Healthy Church
What is a healthy church?
Health is a treasure to have and a promise from God. It’s also something we can take for granted until it’s gone.
Today the focus on health is everywhere with workout plans, diets, lifestyle choices, and more. This is good and needed, because the more we know, the more we can be empowered to do it.
These things are linked to physical health, but how do we gauge a healthy church?
There are a lot of aspects that reflect health: Unity, a prayer focus, outreach, humility, stewardship, discipleship, passionate worship, and growth.
But there’s one massive aspect: church health and church transition. This is generational diversity!!
God was identified as a generational God to His people over and over again.
“I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.”
Exodus 3:6
Notice He said He’s the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is a grandfather, son, and grandson.
This shows us that God moves in families and wants to move in churches generationally!!
A healthy church is a place that has generational diversity worshiping together, empowered to serve together, and a plan of equipping new leaders. When churches do this they are set up for transitions that move them forward generationally for growth and impact.
When churches don’t do this, they whither and age out.
This is not the plan of God. He plans to move generationally so churches grow and thrive for decades in the mission of Jesus.
Pastor Marcus Mecum says,
“The secret to a great church is to have a great youth group.”
I agree! Churches that are generational invest in kids, teens, and young adults. They invest money, time, leadership, and effort to win them to Jesus and have influence in their lives. This takes intentionality and the willingness to evolve as a church.
This means that they are willing to adjust worship, the service style, the look of the building, the decor, the preaching, the outreach, and the culture to serve all generations and NOT just the older one.
Over time this will be several adjustments because things evolve and if we don’t change, we won’t be relevant to them which means we won’t influence them.
We have one generation to reach this generation. So we must decide to have generational diversity and be healthy!
When we decide to have lifestyle choices of health it impacts everything. We eat differently, we plan meals differently, and our schedules change around exercising and sleep. We begin to think ahead of what we need to maintain our new rhythm versus living moment to moment with no plan.
When we have no plan we end up in the fast food drive-thru eating old habits and old food. When we have a plan we’re empowered to do different.
The same is true for churches!
When we have generational diversity we adjust the life of the church to reach Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We see things from a bigger picture and think long-term. We have a plan that’s bigger than our wants and it sees what others want and need.
So, is your church healthy?
Here are two ways to have a healthy church.
1st – Adjust, adjust, adjust.
The world is adjusting to new things. This is a part of the evolving advancements we see in our society.
The church must adjust too. Meaning, that what worked ten years ago may not work today. Pastor Tommy Barnett says this,
“The message is sacred, the method is not.”
The gospel is the good news unto salvation through Jesus. The method of how we do church is a pathway for us to reach people in the moment. This method must change because people change, communities change, neighborhoods change, and culture change.
We can make adjustments and not change who we are and what we believe. Our foundation is Jesus and He’s called us to be fishers of men.
“He that wins souls is wise.”
Proverbs 11:30
Pride makes excuses, but humility makes adjustments.
What areas in your life are you making excuses for? What areas are you making adjustments in?
We want our churches healthy with generational diversity so they multiply over decades!
This is possible through Jesus!
Adjust, adjust, adjust.
2nd – Give the next generation a place to lead.
Kids, teens, and young adults need places to grow and have ownership of what’s happening.
This means we ask their thoughts and we give them a place to lead. Of course, we have safeguards that give empowerment with accountability. But they have a voice and we let them use it.
This is huge but biblical. David was a teenager when he killed Goliath. Mary was a teenager when she became pregnant with Jesus. Jeremiah was a teenager when he started prophesying to the King. Josiah was eight and began being used by God. Samuel was a child and heard the voice of God. Daniel was a young man used by God in a foreign land.
Over and over God used the next generation at that time to do His work. He does this today too!
Abraham and Jacob provided leadership, opportunity, accountability, experience, wisdom, and impartation. All three are needed in the generational blessing.
Our churches are needed to make room for the next generation and invest in them. This provides moments with God and a place to grow, be safe, have friends, and thrive in their faith.
It’s time! God wants to move and all of us have a place at the table.
Let’s give kids, teens, and young adults a place to lead and have ownership.
I pray God makes our churches healthy and that we allow him to do it!
May God use you greatly,
PD
Get Leadership Insights & Updates Straight to Your Inbox!
Receive the latest leadership blog articles, speaking event, and book release updates directly in your inbox!