6 Proofs of Healthy Church
Have you ever wondered what healthy churches look like? Over the years I’ve been
collecting data, testimonies, and experiences. I have discovered a concise list of
proofs. Whether it is a church that is healthy, on life-support, or simply wants to
gage their condition; these proofs must be present and managed well to cultivate
health.
Life Transformation (Romans 12:1)
Life transformation comes from being renewed. For a church to become healthy it
must start with you. Your life transformation will ooze or be caught by the church.
Dallas Willard said, “ Spiritual formation, in the tradition of Jesus Christ, is a process
of transformation. It happens when the inmost dimension of the human being (the
heart, spirit or will) are transformed by Christ. Then the natural expressions of life
become prompted and powered by Christ.”
How is your life transformation changing your Church?
Vision Casting (Acts 2:17)
Vision should leak out of everything the church says and does. Ultimately, any
church’s vision should point back to God’s ultimate purpose. God desires people to
enjoy him and constantly express his greatness. The process of casting vision is
prayerfully forming a mental image in order to express God’s direction, plan, and
guidance. Vision casting is important because is provides the Church with a sense of
God’s direction for a specific time, place, and reason.
How can you align your Church with God’s vision?
Discipleship (Matthew 28:18-20)
God wants all people to become disciples, followers of Christ. The only work of the
Church is to make disciples and equip those disciples to make new disciples.
Discipleship is the process by which people grow in their understanding of God’s
word, equipping of the Holy Spirit to overcome the pressures and trials of life, and to
become more Christlike (Gotquestions.org).
How can your discipleship/equipping help your Church?
Multiplication (2 Timothy 2:2)
Everything that lives multiplies. If a church is alive it will multiply. Multiplication is
defined as Christians surrendering to the leadership of the Spirit of God resulting in
additional disciples, service, and groups. This culminates in the formation of new
churches. Every church that exists was started through multiplication.
How can you help your Church multiply?
Contextualization (Acts 17:22-23 / 1 Corinthians 9:22)
Contextualization takes a concrete truth and gives it the power to impact people of
any time, culture, setting, and background. Contextualization is the process of
assigning biblical application of scripture and purpose to serve the spiritual needs of
a given environment. Contextualization allows a text or action to be executed
without compromising the integrity of God’s word or discipleship.
How can you contextualize the Bible to help your Church reach more people groups?
Logistics (Acts 20:28)
Logistics is planning, implementing, and coordinating the church’s operations.
Without logistics everything falls apart. Here questions are prayerfully,
strategically, and organizationally minded. The plan is also monitored to ensure
things are taken care of. This ensures the operations of the church are not
neglected.
How can you logistically support your Church?
1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, Godʼs special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who
called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” You are the church. For the
Church to be healthy it takes you stepping in to the life that God has gifted you. Link
with others that understand this truth, follow God’s leadership, and show the world
the greatness of our God.
