The Gospel-Driven Church (Mar 2019)
To cultivate a spiritually healthy church we need a shift in our metrics-a \grace-shift\ that prioritizes the work of God in the lives of people over numbers and dollars. Are people growing in their esteem for Jesus Is there a dogged devotion to the Bible as the ultimate authority for life Is there a growing interest in theology and doctrine A discernible spirit of repentance And perhaps most importantly, is there evident love for God and for our neighbors in the congregation
Leading a church culture to shift from numerical success to the metrics of grace can be costly, but leaders who have conviction, courage, and commitment can lead while avoiding some of the landmines that often destroy churches. Wilson includes diagnostic questions that will help leaders measure-and lead team transparency in measuring as a group-the relative spiritual health of their church, as well as a practical prescriptive plan for implementing this metric-measuring strategy without becoming legalistic.
Most attractional church models can lean heavily on making changes to the weekend worship gatherings. And while some of these changes can be good, thriving grace-focused churches are driven by a commitment to the gospel, allowing the gospel to inform and shape the worship service and the various ministries of the church.