The Life-Cycle of a Church
Interesting article I found online by W. Frank
Walton...
"So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee
and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and
going on in the fear of the Lord and in the
comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to
increase" (Acts 9:31). Luke describes the church
in Palestine (brethren in the aggregate) as
experiencing dynamic growth. In general, they had
their spiritual priorities in place, with a
reverent attitude toward the Lord and reliance on
the promises and guidance given by the Holy
Spirit. God's people doing God's work in God's
way will reap God's blessing. How many of us are
bearing "much fruit" (John 15:5) to the Lord's
honor and glory?
In a local church, as in our individual lives, we
often pass through different stages in our
spiritual development. The church at Thyatira was
improving, though plagued with false teaching
(Revelation 2:19). The church at Sardis was past
its prime (Rev. 3:1-3). The church at Corinth has
some good points and spiritual talent (1 Cor. 1:4-
7, 11:2; 2 Cor. 8:7), yet they were plagued
church problems due to carnality (1 Cor. 3:1-3)
and a failure to follow through on their promises
(2 Cor. 8:7,10-11; 9:2-5).
Paul teaches that the ideal path of a church is
ever onward and upward: "Be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing
that your labor is not in vain" (1 Cor. 15:58). A
vibrant life-cycle in the church comes from the
renewal of firm commitment to the Lord and to the
spiritual mission to which we have been called.
The Lord's soul-saving work is the most important
work in the world. It deserves and demands our
best effort, both individually and collectively.
Those who study organizations of people have
observed that most organizations go through 3
stages in its life-cycle: (1) risk-taking stage,
(2) caretaking stage, (3) undertaking stage.
Let's see how this might apply to the life-cycle
of a church.
1. Risk-Taking Stage. A new or small congregation
often struggles. Yet, everyone must pull their
own weight to not pull others down. Members are
willing by faith to take risks to advance the
cause of Christ, or as Jesus put it, to "launch
out into the deep" (Luke 5:4). The adventure of
faith means commitment to work hard and sacrifice
to build up the local church in doing the Lord's
work.
Such characterized the church at Philippi in
zealously supporting gospel preaching (Phil. 4:15-
16). The Lord's church in Rome was widely known
for their active, aggressive and encouraging
faith (Romans 1:8,12). The churches of Macedonia
were materially poor but rich in dedication and
sacrifice that even the apostle Paul marvelled (2
Cor. 8:1-5).
In this stage of growth, members gladly volunteer
their involvement. Members are active and
aggressive in evangelism and inviting others to
church, like the newly planted church at
Thessalonica (1 Thess. 1:8). Launching out in
this daring faith means a church has the
willingness to face the possibility of failure,
problems, rejection or difficulty in doing the
Lord's work. The Thessalonian church had this
bold devotion for Jesus, because of their
idealist, vibrant spiritual traits: active faith,
loving service, and steadfast hope in the Lord's
second coming (1 Thess. 1:3). This is why the
gospel grew and was glorified among them (2
Thess. 3:1).
2. Caretaking Stage. The church at Laodicea
thought they had "arrived." They smugly thought
that we "have need of nothing" (Rev. 3:17). Yet
the Lord evaluated them accurately, "You are
lukewarm" (Rev. 3:16a). His sobering warning
of "repent!" (Rev. 3:19) or else would apply to
all churches today who are smug and self-
satisfied. Lukewarm churches that are content to
putter along make the Lord sick!: "I will spit
(or vomit) you out of my mouth" (Rev.3:16b). The
caretaking church loses it vision of ever
expanding growth, thereby missing its sense of
mission and spiritual urgency.
After a church has grown, it is easy to drift
into a "comfort zone." A nice building is built.
They hire a good preacher who will do their work
for them. There's usually enough members now that
things that have to be done will eventually get
done. Maintaining the status quo becomes a rut.
This church seeks to "hold its own." Members
become weary of work and sacrifice. Religion
becomes more of convenience instead of
conviction. Is the church where you attend
satisfied with the "status quo" and "holding your
own."?
3. Undertaker Stage. If a church remains in the
caretaker stage long enough, it will soon be
ready for the undertaker. The Lord said of
Sardis, "You are dead" (Rev. 3:). They were
existing on their past reputation: "You have a
name that you are alive" (Rev. 3:1). This rut has
become "a grave with both ends knocked out."
Someone at such a church may say, "The church
here is at peace." This means someone needs to
come preach their funeral so they can "rest in
peace." There's not enough life to cause a stir
about anything, either good nor bad. A church in
the undertaker stage lives in the past. Or, they
may think they're a good church because they have
much potential that one of these days could be
developed, if they really put their mind to it.
Also, they think they are a sound church mainly
because they have good intentions and
theoretically stand for the truth on all the
important issues.
As a member of a local church, how do YOU fit
into that church's life-cycle? Make sure that you
help the local church to renew itself by the Word
of Christ in following Christ. Then by "speaking
the truth in love, we are to grow up in all
aspects into Him" (Eph. 4:15).
Posted 15:05
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