Over all things in Dever’s9 Marks of a Healthy Church, there are three
that stick out the most as needed for my church to work on. The first and
biggest issue is the lack of evangelism. So many churches today have
become introverted, or focusing on the cultivation of their own gardens,
that they do not see the harvest. “To evangelize is to declare on the
authority of God what he has done to save sinners, to warn men of their
lost condition, to direct them to repent, and to believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ.”[1]This is a requirement of the Christian faith, and all too often,
churches are not doing this. “Anyone faithfully relating the essential
elements of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ is evangelizing.
Evangelism occurs whether the words of the gospel are spoken, written,
or recorded; delivered to one person or to a crowd.”[2]Jesus is explicit to
go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20), to go into all the world (Mark
16:15), and that He is sending us (John 20:21).[3]This is a sore subject
among churches that is often tacked up to be a “job for the
professionals.”[4]However, the reality is that evangelism can be
uncomfortable thing that and many Christians simply do not to put the
time, effort, and be in the situation that this may require. One way to
battle this is to make it routine, or to have a class on evangelism that
trains and disciples people to evangelize.
Another aspect that my church needs help with is discipleship
growth. Discipleship is the core of what being a Christian is about. “The
New Testament idea of growth involves not just more people, but people
who are growing up, maturing, and deepening in the faith.”[5]It is crucial
that a church grows in its discipleship. This does not necessarily mean
numbers. This means a committed group of Christians, committed to
Christ, and submitting their lives to Him. One way our church could grow
more is to employ small groups. Currently there is a push for home based
small groups within the church called “iCare.” These groups failed
however as they (according to our pastor) became nothing more than
bible studies that went over the previous weeks message. The essential
for a small group is that they are guided by a leader, have regular
meeting times, open God’s Word, are united in serving with using their
spiritual gifts, and Prayer.[6]
The last part of church growth that needs to happen is church
discipline. God calls us to be accountable to each other and to confess our
sins to one another (James 5:30). “In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus also
clearly calls us to rebuke others for sin, even publicly, if need
be.”[7]Everyone sins, but it is interesting how on Sunday, many people
(in every church I’ve ever visited) put on their Sunday best, act like
nothing is wrong in their lives, and then go home to sin some more. There
is no more real in the church in the sense that we all need God, and we
are sinners in need of a savior. Our church can be open about discipline,
in showing the way we should live in the sermons, calling out sin, and
reminding everyone that we are all sinners saved by grace alone, and not
how we dress up on a Sunday, or act one day out of the week.
References
Dempsey, Rod; Earley, Dave.Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying Small
Groups.(Lynchburg: Liberty University Press, 2016)
Dever, Mark. .9 Marks of a Healthy Church.( Wordsearch. Crossway:
2015)
Whitney, Donald S.Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.(NavPress:
Colorado Springs, 2014)
[1]John Cheesman, et.al.,The Grace of God in the Gospel(Edinburgh:
Banner of Truth, 1972) 119.
[2]Donald S. Whitney.Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian
Life.(NavPress: Colorado Springs, 2014) 120
[3]All Scripture unless otherwise noted is from the New King James Bible,
1982
[4]Mark Dever.9 Marks of a Healthy Church.( Wordsearch. Crossway:
2015) 136
[5]Ibid 213.
[6]Rod Dempsey and Dave Earley.Leading Healthy, Growing, Multiplying
Small Groups.(Lynchburg: Liberty University Press, 2016) 32
[7]Mark Dever.9 Marks of a Healthy Church.( Wordsearch. Crossway:
2015) 183
