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updated 9/06/07 

I. Theology and Developing the Health of a Church’s Spiritual Anatomy as the Body of Christ

            A. Cast a vision of a healthy church from the Bible.

1. "Biblical Teaching about Church: the Missing Ingredient In Past System's Models for a Healthy Congregation." by John M. Crowe

2. As a Herald of Truth for Healing by John M. Crowe

3. Healthy Church Is. . .    by John M. Crowe

4.  Building A Healthy Body of Christ by John M. Crowe

            B. Continually disciple people one on one and in small groups to address the health of these four subsystems and their inter-related contribution to the health of the whole system of a congregation.

1. The Skin system

Healthy Skin --the congregation's corporate relationship with the church's head  --Jesus Christ.

The skin is the most visible subsystem of the human body. It covers the connection of our hands, arms, feet, to our torso, and to our head. Like skin, the biblical teaching about the nature of the church covers the entire body. This teaching is contained in the NT and often reflected in written statements of faith like the Nicene Creed. In addition, it forms the corporate relationship of the Church with its head—Jesus Christ. Sometimes, we forget our vertical relationship with God in our pragmatic haste for an active body that is doing good works in the world.

2. The 7 Points of Congregational Skin Care.  by John M. Crowe

3. Praying for pastors and their families is an important part of a congregation's corporate spiritual life.

"Any Church may have a mighty man of God for its pastor, if it is willing to the price and that price is not a big salary but great praying."  R.A. Torrey, The Power of Prayer,  p.35.

                     A Plea to Pray for Pastors  by Gardiner Spring

a)   30 Scripture-based Prayers for Your Pastor  by Terry Teykl

b)   31 WAYS TO PRAY FOR THE CLERGY

c)   Called to Intercede for Pastors        

d)  How to Pray for your Pastors adapted from John C. Maxwell’s Lay Ministry 2000 Workshop (includes how to pray for your church.)

e)   Praying for Christian Leaders: Pastors Need Prayer Too  by Rev. Will Bruce

f)    Praying for Preachers

g)   Praying for your pastor’s wife

h)  Prayer Shield: A Christ centered ministry dedicated to developing prayer for Pastors and Ministry Leaders

i)  Preachers Need The Prayers of the People   by E.M. Bounds

j)   Ways to Pray for Clergy

There is an inter connection of the skin system with the other systems of the human body. The skin system connects to the internal subsystems of the musculoskeletal system and internal organ system, the neurological system, as well as the circulatory system of the body. Similarly, biblical teaching seeks to influence the subsystems of our horizontal relationships with each other in Christ. Biblical teaching seeks to shape how people behave and relate in God’s church. Whenever, scriptural teaching fails to influence our horizontal relationship with each other in Christ, we fail to discern our connectedness as the body of Christ

4. Musculoskeletal System, and Internal Organs System

The musculoskeletal system (muscles, bones, and joints), and internal organ system  involves relationships of holy Christian love between members of the body of Christ which the New Testament provides much guidance for.

a)     9 Facets of Harmony by John M. Crowe

b)     Christian Discipleship and Martial Arts. by John M. Crowe

c)      “Equipping the Abused Church for Healing” by John M. Crowe

d)     Grace (love) and Truth (boundaries).  by John M. Crowe

e)     Power in Leadership & Martial Arts  by John M. Crowe

5. Nervous system

A Healthy Church Nervous System involves Christlike relationships between clergy and congregational leaders with people being equipped for ministry according to their spiritual gifts and graces.

The neurological system connects the skin, muscles, bones, and internal organs of the human body in terms of action, direction, and coordination. Likewise, within a church system there is a very small but important part of the congregation’s inner life. It involves wholesome relationships between the pastor and the leaders which each fulfilling their biblical roles. The NT teaching about church offers guidance to the relationships between those involved in congregational leadership.

a)     7 Prescriptions for the Epidemic  Cures for the crisis of clergy health. by John M. Crowe

b)     7 Steps to a Stronger Nervous System in Churches by John M. Crowe

c)      Christian Discipleship and Martial Arts. by John M. Crowe

d)    Dealing with ‘Trojan Horse’ Transfers.” by John M. Crowe

e)    “Equipping the Abused Church for Healing ” by John M. Crowe

f)   Evaluation of Ministry by John M. Crowe

g)     Grace (love) and Truth (boundaries). by John M. Crowe

h)    Healthy churches require healthy church leaders, members, pastor says “Your church may be dying or at least gravely ill.” from Biblical Recorder: Journal of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.

i)     Healthy Pastoral Moves . by John M. Crowe

j)     Healthy and Unhealthy Models of Pastoral Leadership .

