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Ten Principles for Church - Part 2

A healthy church does church God’s way and follows his principles

Principles for our church - part 2

*see introduction for more on these principles

• Equipping Strategy: intentionally mobilizing believers towards service for God – Luke 10:2

As believers discover their spiritual gifts, the church needs to stand behind them and equip them and give them opportunities to use their gifts in the best way possible for the kingdom of God.

• Outreach Strategy: intentionally moving into the “world of the lost” to bring them into ours – Matthew 9:9-13

As Christians mature, they should naturally want to tell others about their Savior.  This step involves the church presenting opportunities for this to happen and making an environment that non-believers will feel welcome.

• Equipping Strategy: intentionally mobilizing believers towards service for God – Luke 10:2

As believers discover their spiritual gifts, the church needs to stand behind them and equip them and give them opportunities to use their gifts in the best way possible for the kingdom of God.

• Outreach Strategy: intentionally moving into the “world of the lost” to bring them into ours – Matthew 9:9-13

As Christians mature, they should naturally want to tell others about their Savior.  This step involves the church presenting opportunities for this to happen and making an environment that non-believers will feel welcome.

• Leadership Multiplication Strategy: intentionally developing new leaders to support the growing ministry – Luke 6:12-13

As the church grows more leaders will be needed.  Also the current leaders won't be around forever.  This step requires new leaders to be trained to take on the responsibilities of tomorrow before there is a hole to fill and something just gets thrown in.

• Effective Structures: intentionally organizing to fulfill the mission and vision of the church – Luke 10:1

A church needs to be constantly evaluating its programs and facilities and asking whether it accomplishes what they want them to.  This takes place at the beginning and while a church grows.  Something that worked five years ago may not be right for the situation today.

• Bible-Centered Ministry: intentionally making God’s Word the basis for everything we do – Mark 7:6-8

Perhaps most importantly, everything needs to be run through the filter of the Bible.  If a program's purpose goes against what the Bible says the church should be doing, it needs to be dropped.  This is a difficult task because it requires evaluating some of the church's oldest traditions and asking why things are done the way they are.  If the focus isn't to glorify God, serious thought needs to be given as to why it should remain.

Adapted from the Missionary Church’s Healthy Church Initiative   www.mcusa.org

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