Faithful focus on four initiatives helps churches grow, be healthy

We have proposed a declaration of what a healthy church is. 
   
We have considered three methods by which churches generally operate — incidentally, accidentally or intentionally. 
   
We have challenged our thinking regarding the two foundational basics for healthy churches — commitments to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, in that order.
   
Our attention turns now to a consideration of four focus concerns for optimally healthy churches.
   
Healthy churches demonstrate authentic concern and dedicate genuine effort to these four initiatives — spiritual growth, missions advancement, ministry involvement and outreach effectiveness. All four focus concerns are interconnected and interrelated.
   
Spiritual growth assumes the place of first priority among the four focus concerns.
   
It provides both an umbrella and the launching point for the other three. Spiritual growth should lead to missions advancement which should lead to ministry involvement which should lead to outreach effectiveness.
   
There has been a tendency to equate church health with only a look at the number of persons attending.
   
We sometimes erroneously assume that numbers of people attending and the increase of those numbers are the best way to evaluate church health.
   
We all like to see the numbers go up. It is an exciting experience. After all, we have a commission, the Great Commission, that indicates that we are to reach everyone.
   
But, now we hear increasing numbers alone are not primary indicators of good church health. How does it all fit together?
   
Paul, the apostle, helps us to understand our role in the effort to increase numbers.
   
He testified that he planted, Apollos watered, and God gave the increase (1 Cor. 3:6).
   
When we read the report of the remarkable numerical growth of the early church in the book of Acts, we are amazed.
  
At the same time we are left with an unmistakable impression. The early church had taken Jesus seriously. They were committed to obedience and to personal growth.  It was actually because of their spiritual growth that the kingdom of God expanded dramatically.
   
They were planting and watering and God was giving the increase.
   
There is a lesson for us in that pattern. The early church grew spiritually and then declared the numbers as evidence and acknowledgment.
   
When we are obedient to God, when we are growing in His grace and knowledge, we will likewise become faithfully fruitful. God will provide the increase and we can offer Him the glory.
   
Perhaps we have tried to cause the increase rather than obediently following God and trusting Him for it.
   
Missions advancement, the second of the four focus concerns, flows naturally in churches where the members are growing spiritually.
   
Christianity is a missionary faith. Truly healthy churches are aware that they have a unique place in the perfect plan of God.
   
The specific “mission” and “vision” of each local body of believers should be expressed clearly and definitely.
   
It is the product of that congregation’s best understanding of God’s will for that particular church. When a church truly comprehends its mission and has a God-given vision, that church is ready to advance in missions.
   
Those missions endeavors will include the immediate area where a church is located. The extension of those endeavors will ultimately include the whole earth.
   
Ministry involvement, number three in the quartet of focus concerns, deserves more attention than most churches give it.
   
Pause and consider your own church. How many members of your church family can declare that they know what God has gifted them and called them to do inside and outside the church?
   
Furthermore, how many members are actively engaged in specific ministries that build the body of Christ and achieve the purposes of God?
   
You see, in Ephesians 4:1–16, Paul expresses clearly the indispensable reality of every member ministry.
   
All believers are strategically gifted to minister effectively for Jesus’ sake. The pastor and staff are called to assist and equip each “saint” (that is, every member) in finding his or her place of ministry.
   
Outreach effectiveness, the fourth of the four, may be considered as an outgrowth of the previous three.
   
A church that is growing spiritually, advancing in missions and involving every member in ministry will inevitably reach people.
   
Just as day follows night and night follows day, churches reach out effectively when their focus is authentically biblical.
   
In such a context, a church celebrates those whom they reach and glorify God for each and every individual.
   
People who know go to those who need to know Jesus. Salt is salty and light is bright and God is good. Reaching out is no longer a chore. It is the joyful privilege of the redeemed.
   
In the next installment in this series we will direct our attention to the six biblical functions which are demonstrated by healthy churches. See you then.