k)   Investing God's Pearls--The Pastor

l)    Jesus & Clergy Health by John M. Crowe

m)    "Motivation, Meaning, and Ministry" by John M. Crowe

n)    Pastor-Church Relationships from a Biblical/Systems Perspective. by John M. Crowe

o)     Power in Leadership & Martial Arts by John M. Crowe

p)  Practical Spiritual Self Defense for the congregation. by John M. Crowe

q)  Praying for pastors, spouses, and their families.

r)  Self - Differentiated Leadership

s)  Soul Care And The Caregivers' Soul--Reflections On Strengthening Caregivers by John M. Crowe

t)   The pastor's well-being often reflects a church's health and happiness  by Tony Headley

u)  Video  Why You Should Give Your Pastor A Sabbatical

v)   Why You Should Develop A Pastor-Parish Relations Committee In this dynamic new video, taped before a live audience, Oswald offers his rationale for a redefined pastor-parish relations committee and their responsibilities.  PDF file

6. Circulation system

The circulatory system energizes and defends the various subsystems of the human body. The red blood cells carry oxygen and nutrients. The white blood cells to fight disease or infection.

Apart from the circulatory system, the human body cannot live. The skin, bones, muscles, internal organs and the nervous system all depend upon the blood cells of the circulatory system. In the same way, the soundness of individual Christians is crucial to the sound health of the whole church body. Church health not only involves the corporate life of the church but also the individual members of the body of Christ. As it concerns overall church health, biblical teaching concerning the church touches the spiritual, moral, relational, behavioral, emotional, and physical fitness of each Christian.

A Healthy Church Circulation System involves the maturity of both clergy and laity in holy wholeness in our Savior, Lord, Sanctifier, and Healer Jesus Christ.

a. In General

 

aa. Christian Discipleship and Martial Arts. by John M. Crowe

bb. Godliness and Cleanliness for Healthy Church Bodies by John M. Crowe

The Church is not only justification based but also sanctification directed.

cc.  Grace (love) and Truth (boundaries). by John M. Crowe

dd.  Healthy Boundaries And Co-Dependent Extremes by John M. Crowe

ee.  LUCIFER Grows In Our Garden: AN ANATOMY Of Clergy Abuse Review

ff.  Power in Leadership & Martial Arts by John M. Crowe

gg.  The Axis of Christian Ministry by John M. Crowe

An article on developing clergy and church members in holy wholeness in Jesus.

hh.  The pastor's well-being often reflects a church's health and happiness by Tony Headley

ii.  The Wounds of Jesus and Our Wounds  by John M. Crowe

jj.  Timing Chains and Hearts: How Is Yours? by John M. Crowe

kk. What is the Condition of Your Heart by John M. Crowe

 

b. Clergy and Families

aa.  “7 Prescriptions for the Epidemic” Cures for the crisis of clergy health. by John M. Crowe

bb.  A Healthy Church (A Layman's Letter to His Pastor)

cc.  A Parson and Parsonage Family's 5 Priorities by John M. Crowe

dd.  American Baptist churches send clergy to the gym

ee.  Brother Martin or Pastor Superstar? by John M. Crowe

ff.   Coming Out of the Dark: Two Pastors’ Journey Out of  Depression

gg.  Coming Out Of The Dark: Two Pastors’ Wives Share In Their Husbands’ Journey Out Of Depression

hh.  Crossing a Deep River — Biblical and Practical Advice for Dealing With Depression   By George O. Wood

ii.   Depressed, Stressed, And Burned Out: What’s Going On In My Life  by Archibald D. Hart

jj.  Engaging clergy in taking responsibility for their own health

The number of depressed, overweight, stressed out clergy is higher than that of the total population.

kk.  Healthy Pastor—Healthy Church!  Strengthening Pastoral Ministry in Your Congregation by S. Joan Hershey and Steve Clapp

ll.  Jesus & Clergy Health by John M. Crowe

mm.  “Motivation, Meaning, and Ministry”  by John M. Crowe

nn.  Review of Roberta Chapin Walmsley and Adair Lummis' Healthy Clergy, Wounded Healers: Their Families, Their Ministries.  by John M. Crowe

oo.  Pastors: ‘You aren't called to work harder than your Creator’

pp.  "Self-Denial and Self-Care" by John M. Crowe

qq.  Soul Care And The Caregiver's Soul--Reflections On Strengthening Caregivers by John M. Crowe

 

II. Closing Thoughts
 

The skin system also represents the connection of our hands, arms, feet, legs to our torso to the world as Christ’s continuing ministry in the world through the Church as God's Healing Community mending broken lives. 

Therefore, developing a healthy church is not a destination. It is quite a journey. Caring for and seeking the improvement of a congregation's health serves to equip the body of believers for healthy ministries in a hurting world.

Copyright © 2001-2008  B.A.C.H. All Rights.

This church health model and its content comes from my dissertation. “PREACHING FOR A WHOLE PERSON RESPONSE IN DEVELOPING A HEALTHY CHURCH.” Diss. Asbury Theological Seminary, 2001.  The contents are protected by copyright.

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