Characteristics of a Church.
I received some great thoughts on the church with the latest e-newsletter from Scott Thomas. He’s the director at the Acts 29 Network (the church planting arm of churches like Mars Hill and others). The message was written in the context of church planting, but I think the concepts can apply to every person, organization or church trying to make a difference for God…
Some characteristics of church planting movements:
1. Only God can orchestrate a movement
God can use men to transform an area, but only He sovereignly decides where and when He pours out an abundance of His power and grace through a people group that is passionately seeking Him.2. A movement is too large to control
A movement is not meant to be controlled. It is a measure of God’s grace that cannot be prepared in advance. As we sense His movement, we respond in humility and allow Him to work through weak vessels.3. We don’t always recognize a movement of God because of man’s involvement
Men mobilize others toward a cause and inspire others to plant churches. God uses man’s efforts to have an effect on His will. A movement is not dependant on the skills of man. A movement is recognized as an outcome that can no longer be attributed to man.4. Movements include unusual gospel-driven partnerships
Movements of God do not only think outside of the box, they do not have a box. Partnerships with other gospel-driven church planting networks will be forged without effort.5. God gets ALL of the glory
Although man may plant churches, pray, preach the gospel, develop leaders and posture churches toward health, God is to get all of the glory. Garrison said, “Church Planting Movements multiply the glory of God…No other avenues so quickly and effectively multiplies the glory of God in the hearts of so many people.”
Categorized as Ministry/Christianity, Culture, Ministry