What do you expect from church?

What do you expect from church?

 

What are your expectations of other people in the church? Are they different than what you expect from yourself?

 

(https://research.lifeway.com/2019/10/14/8-unrealistic-expectations-of-church-leaders-and-how-to-navigate-them/) By Joe McKeever

 

Some unrealistic expectations of leaders and church members adapted from Lifeway Research:

1. Every sermon will be a winner.

2. Every church member will be happy and kind all the time.

3. Every doctrinal question will be answered in the sermons.

4. Every church program or event will be successful.

5. Every worship service will meet everyone’s needs, felt and actual.

6. The church is solely responsible for all children’s spiritual development.

7. The pastor should be available to everyone at all times.

8. Every church leader should be superhuman, never tired, grumpy, needing a raise, etc.

 

The answer as presented in the article is pretty good.

1. Get people praying. Particularly about real spiritual heart change and the spiritual condition of the church and community.

2. Address issues in small groups. Perfectionism, the role of the church in life and ministry, the mission of Jesus and every Believers responsibility are good topics for small group study and discussion.

3. Focus on discipleship. If every Believer is dedicated to intentionally applying efforts to growing in the character of Jesus and making real intentional efforts to be engaged in the mission of Jesus to the world, real spiritual growth and heart change results.

 

I would add to that, encourage and develop a church culture that is pro Scripture. Encourage reading daily, not just a verse or two but multiple chapters. Share good audio Bibles, and encourage listening to Scripture. Develop a church culture that is hungry for God’s Word and mature enough to be directly engaged in reading and studying it themselves , not just relying on pastors and teachers in the church for their spiritual growth. Hear, Obey and Share.