What are the two greatest gifts given to us? According to Stephen A. Macchia in Becoming a Healthy Church: 10 Traits of a Vital Ministry (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books 2003) the Word of God and prayer are the two greatest gifts given to us. The two should be woven into the fibers or our daily lives. “The lesson of the cross is that God is interested in us reaching up to Him vertically while we reach out to one another horizontally.†(p. 53).
What is the life blood and desire of the church? According research presented in Becoming a Health Church, the Great Commandment and the Great Commission are, or should be, the desire and life blood of the church. The ministry of the church is not just limited to the responsibilities of the staff. Ministry of the church should be done by all the members. According to Macchia, there are three questions that should be asked to determine a healthy church (p. 20):
1. How do I relate with God?
2. How do I relate with my church and family?
3. How does my church minister and manage?
Macchia gives us ten traits to become a healthy church. These ten traits answer the above questions. Each chapter in Becoming a Healthy Church focuses on each trait:
God’s empowering presence
God-exalting worship
Spiritual discipline
Learning and growing in community
Commitment to loving and caring relationships
Servant-leadership development
Outward focus
Wise administration and accountability
Networking with the Body of Christ
Stewardship and generosity.
The book takes the focus away from self and makes it church focused (Body of Christ focused) and community focused. Macchia states that a church will never become healthy if it is filled with people that are strong willed and unwilling to submit to the Holy Spirit. A church will never become healthy if it does not recognize the needs and tend to the needs of others.
Great attention is given to the discussion of worship. God seeks our worship. We should not limit our worship to a sanctuary but consider everywhere a place to worship. We are to sing to God and not so much about God. Because we are a diverse people, worship styles vary. Style does not matter because we worship to glorify God. Worship should not just be an event but woven into our everyday lives.
Jesus wanted to build community and during His ministry gave the church an example to follow says Macchia (p. 80): Selection, Association, Consecration, Impartation, Demonstration, Delegation, Supervision, Reproduction.
What we accomplish in ministry is directly related to our relationships. However, relationships are hard to establish. There are two major contributors that cause this challenge. The first is that we live in a fast paced society. The second is a growing movement away from activities of the faith community into a plethora of causes that occupy our time and energy.
We are to develop communities with loving and caring relationships. Macchia states that we are called to serve others to build up the Body of Christ, to reach unity in faith, to prepare God’s people for works of service and to become mature. Even though we are all called to be ministers and serve others, there are those who are called to lead. Leadership is to be learned over time and is measured by one’s followers. Leaders need to keep the vision and need to build a team. Leaders do not tackle tasks solo but empower others to serve.
For a church to be healthy, the focus must be taken off individual selves and placed on the Body of Christ and the community. This is first accomplished by prayer and seeking God through His word. We are all called to minister to others and to worship God whether it is in a sanctuary or in the world.
Reviewed by guest blogger Lynn Ratliff
Minister to Children and Families at First Baptist Church, South Boston, VA
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