|
Marks of
Revival
Here are some ideas adapted from a book by David Mains,
entitled The Sense of His Presence: Experiencing Classic Revival. Perhaps
you will find his eight qualities helpful also. Is there a strong, abiding
sense of the presence of the Lord here? More specifically . . . "
-
Do the people come
prepared truly to worship Him (Are they ready to celebrate, participate,
even weep?)--or do they just go through Sunday morning motions?
-
Is Christian love
expressed in a remarkable way (Do people hug, help and enjoy one
another?)--or are the relationships as flawed, as petty, as hateful as in
the general society around us?
-
Are the believers having
victory over sin (What about the adults, the teens, even the
grade-schoolers?)--or are many struggling and losing, or not struggling at
all?
-
Are the people in
Community excited about opportunities to serve (Do they sense that they
serve their King when they serve others?)--or is grumbling heard about
tedium or frustration of practical service?
-
Is the church eager to
learn the Scriptures (Are Bible studies full? Is there enthusiasm about
personal application?)--or do people only perk up when they talk about
themselves?
-
Do the people love to
pray? (Are prayer cells forming? Do they ask for specific prayer, and do
they remember to pray in detail for one another?)--or are token prayers
thoughtlessly thrown out?
-
Are church members sharing
the Good News? (Do they include, invite, and welcome outsiders into the life
of the church?)--or is there not enough life change to merit inviting
someone to join in?
- Is there a general sense of well-being, a feeling
that life in the church is as God intended it to be? Do people feel the fact
that living with Christ and these people is the best life possible on this
earth?
These are eight marks of a church that experiences a sense
of the presence of Christ. By these we can measure how well we as a church
recognize that Christ is in our midst. More than that, more personally, do these
eight qualities mark your personal life? |
