Often measuring spiritual growth is viewed as subjective and we are content not to measure it at all. But God has called us to assess our situation in light of his word.
Warren Wiersbe listed these eighteen questions to ask about your church in his book, "10 Power Principles for Christian Service"
As I read these questions, I found that they truly summarize my heart and goal as pastor. They are convicting and challenging but they prompt me to pray and seek God for them to be true in our church. I have printed them out and look over them daily.
Would you prayerfully read through them and ask God how you can contribute to the work of the Lord here?
Is our church maturing?
Are the people discovering and developing their spiritual gifts?
Is there a place of ministry for everybody and are more people getting involved?
Am I working myself out of jobs or taking on more than I can handle?
Are we more and more going to the Bible for guidance and less and less to the church constitution, rules and regulations, and church tradition?
Are we all becoming more like Jesus Christ as the Spirit teaches us from the Word?
Is God meeting our needs in answer to prayer?
Am I ministering by faith, or do I “scheme” to get things done?
Is there a growing sense of unity and mutual concern in the fellowship? Are people spontaneously caring for each other?
Have we courageously scrapped some “dead ministries” and started some new ones, or are we monitoring conformity?
Do we have our own distinctive ministry or are we slavishly imitating other churches? Is our church a blessing to other churches?
Are people amazed at what’s happening and does God get the glory?
Is the church family a witnessing community outside the walls of the church?
Are we sailing in unchartered waters to share the gospel with new people or aimlessly fishing in the same puddles with the same bait?
Do the people have a healthy appetite for the Word, and are we all happy to move into new “pastures” in Scripture? Am I riding my hobbies in my preaching?
Does the church have more opportunities than it has workers? Do we pray for God to raise up laborers?
Is the Lord calling people out of our fellowship to serve him elsewhere, and is the church family happy to send them and support them?
Is the Lord giving us new ideas and new challenges? Do we test them by Scripture and then courageously obey him?
Are the problems we face less and less personality-centered and more and more ministry-centered?
May God help us to grow and mature in our spiritual walk.
Serve the Lord with gladness today!
Sincerely,
Pastor
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