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.
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.
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.
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
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.
The neurological systemconnects
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.
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.
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.
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