3 Areas for My Church to Improve
1. Understanding of Church Membership
Part of being a member of the church means regularly gathering together.
[1]!However, at the church, I currently attend it seems that there is a little
emphasis put on the “why” of that truth. There is an understanding that
gathering together is important, yet it is rarely mentioned publicly nor is it
mentioned how it benefits and grows the Christian.
1. Church Discipline
Discipline is supposed to be positive, or as Dever says, “formative”.
[2]!However, the church I’m attending rarely does it. We have one person
that regularly leads songs and worship on stage on Sunday mornings.
However, their Facebook posts are often hateful, petty, and inappropriate.
There have been no disciplinary actions taken. There has been a
hesitation to bring it up due to this person’s often emotional and
combustive reactions.
1. Understanding of Evangelism
Evangelism is not social action or political involvement.[3]!It is presenting
Jesus through the power of the Spirit to sinful people.[4]!The church here
is very active in social injustice. I believe this is a great thing, but it can
oftentimes be a substitute for Gospel-Centered evangelism.
Steps to Grow
1. Clear Structure on Joining
There are no clear programs, classes, or steps to take to officially join the
church. Setting up that process that is clear and consistent will eventually
help emphasize the importance of church membership and belonging to a
local body of believers.
1. Discipline for Formation
There needs to be disciplinary action taken within the church. There need
to be certain leaders within the church that understand discipline will be
part of their job and duties. Helping train them on how to discipline well
and how to go about it in a way that is for the formation of the person can
help ensure discipline happens when necessary. Going over when is the
right situation to discipline is important as well. Ultimately, it cannot be
the job of the lead pastor to go through disciplinary measures with every
person within the congregation. That is why having a team that
understands they may be called upon to do so with members of their
team is key to having discipline done well.
1. Plan Evangelism Events
Having evangelism events on the annual calendar can help keep
evangelism in front of the minds and hearts of the people in the church. I
believe that one of the reasons many Christians don’t participate in
evangelism is a fear of the risk involved. Clay Scroggins says about the
younger generation, “The contradiction that many point out with the
millennial generation is that even though we’re highly confident, we’re
also deeply risk-averse for some reason.”[5]!One way to help combat that
feeling is by planning out things in advance. Also, having a class that goes
over how to evangelize well, showing possible situations one may find
themselves in, and how to respond to those challenges is important as
well.
Word Count: 591
Bibliography
Dever, Mark.!Nine Marks of a Healthy Church.Wheaton, IL: Crossway
Publishers, 2013.
Scroggins, Clay.!Lead When You’re Not in Charge.Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan, 2017.
Whitney, Donald S.!Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.Colorado
Springs, CO: NavPress, 2014.
[1]!Mark Dever.!Nine Marks of a Healthy Church.(Wheaton, IL: Crossway
Publishers, 2013) 324.
[2]!Ibid., 340.
[3]!Ibid., 246.
[4]!Donald Whitney.!Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.(Colorado
Springs, CO: NavPress, 2014) 276.
[5]!Clay Scroggins.!Lead When You’re Not In Charge.(Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan, 2017) 153.
