God builds the church, but he uses people to build it. So, a good question might be, what kind of church member does God use to build a great church?
As a pastor, I have noticed some trends among church people who help move the church forward. The following is a list of characteristics of those type of people. Not everyone will have every one of them, yet, from my perspective, it’s the combination of each of these in people that builds a great church.
A great church member:
1. Believes and loves God’s Word.
“Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed” (Joshua 1:8).
Great church members allow the Bible guide them and the church.
2. Grows in prayer.
“Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere” (Eph. 6:18).
Great church members strive to pray more than worry.
3. Builds on faith.
“And a righteous person will live by faith.” (Heb. 10:38).
A great church member is willing to walk by faith as God leads, even through the most challenging times.
4. Puts God’s will first.
“Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:35).
Great church members put God’s agenda ahead of every other agenda.
5. Enjoys meeting with God (and his people) regularly.
“… not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:25).
A great church member looks toward heaven expectantly and, therefore, often seeks to worship God and experience him with other believers.
6. Supports the pastor and the church.
“When Timothy comes, treat him with respect. He is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am. Don’t let anyone despise him” (1 Cor. 16:10–11).
A pastor is always looking for someone to call friend. A great church member is that friend. The pastor isn’t always right—and this is not a blind, cultish support, but great church members look for ways to better the church and never seek to cause disruption in the body.
7. Serves as an encourager in the church.
“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing” (1 Thess. 5:11).
Great church members are a part of the solution, not a part of the problem. They look for ways to encourage, eagerly invite their friends and neighbors, and volunteer without having their arms twisted.
8. Doesn’t think everything is about them.
“Then Jesus said to the disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross and follow me’” (Matt. 16:24).
Did you know everything may not go your way? Great church members are willing to allow the best to be done for the church even when it sometimes goes against their personal desires.
9. Thinks outside the walls of the church.
“But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me every where—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
If we are not careful, our churches could be hard to tell apart from a Country Club. Great church members think of those not yet in a church—and support the church in reaching them—again, even when it means giving up “their” seat (or parking space) to do so.
10. Maintains a friendly church.
“Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning” (2 John 6).
A great church member makes sure guests never stand around long with no one to talk to them. They are welcoming and friendly to everyone, with or without a title to do so.
I’m so thankful to be in a church with so many who make this list easy to write.
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This article originally appeared on RonEdmondson.com and is reposted here by permission.