What makes a church successful? A big turnout on Sunday morning? A multimillion-dollar budget? A state-of-the-art building?
We know these things aren’t the criteria that define a successful church. Whether the church has stadium-size crowds or just a few in attendance, numbers are not the measure God uses for success, rather He looks at the heart of the church.
The apostle Paul’s love for the brethren in Thessalonica was evident when he wrote:
“May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all ….. so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13).
With these words, Paul shows us two characteristics that are vital for a successful church — (1) love for one another and (2) holiness.
Congregations, church buildings, and budgets come in different sizes. However, the true measure of success is demonstrated by followers of Christ who love God, love each other, and are committed to living holy lives (1 Peter 1:13-16 NASB).
Our challenge can be found in the words of the prophet Micah: “What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
We know these things aren’t the criteria that define a successful church. Whether the church has stadium-size crowds or just a few in attendance, numbers are not the measure God uses for success, rather He looks at the heart of the church.The apostle Paul’s love for the brethren in Thessalonica was evident when he wrote:
“May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all ….. so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13).
With these words, Paul shows us two characteristics that are vital for a successful church — (1) love for one another and (2) holiness.
Congregations, church buildings, and budgets come in different sizes. However, the true measure of success is demonstrated by followers of Christ who love God, love each other, and are committed to living holy lives (1 Peter 1:13-16 NASB).
Our challenge can be found in the words of the prophet Micah: “What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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