Is your church healthy?

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46-47)

One of the first questions that pastors tend to ask each other when they get together is, “How big is your church?” As pastors, it can be hard not to evaluate the job we are doing by the numbers – average attendance, finances, baptisms, etc. That’s why I found it refreshing – and challenging – to read an article by Karl Vaters on the Christianity Today website today entitled “28 non-numerical signs of a healthy church”. I have reprinted the list below as one man’s perspective, which I believe lends itself well to reflection and discussion:

28 Non-Numerical Signs Of A Healthy Church

1. People care more about doing ministry than having a title
2. There are more ministry teams than committees
3. Departments cooperate with each other
4. The church cooperates with other churches
5. The church looks like the neighborhood (demographically)
6. The church goes into the neighborhood
7. The front rows are as full as the back rows
8. The bulletin isn’t just about internal events
9. Guests feel welcomed

10. Volunteerism is high
11. Ministry ideas bubble up
12. New ideas are embraced
13. New leadership is embraced
14. Long-time leadership is respected
15. The energy and passion of the youth is celebrated
16. The wisdom and patience of the older saints is honored
17. The eternal truths of the Bible are taught and lived
18. Worship is more than just singing
19. People like bringing their friends
20. Congregation members love each other
21. Congregation members like each other
22. People are being saved
23. People are being discipled – then discipling others
24. People are being sent out into ministry
25. It’s a good place to ask hard questions
26. People pray – a lot
27. Failure isn’t fatal
28. People are more excited about the future than the past

What do you think? Where do you see signs of health in our church (or, if you don’t attend NewLife, in your church)? Where do you see signs of a lack of health? I would welcome any feedback you might have to give. And above all, let this list serve as a reminder that true health is not about the numbers, but about hearts that are devoted to Jesus and lives that are being transformed by the gospel.