“What are the essential qualities of a healthy growing church, regardless of culture and theological persuasion?”
Christian A. Schwarz and a team from Institute for Church Development in Germany sought to answer this question by conducting a three-year study, where 4.2 million people from over 1,000 churches within thirty-two countries responded. In today’s episode, Merle Shenk and Larry Kreider discuss the findings—known as the eight essential qualities of a healthy church—that are documented in Natural Church Development.
8 Essential Qualities:
- Empowering leadership
- Gift-oriented ministry
- Passionate spirituality
- Functional structures
- Inspiring worship service
- Holistic small groups
- Need-oriented evangelism
- Loving relationships
Quotable Quotes:
- “If you understand the family, you understand the Church.”
- “You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to be a Holy Spirit hinge.”
- “People don’t want to be a project.”
Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
- Natural Church Development by Christian A. Schwarz
- “The Eight Essential Qualities of a Healthy Church” by Larry Kreider
For more information about Larry Kreider, his books, daily devotionals, small group resources, or other teachings, visit dcfi.org/larry-kreider.
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