Here are my guiding verses.
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Luke 10:25-27)
How would a visitor measure whether a church is loving?
How would a visitor measure whether a church has a healthy fellowship?
How would a visitor measure whether a church is a praying church?
How would a visitor measure whether a church teaches proper doctrine?
For those of you in ministry, how would you show a visitor that you are striving to be what the church should be.
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2 comments:
How would a visitor measure whether a church is loving?
Ministry and programming – i.e. identifying and meeting needs in the community.
How would a visitor measure whether a church has a healthy fellowship?
They have opportunity to develop relationships that go beyond superficial things. For example, a church may be warm and inviting for a visitor, but if they don’t go beyond nice greetings, I don’t consider it healthy fellowship. In other words, the congregation needs to take a genuine interest in the visitor
How would a visitor measure whether a church is a praying church?
This is a tough one. Maybe there is plenty of opportunity to pray; prayerful lives modeled by leadership.
How would a visitor measure whether a church teaches proper doctrine?
The answer to that question would vary from visitor to visitor. But I assume doctrine that includes the reconciliation of the world to God through Jesus would be important. The rest may just be application of that doctrine.
For those of you in ministry, how would you show a visitor that you are striving to be what the church should be?
See my above answers.
Thanks Sam.
I struggle so much with this. My list is different this time. I am looking for a loving, praying, fellowshipping, and doctrinally sound church.
Is that too much to ask for?
Which ones should I be willing to compromise on?
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