I found this 'Vertical quiz' on another site - but I've changed and tweaked it a little to (in my opinion) improve it. Take this little quiz and see how 'vertical' your church is. Answer each question with a 0-5, with 0 being the weakest yes, and 5 being the strongest yes:
1. Are the songs we sing in worship directed more TO God rather than singing ABOUT God?
2. Do platform personnel come across as ministers or as entertainers?
3. Is the sermon coming clearly/continually from what the Bible is actually saying - or is one verse used to 'jump off' on some topic?
4. Does the sermon challenge me to change and grow, versus just something to know - and are the hard scriptures preached about?
5. Am I strongly encouraged over time to join a smaller group where I can express and experience biblical community?
6. Do I find the people I meet to be humble and overt in their love for Christ, or more guarded and private about their faith?
7. Am I challenged to find a place of ministry where I can use my gifts and shoulder weekly kingdom responsibility in working and tithing my income for God?
8. Do the leaders of my church find ways to draw the focus away from themselves and onto Christ and what He is doing?
9. Does my church invite me into sacrificial work for Christ that does not benefit our church at all: feeding the poor, church planting/missions, etc.?
10. Does my church seek to follow the biblical pattern for church governance and elevate the Word of God in all it does, including church discipline?
SCORE:
Vertical Church: 40+
60-Degree Church: 30-40
Horizontal Church: 20-30
Find a New Church : 0-20
Why either/or? If the church will look vertically to God first and foremost, then we will receive the direction and the power to obey his commands and go horizontally to the world with the Gospel. If we look horizontally and down at the world first, we stumble and fall by the wayside. It's mind over matter- If God doesn't matter to us, then we won't mind him.
ReplyDeleteIt shouldn't be either / or - It must be vertical first then (buzzword alert) missional second. It seems that is backwards in the thinking of some today. It's sort of the old "Lord bless what we are doing" mentality rather than the "Lord let us do what you are blessing" mindset.
ReplyDeleteWell said Pastor Eric.
ReplyDeleteRoman 12:1
It must start with me presenting myself to God.
Jesus did! 'The lamb of God who takes away the sins of the World" John the baptist declared who Jesus was before Jesus even work one miracle, healed one person, or feed one person.
Before one message I am prepared to preach, one loaf of bread I am handing out, or one prayer I am lifting up. I determine to present myself before My LORD and my God. It is my heart, my mind, my soul, and with my strength I desire to present before God before I move in His name, preach in His name, or feed and comfort in His name.
It is His Name I am glorifying on earth and I am doing that through my life.
That was a really great post. Very thought provoking. thanks.
ReplyDelete