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As a pastor, every week I get inundated with "churchy" promotions telling me how i can get in on the latest bandwagon to grow our church. Many of these come with lists of what constitutes a successful church. The suggestions vary from the helpful ("successful churches pray with power") to the mundane ("successful churches have well lit parking lots") to the ridiculous ("successful churches have fragrance free services"). But it got me thinking, "what are the marks of a healthy church?"

One book that has shaped my thinking about the church is John Stott's - "What Christ Thinks of the Church: An Expostion of Revelation 1-3". Rather than asking "what do non-Christians want in a church?" or "What do the experts say is a healthy church?", we should ask "What does Christ value in HIS church?". Here's what emerges as Christ's priorities:

Ephesus: Love

Smyrna: Endurance

Pergamum: Truth

Thyatira: Holiness

Sardis: Reality

Philadelphia: Risk-Taking

Laodocia: Passion

So for the next few weeks we are going to look at Christ's letters to seven churches in Revelation 1-3. I challenge us all to think hard about our church and consider ways we can grow in the characteristics Christ desires for his Church!