Comments on: What Makes a Healthy Church http://forgodsfame.org/2009/01/07/what-makes-a-healthy-church/ Spreading the fame of God by reaching, building, and equipping people in the character and priorities of Jesus Christ. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:19:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: CAN http://forgodsfame.org/2009/01/07/what-makes-a-healthy-church/comment-page-1/#comment-6160 CAN Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:45:08 +0000 http://forgodsfame.org/2009/01/07/what-makes-a-healthy-church/#comment-6160 Biblically based balance is my point. Too heavy on information is not healthy. Too heavy on relational or experience is not healthy. Balance of all three is healthy. Music and drama were only used as examples of the experience part which is also worship and a vehicle God uses to encourage and build up the body. Just like teaching or a small group is. Biblically based balance is my point. Too heavy on information is not healthy. Too heavy on relational or experience is not healthy. Balance of all three is healthy. Music and drama were only used as examples of the experience part which is also worship and a vehicle God uses to encourage and build up the body. Just like teaching or a small group is.

]]> By: O'Ryan http://forgodsfame.org/2009/01/07/what-makes-a-healthy-church/comment-page-1/#comment-6149 O'Ryan Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:55:51 +0000 http://forgodsfame.org/2009/01/07/what-makes-a-healthy-church/#comment-6149 I don't think that is what is being said at all. I think what is being said is that there is really one think that makes a healthy church broken down into 9 marks. A healthy church is one that sits under the bible; it is informed and guided by it in all things; and, it does everything through that lens. Including being relational through fellowship and one anothering and, being informational through expositional preaching. Further, I think it is the commitment of a church to being under the bible that marks it as healthy; not the churches achievement of attaining those specific goals. I see no reason why music and drama would have any bearing on a whether or not a church is healthy church. I don’t think that is what is being said at all. I think what is being said is that there is really one think that makes a healthy church broken down into 9 marks. A healthy church is one that sits under the bible; it is informed and guided by it in all things; and, it does everything through that lens. Including being relational through fellowship and one anothering and, being informational through expositional preaching.

Further, I think it is the commitment of a church to being under the bible that marks it as healthy; not the churches achievement of attaining those specific goals.

I see no reason why music and drama would have any bearing on a whether or not a church is healthy church.

]]> By: CAN http://forgodsfame.org/2009/01/07/what-makes-a-healthy-church/comment-page-1/#comment-6147 CAN Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:28:07 +0000 http://forgodsfame.org/2009/01/07/what-makes-a-healthy-church/#comment-6147 So then a in your opinion a "healthy" church is all about good solid information and biblical teaching & understanding along with the importance of being very deep intellectually and never ever "shallow"? What about the balance of a relational (others) and experience (exa. music and drama) focus along with the informational? Had to chime in as this is way close to home. So then a in your opinion a “healthy” church is all about good solid information and biblical teaching & understanding along with the importance of being very deep intellectually and never ever “shallow”? What about the balance of a relational (others) and experience (exa. music and drama) focus along with the informational? Had to chime in as this is way close to home.

]]> By: O'Ryan http://forgodsfame.org/2009/01/07/what-makes-a-healthy-church/comment-page-1/#comment-6092 O'Ryan Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:04:55 +0000 http://forgodsfame.org/2009/01/07/what-makes-a-healthy-church/#comment-6092 Generally, I would characterize a country club church is suburban, white, elite, and big enough that everyone knows of each other without necessisarily knowing each other. I didn't mean it as a pejorative. However, like you said, it isn't the size or style of church that makes it deep. I used the term because I think it is important to realize all churches can be labeled and dismissed. Not that anyone in this context actually has but I have heard it around. Generally, I would characterize a country club church is suburban, white, elite, and big enough that everyone knows of each other without necessisarily knowing each other. I didn’t mean it as a pejorative. However, like you said, it isn’t the size or style of church that makes it deep. I used the term because I think it is important to realize all churches can be labeled and dismissed. Not that anyone in this context actually has but I have heard it around.

