“Becoming a Healthy Church”

“If you build it, he will come…”

Findings in Autopsy of a Deceased Church (by Thom Rainer): 6. The Church was Preference-Driven “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be exploited.” (Philippians 2:4-6).

7. Pastoral Tenure Decreased Life Stages of Pastoral Tenure: Year 1: The Honeymoon Years 2 and 3: Conflicts and Challenges Years 4 and 5: Crossroads Part 1 Years 6-10: Fruitful Harvest Year 11and Beyond: Crossroads Part 2

Pastor, remember your ordination charge: 2 Timothy 4:1-5 Church, pray for your leaders and be good followers: Hebrews 13:17

10. The Church Obsessed Over the Facilities Do not collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither most nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is there your heart will also be” (Matt. 6:19-21).

9. The Church Had No Clear Purpose Proverbs 29:18- “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom's instruction” (NIV). “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he” (KJV). Proverbs 29:18- “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom's instruction” (NIV). “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he” (KJV).

8. The Church Barely Prayed Together “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).

Steps we can take to get beyond our preferences, short pastoral tenures, obsession over our facilities, and a lack of clear purpose:  Make a Genuine Prayer Commitment: “Lord, teach me to pray. Teach me to pray consistently. Teach me to be a leader in prayer in my church. And teach me to keep passionate and believing prayer as the lifeblood of this church” (p. 68).  Make a Genuine Prayer Commitment: “Lord, teach me to pray. Teach me to pray consistently. Teach me to be a leader in prayer in my church. And teach me to keep passionate and believing prayer as the lifeblood of this church” (p. 68).

Steps we can take to get beyond our preferences, short pastoral tenures, obsession over our facilities, and a lack of clear purpose:  Determine to Persevere through conflicts and challenges  Yield your Preferences to the Lord  Devote yourself to the church’s vision  Determine to Persevere through conflicts and challenges  Yield your Preferences to the Lord  Devote yourself to the church’s vision