GROWING A HEALTHY CHURCH Pt 8

Healthy Churches are fun and attractive

Organizations that make a difference in their communities and go beyond their goals draw others in. Their staffs are passionate about the vision and the values of their company, and they genuinely enjoy their work. They are bought in, and their excitement is contagious. Effectiveness is fun and attractive.
Fun is not about easy and laid back. Fun and attractiveness is directly tied to effectiveness, and there’s no better picture of effectiveness than the early church in Acts. The first church burst onto the scene with thousands accepting the Gospel and choosing to enter into relationship with God and each other. People were eating together and talking about their faith every day. Others outside this community were drawn into it. You can’t read the words in Acts without seeing that these people were excited to experience life like they never had before. It must have been so much fun!
Healthy churches have fun. Not the type of fun that’s selfish is nature, but the kind of fun that comes from fulfilling God’s plans. The kind of fun where everyone understands their part in accomplishing the mission. That’s the kind of fun that’s infectious. The kind of fun that even non-Christians notice even if they don’t understand it.
As you read today’s passages, be reminded of the life God intended you to live, of the life the church was meant to have. The work of the church should be fun, and when done God’s way, it will attract those around it.

​Scripture:

John 10:10 AMPV
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

Acts 2:42-47 AMPV
They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to eating meals together and to prayers. A sense of awe was felt by everyone, and many wonders and signs (attesting miracles) were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed [in Jesus as Savior] were together and had all things in common [considering their possessions to belong to the group as a whole]. And they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing the proceeds with all [the other believers], as anyone had need. Day after day they met in the temple [area] continuing with one mind, and breaking bread in various private homes. They were eating their meals together with joy and generous hearts, praising God continually, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved.

Ephesians 3:10-11
​So now through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God [in all its countless aspects] might now be made known [revealing the mystery] to the [angelic] rulers and authorities in the heavenly places . This is in accordance with [the terms of] the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Proverbs 15:13 AMPV
A heart full of joy and goodness makes a cheerful face, But when a heart is full of sadness the spirit is crushed.

Proverbs 17:22 AMPV
A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.