How do we measure how we are doing as a church? I wish there was an actual spiritual thermometer that we could get. We could set up a little booth for when people come into the church so we could measure their spiritual temperature. Since we don't have this spiritual thermometer, we measure the success of our churches by the effects of the temperature, but not the actual temperature. Imagine if we couldn't feel the actual temperature outside. Imagine if there was no thermometer to measure how hot or cold it is outside, and the only way to measure how hot or cold was to look around to see the effects of the temperature instead. Maybe you see frost on the ground, or no leaves on the trees, and no freshly bud flowers all which indicate that it is getting colder, but you actually can't feel the cold. Or maybe we see grass starting to grow, flowers budding, birds chirping all which are the affects of it getting warmer, but you can't feel it. It's possible to get a false temperature reading by looking at the effects also. For example, In the spring things start to grow. As it gets hotter and hotter things sometimes die. We could measure the effects (dying grass & plants) incorrectly, and assume that things are cold when they are actually hot or vice versa.
What are the effects that we look at to measure the temperature in the church?
Here are some...
- attendance
- offering
- small group involvement
- members(We call them "vision carriers")
- ministry involvement
- baptisms
- salvation decisions
2 comments:
I was connected to your blog via John Creamons link on the Fellowship site.
I have witnessed first hand the falling temperature of a church. It wasn’t because of the pastors teaching or the social programs they offered but rather the lack of meeting people were they are at. Its funny how just this morning I heard a radio speaker say that Africa is becoming one of the most influential Christian continents. In other words the US and Europe are becoming the nations which need the missionaries.
I believe the time is right for harvest. I believe you will have an impact for Jesus in your community as Fellowship has had on mine. It’s truly awesome to see how two different area churches can come together and pray for each other. Reaching the lost for Him is of the utmost importance, after all eternity is at stake. I have and will pray for you and your congregation. May God put on the hearts of The Elk Creek congregation the courage to step out of there comfort zones to invite family, friends and neighbors into a loving and eternal relationship with The God of all we see and hear. I pray the same for Fellowship church.
I look forward to an eternity with an all loving God who sent His Son Jesus to die for us. I look forward to the day when all my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus will sing praises to Him in unison. But until that day comes we need to pray and never let go of the hands of those who are fighting the spiritual battles of acceptance over rejection.
Shalom,
Chuck
Chuck,
Thanks for your comments. I believe that you 100% correct that the time is right for harvest! God is at work! I also believe that as more and more churches like Fellowship/Elk Creek pray for one another, work together, and encourage each other, that's when we will see the spiritual climate of our region get hotter and hotter! By the way...Your pastor is incredible...of course you already know that! I am so thankful that God has brought him into my life!
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