What do you want to see in a church?  Do you want strong children’s programs?  How about a vibrant, growing student ministry?  Or perhaps you’re more interested in the praise and worship of the church.  Do you want to feel like your alive and drawn into the presence of God by praise music?  Or do you expect worship to be a time of great reverence and simple devotion?  Could it be evangelism that’s the key for you?  Maybe you prefer in-depth teaching in the worship services.  You’re looking to be challenged by the truth and to learn new things form God’s Word.  Or maybe you want a preacher who will really connect with you and your friends – make you feel as if he’s a lot like you and understands your world and your struggles.

None of these things are necessarily bad.  Every preacher should bring depth to the pulpit, but he also needs to connect with those to whom he preachers.  And the Gospel should always be clearly presented in every sermon, but without the service becoming and evangelistic rally.  Of course, music is important as well.  And there is a place for both celebratory praise and quiet reverence when we gather together.  And the church must never neglect younger generations.  We need to reach out to them and disciple them effectively.  All of these things are important.

However, too many people approach church the same way that they approach a trip to the mall.  They will browse through different stores and find what suits them; they’ll find a church that “fits” them.  But in doing that – and in focusing on any one of the things mentioned above, we miss what really matters.  What matters more than whether the church meets my needs or expectations is whether the church is healthy.  We need to see, not the things we want, but the things that God says make for a healthy, vibrant church.

That’s why we’re beginning a new study this Sunday called “Signs of Life.”   We want to know the priorities that God has set for the church.  We want to know what distinguishes healthy churches from unhealthy churches.  Therefore, we will spend the next eight weeks looking at a few distinguishing marks of healthy churches, such as a commitment to expository preaching, the need for a biblical understanding of the Gospel, for a biblical approach to evangelism and discipleship, and for a biblical model of leadership in the church, among others.

We, as pastors, refuse to sit still as we wait for God to bring another pastor to our church.  We want our church to be biblical and healthy, vibrant and growing.  Be here each Sunday as we turn to God’s Word to better understand the heartbeat of a healthy church.