THIRTEEN SIGNS OF A HEALTHY CHURCH We all make lists for one reason or another. "Grocery" lists, "To Do" lists, "Accomplishment" lists, "Wish" lists, or whatever, are important, because they give us a visual image of where we are at the moment in any situation, and provide us a path to the future as well as giving us something by which to judge ourselves. Even our beloved Lord Jesus, in the Bible, lists things for His disciples to ponder and St. Paul Iists what the fruits of the Spirit are. So, in-this issue of the "News from the Pews" I would like to offer a list for us to ponder. It was given to me by Dr. William Howser, one of my professors at the seminary, and it deals with the 13 signs of a healthy congregation. I offer it to you for your consideration as a means by which to judge how we are doing here at Trinity. So, here it is: THIRTEEN SIGNS OF A HEALTHY CONGREGATION 1) The individual members have a personal knowledge of God, and are growing in that knowledge and their love for Him. 2) The Bible is taken seriously and the orthodox teachings of the Church are never compromised. Also, the Sacraments are pre-eminent. 3) There is a desire for holiness, and open sin is not tolerated. 4) "Grace" sets the tone for church life. 5) There is a strong sense of community. 6) Emphasis is given to personal Christian care of the members by the pastor and each other. 7) Families are a strong cohesive unit. 8) There is a true respect and reverence for the Lord in worship where traditions are honored, cherished, and promoted. 9) The congregation has a positive attitude about financial giving to the Lord. 10) Prayer in the worship service and in the private lives of the members is considered very important. 11) There is strong lay involvement and leadership. 12) There is a clear sense of purpose and direction. 13) A healthy church is characterized by efficiency and excellence. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it does represent some of the most important things that a congregation should consider when assessing its past and looking to its future. The Bible tells us, "Whatsoever you do, do all things to the glory of God." I encourage you to consider the above items over the next month, because in the September issue, I would like to explore some of these items in more detail. We here at Trinity are embarking on a new beginning. We are very much like the early church in the book of Acts. We have a past, but our future is before us, and it looks very bright. We ask the Lord to guide us and bless us on our journey together, so, we need to always assess where we are and what we can do to both honor our Lord and Savior Jesus, and to establish a sound footing for the future. God bless you all. We'll continue this next month.
