In today’s episode, John and Jim continue to unpack some of the most powerful moments of the Helping Small Churches Thrive Conference, that featured Karl Vaters, a specialist in helping small churches get healthy. In today’s pod, they explore three essentials of a healthy church. Once again, no matter the size of the church you lead, this episode will both encourage and challenge you.

You can listen to the audio version here. Here is the video version.

Here are the show notes:

The Great Commandment – Matthew 22

• Matthew 22:36-39: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
• The “as yourself” piece is the missing piece in the health conversation in the church today.
• For a church to be vibrant and healthy for the long haul, we have to get all three pieces of the Great Commandment right!

The Great Commission – Matthew 28

• Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
• Would it be too harsh to say that any church which is not in some way, shape, or form reaching people for Jesus and discipling them is lacking health?
• Mission vs. vision. Perhaps every church should have the same mission . . . The Great Commission.

Equipping God’s People – Ephesians 4

• Ephesians 4:11-12: “It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
• It doesn’t matter if you pastor a church of 20 or 2,000 – you are called to equip God’s people.
• If you pastor a small church, start with one or two. Find people who love to serve and start with them.
• Karl Vaters: “It’s easier to teach a servant to lead than to teach a leader to serve.”