]]> By: Eric Farr http://forgodsfame.org/2009/01/07/what-makes-a-healthy-church/comment-page-1/#comment-6091 Eric Farr Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:01:55 +0000 http://forgodsfame.org/2009/01/07/what-makes-a-healthy-church/#comment-6091 @O'Ryan: Good advice. You've piqued my curiosity, though. How do you define a "country club" church? @O’Ryan: Good advice. You’ve piqued my curiosity, though. How do you define a “country club” church?

]]> By: O'Ryan http://forgodsfame.org/2009/01/07/what-makes-a-healthy-church/comment-page-1/#comment-6090 O'Ryan Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:17:47 +0000 http://forgodsfame.org/2009/01/07/what-makes-a-healthy-church/#comment-6090 Recently, a study was conducted to gage the spiritual condition of churchgoers and what has motivated them at various stages in their growth. The study would characterize your friends as "Exploring Christianity" and what the study suggested was that the two things that move people from exploring to engaging was the bible and the doctrine. Specifically the doctrines of God's grace and trinity. This makes sense to me because in a broad sense, the bible is about who God is and how he relates to us. Most strikingly expressed in Christ and the grace he brings about. In my opinion and based on my past, I would suggest making sure your discipleship of them focuses on the gospel. It was the very thing that moved me and continues to do so. I think too, most of us who goes to a country club church like ours will see any mega church as rock concerty, regardless of the marks it endeavors to possess. And, I think they realize this, and work to maximize the spiritual growth of people through the small group ministry. So, I would also encourage them to get into a small group or, invite them to yours. Recently, a study was conducted to gage the spiritual condition of churchgoers and what has motivated them at various stages in their growth. The study would characterize your friends as “Exploring Christianity” and what the study suggested was that the two things that move people from exploring to engaging was the bible and the doctrine. Specifically the doctrines of God’s grace and trinity. This makes sense to me because in a broad sense, the bible is about who God is and how he relates to us. Most strikingly expressed in Christ and the grace he brings about.

In my opinion and based on my past, I would suggest making sure your discipleship of them focuses on the gospel. It was the very thing that moved me and continues to do so.

I think too, most of us who goes to a country club church like ours will see any mega church as rock concerty, regardless of the marks it endeavors to possess. And, I think they realize this, and work to maximize the spiritual growth of people through the small group ministry. So, I would also encourage them to get into a small group or, invite them to yours.

]]> By: Larry http://forgodsfame.org/2009/01/07/what-makes-a-healthy-church/comment-page-1/#comment-6089 Larry Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:44:14 +0000 http://forgodsfame.org/2009/01/07/what-makes-a-healthy-church/#comment-6089 I wouldn't say you didn't answer the question, you pointed the questioner to a resource they can use to engage their friend in a discussion of what they should look for in a church. I think that's a good answer. It requires the questioner to do a little more digging but that's not a bad thing. I appreciate you sharing these. As you pointed out, they all sort of hinge on the first one expositional preaching. All the others kind of become givens if we are preaching the word each week, in season and out. There's another great resource from Nine Marks called "What is A Healthy Church Member" by Thabiti Anyabwile that I would also recommend to anyone trying to find a church or who is wondering how to participate where they are in a healthy God-centered way (presupposing that 'where they are' is a healthy church of course!). I wouldn’t say you didn’t answer the question, you pointed the questioner to a resource they can use to engage their friend in a discussion of what they should look for in a church. I think that’s a good answer. It requires the questioner to do a little more digging but that’s not a bad thing.

I appreciate you sharing these. As you pointed out, they all sort of hinge on the first one expositional preaching. All the others kind of become givens if we are preaching the word each week, in season and out.

There’s another great resource from Nine Marks called “What is A Healthy Church Member” by Thabiti Anyabwile that I would also recommend to anyone trying to find a church or who is wondering how to participate where they are in a healthy God-centered way (presupposing that ‘where they are’ is a healthy church of course!).

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