Friday, May 11, 2007

A great church is:

Connected deeply with the will of God through scripture and prayer
Purpose driven
Missional
Focused
It’s Budget reflects God’s values
Gets the unchurched to come because EVERYBODY asks them to come
Closes the back door through discipleship
Has a front door that is compelling, warm, relevant, creative, and authentic.
Searches for the unchurched
A learning organization and organism
Committed to excellence
Ancient / Future

it's reach is much greater than the corner of king and college---it goes as far as we do, and then we pay it forward often


Evaluates itself ruthlessly. Fearlessly faces reality.
Produces good works in the community
Takes God seriously, is sober about Satan, and does not take itself seriously.
Plants churches, connects apostolically, and sends missionaries out
Is in existence primarily for the benefit of its non-members
Not afraid of case studies that fail
Kills programming that doesn’t produce fruit
One that loves each other extravagantly, unguardedly, and outrageously
“not about you”
Understands the differences between leaders and managers
Shifts into new paradigms with enthusiasm
A place where legalism is treated as an enemy of grace
Politics are replaced by prayer
Implementation trumps philosophy
The call of “the rescue” [gospel] is given unapologetically by creatively and empathetically sharing the Jesus story
Has Christ’s heart for the poor, social justice, suffering, etc.
Worships deeply
Plays, laughs, cries, dances, grieves…with each other
A place where everyone is a servant-leader and priest of humility
Where healing happens, lives are transformed, and revolution is SOP
Afflicts the comfortable, and comforts the afflicted
The sermon is the rudder, Jesus mission is the North Star, and everyone works the deck to get to the destination
Church refitting is re-done every 5 years to make sure we don’t get lost and forget that the values are more important than the form
Diversity, dialogue and deference trump narrowness, diatribe, and domination
The Spirit can flow freely in the preparation of the services; or spontaneously take over the services
Creativity is deeply valued
Fruit is inspected
Church discipline is operational, normative, restorative, and unafraid

A chruch is a community of believers,enthused to show jesus love on a continous basis. Able to get rid of our flesh and walk with the spirit.Not only a group of friends but family, willing to drop anything to help all.Also, not to keep it in the walls of our chruch, but willing to overflow into the community therefore effecting a nation.


What do you think? Let’s add to the list

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

it's reach is much greater than the corner of king and college---it goes as far as we do, and then we pay it forward often

david sherwood said...

i added it to the list...

ds

Anonymous said...

A chruch is a community of believers,enthused to show jesus love on a continous basis. Able to get rid of our flesh and walk with the spirit.Not only a group of friends but family, willing to drop anything to help all.Also, not to keep it in the walls of our chruch, but willing to overflow into the community therefore effecting a nation.

david sherwood said...

it's been added

 

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