When most people think of church, they picture a building, a weekly service, and a legal organization. Those are important elements, but they miss the heart of the church. The church is a community of believers, created new at Pentecost, and united globally. Its power is not in a specific building or service time, but in its people and their movement in the world.
A great church must be characterized by a passion for God and his truth. Its members will be fueled by the gospel, and their lives will be transformed. They will be filled with the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control that the world desperately needs. Great churches will have leaders who are well-qualified according to Scripture. They will be concerned about keeping the church pure, and they will be eager to help every member reach their full potential.
The church must be a community that supports and encourages each other. Its members will be friendly to one another before and after services, and in and around the building. They will be supportive of each other’s ministries and struggles, and they will pray for each other frequently. They will care for each other when they are sick, and they will encourage their brethren to keep fighting the good fight for Christ.
Some churches are tempted to define their greatness by the number of people they can attract. If they have more people, they must be doing something right. However, the church’s greatest responsibility is not to serve its community, but to bring God’s message of salvation to a hurting world. Great churches are committed to reaching the lost, and they recognize that this cannot be done by individual believers alone. They will depend on the Spirit to empower and equip them for their mission.
A healthy church must be characterized by an awe of God, a passion for his word, and a love for the people of his kingdom. It will be a place where people are empowered by the power of the gospel and encouraged to use their gifts for ministry. It will be a place where people can find hope for life and death, and it will be a light to a dark world. If the church is not thriving, it may need to consider some structural changes. But, it is important to remember that the problem is not always with the structure of the church, but rather in the way we view and use it. A shift in the focus of the church from inward to outward could be just what it needs to thrive. After all, what good is a diamond if you only use it as a hammer?