High Expectations – Part 2

by John Kimball, CCCC Director of Church Development

One of the things I have learned after many years in the ministry is that the things you measure become the operational priorities in the church. In this article and last month’s, I take some time to unpack some things every church should be measuring — but most do not. Last time we talked about high expectations of church leaders. This time we focus on high expectations for members.

High Expectations of Church Members

As the American church has migrated over the last several decades toward a more “organizational” mindset, member expectations have followed suit. When a person joins a church they are expected to attend services, support the church financially, participate in various church groups and activities, take part in business meetings and in time invite others to join as well. But these are the same kinds of expectations any club or organization might have for their members. The critical problem is that the “organizational” mindset centers all these things on the church rather than on Christ, his kingdom and the transformation he wants to bring to the world.

Jesus asked the question, “Why do you call me ‘Lord’ and then not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). That’s a great question! So perhaps the expectations we place upon those who join our local congregations should line up with Jesus’ commands and teaching (Matthew 28:20a). That’s an incredibly long list! But let’s look at just a few:

1. Members of our local congregations must first and foremost live lives that demonstrate they love and trust God with every fiber of their being (Matthew 22:37; 6:25; John 14:1). What evidence is there that their relationship with God is their highest priority? How deeply does their life proclaim their trust in Him in all things?
2. Members of our local churches must also demonstrate that they love people — including those that are hard to love (Matthew 22:39; 5:44; John 13:34). How consistent is their demonstration of such love to others? Are there any relationships in which they are choosing not to love?
3. Related to the command to love people above is the command to forgive. Forgiveness for us was costly! No Christian is allowed to withhold forgiveness toward anyone (Matthew 6:14–15; 18:35). Is there any evidence of unforgiveness in their lives?
4. Like those who lead, members also should be about the Great Commission work of personally making disciples (Matthew 28:18). No believer is exempt from this one-on-one activity of leading others toward deeper maturity in Christ. In what way are local church members actively discipling others?
5. Christians are most like their Jesus when they are about the work of making peace (Matthew 4:9), both within their own relationships and between others’ (Matthew 5:23–24). What evidence is there that local church members are fulfilling their calling to be instruments of reconciliation? Are they allowing conflicts to remain unaddressed in their lives and the lives of those they love?
6. Christians are to be people of faithful and persistent prayer (Matthew 6:5–13; 7:7–8; Luke 18:1–8), especially intercessory prayer. How consistent are local church members in both personal and corporate prayer? How persistent are they in seeking God? Can they give testimonies to answered prayer?
7. Followers of Jesus are instructed not to judge (Matthew 7:1), for only God knows a person’s heart. Are local church members truly demonstrating a judgment-free lifestyle? Are they free from political, racial and economic prejudices?
8. Believers are instructed to put Jesus’ words into practice (Matthew 7:26). This requires that they also be students of the Word, because if they do not know the Word they cannot put it into practice. How active are local church members in studying and applying Jesus’ instruction? What evidence is there that they are growing and changing to be more like the Savior? What fruit can be seen from the application of God’s Word in their lives?
9. Jesus told us that the poor would always be with us (Mark 14:7; Luke 12:33). Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, God’s heart for the poor, the widow and the orphan is consistently demonstrated. In what ways are local church members actively ministering to such groups in their own communities?
10. Believers in Jesus are to have a higher view of marriage than the world (Matthew 5:32). In what ways do local church members champion and restore marriages — both their own and intervening to help others?

There are so many other things that really should also be measured, but you get the idea. We do not have space to talk about how members should be instruments of Christ in healing and deliverance (Matthew 10:8); how they should be overcoming anger (Matthew 5:22); dealing with lust (Matthew 5:28); being trustworthy (Matthew 5:37); turning the other cheek (Matthew 5:39); offering selfless service (Matthew 6:1) and much more.

What are the expectations communicated to the members of your church? What are they told will be expected of them when they join? What does accountability on these things look like in your church? Do your people view their membership in the church in terms of the priorities we’ve outlined here or more organizationally? The CCCC’s LifeFlow Church Development process helps local churches bring such expectations into reality. For more information on how we can help you, call our office at (651) 739-1474.