries are evaluated, and new ministries are initiated, based on a discernment of God’s mission for the church;
people, regardless of gender, race, language, national heritage or economic status hear and respond to the call of Christ and are given opportunity, using their varied gifts and empowered by the Spirit, to be Christ’s ambassadors for reconciliation and transformation in the world.
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