Hey Friends,

I came upon this article recently about what the Bible says about local churches.  I was greatly encouraged and so thankful for our wonderful Westside family.  Please take a look at it and see if you agree.  Can you think of another sign or two and share it with the rest of us?

Love you guys, have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends!

Steve 🙂

(next issue: 10 signs of a great church member)

10 Signs You Belong to a Great Church

By Jarrid Wilson

No church is perfect, but there are some biblical blueprints that dictate whether or not a church is fulfilling its God-given mission as the bride of Christ. The reason a church cannot be perfect is because we as humans are flawed. Inevitably, the second any one of us step inside a church building, we in fact have contaminated the idea of perfection. Regardless of the human imperfections, here are 10 signs you belong to a great church.

1. Sound doctrine.

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.” 2 Timothy 4:3

2. A striving for relevance.

“To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.” 2 Corinthians 9:21-23

3. Puts Jesus before religion.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

4. Christ-centered worship.

“For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.” Philippians 3:3

5. Passionate about discipleship.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19

6. A heart for the nations.

“And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.” Mark 13:10

7. Pours into the next-generation.

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

8. Offers small-groups/life-groups.

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17

9. Thriving community.

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” Acts 2:42

10. Transparency (nobody is perfect).

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.” Proverbs 11:3

Although there are plenty of other attributes that can make a great church, I’m privileged to be part of one that I believe lives up to the 10 I previously mentioned. 

 

From an article in Church Leadership

By Jarrid Wilson  (Husband, Pastor, Author. Relentlessly sharing the love of Jesus.)

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