Natural Church Development
Eight Quality Characteristics of a Healthy Church
Definitions and Biblical Support
The following gives the definition of each quality characteristic, as well as Bible text quotations in support of Natural Church Development’s eight quality characteristics of a healthy church.
1. Empowering Leadership
What is it? Leaders of growing churches equip, support, motivate and mentor individuals to become all that God wants them to be.
Leadership that empowers other people; not a dictatorship, but an enabler of other ministers for their ministries.
Does not use lay people for their own goals, but enables the laity to attain the spiritual potential God has for them.
Rather than handle the bulk of church responsibilities on their own, they invest the majority of their time in discipleship, delegation, and multiplication. Thus, energy that they invest can be spent many times over with the people they invest in.
Biblical Support
2 Tim. 2:2 - And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (Multiplication of leadership: focuses on empowering others.)
Eph. 4:12 - For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.
Ministers should not do the work which belongs to the church, thus wearying themselves and preventing others from performing their duty. They should teach the members how to labor in the church and in the community.
2. Gift-Oriented Ministry
What is it? Christians functioning in their areas of giftedness.
The role of leadership is to help its members to identify their gifts and to integrate them into appropriate ministries.
When Christians serve in their area of giftedness, they generally function less in their own strength and more in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus ordinary people can accomplish the extraordinary.
No other factor influences the sense of joy in living the Christian life more than if we are living it according to our spiritual gifts.
Biblical Support
1 Peter 4:10 - As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1 Cor. 12:28 - And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administration, various kinds of tongues.
3. Passionate Spirituality
What is it? Are Christians in this church on "fire"? Do they live committed lives and practice their faith with joy and enthusiasm?
It is not just spirituality, but a passionate spirituality.
People are on fire for the Lord; they are contagious Christians. A church full of contagious Christians is a powerful drawing card.
Biblical Support
Mark 12:30 - And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.
Luke 24:32 - And they said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us.”
1 Peter 4:8 - Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, “Rejoice!”
4. Functional Structures
What is it? The most important criterion for forms and structures in the church is if they fulfill their purpose or not. Whatever does not measure up to this requirement is changed or laid to rest.
Functional structures refers to the organizational framework of the church: the boards, committees, ministries, etc.
These structures should be supportive of the goals and mission of the church; they should not exist just to perpetuate themselves.
Biblical Support
1 Cor. 14:40 - But let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner.
Acts 15:28 - And it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.
(The early church created a mission-centered structure to support the mission command of Jesus.)
5. Inspiring Worship
What is it? The quality of worship and the heart of the worshiper makes it inspiring. It must emanate from hearts that have been touched by God during the week.
The worship must be reflective of the inner joy possessing the hearts of the worshipers.
It cannot be mere form and ceremony; it must emanate from hearts that have been touched by God during the week.
It is not the kind of worship that is important: traditional, celebration, etc. It is the quality of the worship and the heart of the worshiper that makes it inspiring.
Inspiring worship is full of happy Christians who enjoy and are excited about being in the house of God.
Biblical Support
Ps. 122:1 - I was glad when they said unto me, let us go to the house of the Lord.
Acts 2:25, 26 - For David says of Him, I was always beholding the Lord in my presence; for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted; moreover my flesh also will abide in hope.
Rev. 4:10, 11 - The twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created.”
6. Holistic Small Groups
What is it? These groups go beyond just discussing Bible passages to applying its message to daily life. Members feel comfortable bringing up those issues and questions that are immediate personal concerns. Holistic Small Groups are a natural place for Christians to learn to serve others both inside and outside the group with their spiritual gifts.
It is the very essence of the true life of the church of Jesus Christ that is that is worked out in small groups.
A place where people can feel comfortable with sharing their faith development
Not just small groups, but holistic small groups—groups that help people not only know the Bible, but be able to apply it to their life situation
A place for Christians to learn how to serve others and be equipped for reproductive ministry
Biblical Support
Acts 2:41, 42 - So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:46 - And they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart.
7. Need-Oriented Evangelism
What is it? It is the task of each Christian to use his or her gifts to serve non-Christians with whom one has a personal relationship. Already existing relationships are contacts for evangelism.
The ability of the church to focus its evangelism on the needs and questions of non-Christians—“need oriented” rather than “manipulative programs” where pressure is applied.
Quality churches are evangelistic congregations—they focus on reaching the lost.
Biblical Support
1 Cor. 9:22 - To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
Luke 15:2 - And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
8. Loving Relationships
What is it? People do not want to hear us talk about love, they want to experience how Christian love really works.
The ability of church members to truly demonstrate the love of Christ.
The creation of warm and caring environments that make it easy for new Christians to grow in an atmosphere of love and acceptance
Biblical Support
John 13:35 – And by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Rom. 12:10 - Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.
1 John 3:11 - For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
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