What are the characteristics of Health of your Church?

Your church cannot be based on just one good thing and ignore the rest.

These are the 12 characteristics that form a church that pleases our Lord. Each of these distinctions are extremely important; however I feel I placed them in a hierarchal arrangement. That is the first one is more important than the second. And the first one begets the second that begets the third and so forth. So each one when practiced is also dependent on the characteristic that preceded it so it can birth the one that follows. But if you leave out any one of them your church will not function as God intended it to.

They all build from one another and synergistically combine to be the church Christ called. For example I was on staff at a church that had solid doctrine and Bible teaching, Biblical uncompromising worship, but they refused to incorporate some of the other vital characteristics. Thus, even though they had the solid foundation of the Word, the rest of the house was not built and so it could not function as a house, as a church.

The church cannot be based on just one good aspect and ignore the rest. We cannot praise ourselves for having great outreach when we do not disciple the people we are bringing in. We cannot be confident we are doing as God has called us when we proclaim the Word with passion, but will not share it with our neighbors. The church must be holistic. Not the new age mumble jumble, but a balance of what Scripture calls us to, all working together by the power of the Holy Spirit. Each of these characteristics are not denominationally based, but are Biblical, so all denominations who claim Jesus as Lord can follow them if they want to be all that they are called to be.

Over twenty years of research have shown these as vital!

First, is the clear uncompromising teaching of God’s Word.

Second, is impacting worship.

Third, is passion for the Lord.

Fourth is heartfelt Prayer.

Fifth is Making Disciples.

Sixth is love and care that is penetrating.

Seventh is leadership development.

Eight is outreach and missions.

Ninth is powered vision.

Tenth is effective stewardship.

Eleventh is appropriate programming.

Twelfth is replication.

Glory is the expression of our love and gratitude, bestowing our best praise with splendor and passion. Because He first loved us. This is why we do church, and when we have this in the forefront of our thinking and heart we will do church well as God intended.

More here:

http://www.intothyword.org/articles_view.asp?articleid=32733&columnid=3881