Yesterday, I tried to provide some clarity to the debate about how we ought to measure our ministry, by faithfulness or fruitfulness? The right answer is both.

Three foundational statements ground this idea:

1. Faithfulness and fruitfulness both come from God.
2. Faithfulness is fruitfulness and fruitfulness is faithfulness. They are perspectives on godliness.
3. Fruitfulness is not defined by the size of the increase, but the reality of increase.

Now, we are talking about the measure of a ministry not just some esoteric explosion of common presuppositions of the day. No, we want some sturdy handles on which to evaluate ministry. But we want biblical handles. The best way to do that is to show what corporate faithfulness and fruitfulness is according to Scripture.

5 MARKS OF FAITHFUL & FRUITFUL CULTURE

What we want in our churches is a culture of faithfulness and fruitfulness, where Spirit-wrought faith and fruit are regular and increasing. As I look at Scripture I see five distinct, yet universal, characteristics of corporate faithfulness and fruitfulness. Let me run through each with brief biblical comment and then offer some questions intended to help measure this aspect of the church’s culture.

A culture of prayer. If we read Paul’s letters to the early churches in one sitting, I bet we’d quickly hear the metronome that keeps the rest of his instruction in time: the beat of prayer. In his letter to the Romans Paul commands, “be constant in prayer” (Rom. 12:12); to the Ephesians, “pray at all times in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:18); to the Philippians, “in everything by prayer make your requests know to God” (Phil. 4:6); to the Colossians, “continue steadfastly in prayer” (Col. 4:2); to the Thessalonians, “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17).

To measure faithfulness and fruitfulness in this area ask questions like:

• Is prayer a vital element in our gathered worship services?
• Do our corporate prayers reflect the prayers of Scripture; i.e. prayers of praise, confession, thanksgiving, and petition?
• Do we have times for the church to pray outside of the regular worship gathering? Are more and more of our members attending these meetings?
• Are increasing numbers of members meeting during the week to pray and encourage one another in prayer?
• Are our prayers increasingly reflecting the priorities of Scripture?
• Are faith, hope, and love growing as a result of God’s answered prayers?

A culture of the word. One of the great themes of the Bible is the connection between God’s Word and life. When God gives life, he does so through the power of his Word (Psalm 119:37). With His word He spoke creation into existence (Gen. 1:1), a nation into existence (Ex. 20:1), a people into existence (Ezek. 37:7-10), and He upholds everything by the power of His word (Heb. 1:3). Christ is the incarnate Word (John 1:1-4) who redeems His church with His blood and calls her to be “a pillar and buttress of truth” (1 Tim. 1:15). He gave shepherds and teachers to His bride (Eph. 4:11) so that they might preaching His word (2 Tim 4:2) and so edify God’s people (Eph. 4:12; 2 Tim. 3:16).

To measure faithfulness and fruitfulness in this area ask questions like:

• Is the word preaching with clarity and boldness?
• Are the shepherds progressing in the skill of handling God’s word?
• Is there growing commitment among the membership to devote themselves to hear God’s word preached each week?
• Is there growing delight in our members’ disciplined reading of Scripture?
• Are the songs we sing saturated with biblical truth?
• Are we regularly partaking of that visible sermon, the Lord’s Supper?
• Is theological growth valued and pursued with humble earnestness?
• Are members committed to arriving early and stay late to welcome and engage guests?

A culture of love. The greatest commandments are one’s of love: love the Lord with all your being and love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31). How will the world know that we are faithful disciples of Christ? If we have love for one another (John 13:34-35). When all the parts of the church are working together properly, the church will build itself up in love (Eph. 4:17).

To measure faithfulness and fruitfulness in this area ask questions like:

• Is our church maintaining the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace?
• Are personal preferences put aside for the cherishing of corporate unity?
• Are our members increasingly interceding for other members in times of spiritual and physical need?
• Are members committed to serving not merely out of gifting, but loving care to meet a need?
• Is formative and formal church discipline lovingly practiced whenever necessary?
• Are older members gladly serving younger members?
• Are increasing numbers of adult members joyfully serving the children and students of the church?

A culture of discipleship. This is the church’s mandate, “to make disciples” (Matt. 28:19), so disciple-making – in its full sense – must be present in a faithful and fruitful church. As a people called by Christ and possessing the Spirit of Christ, the church aims to grow into the image of Christ (Eph. 4:22-24). When the church’s conversation is fitting into its Scriptural mold, it will constantly be building up and giving grace (Eph. 4:29).

To measure faithfulness and fruitfulness in this area ask questions like:

• Are older members increasingly delighted to disciple younger members? Are younger members eager to be discipled by older members?
• Is there a growing sense of sin leading to repentance? And a correlating increase in forgiveness?
• Is every one of our members in a discipling relationship?
• Are our members sacrificing personal interests or projects to help others grow in Christ?
• Are increasing numbers of our people hosting Bible studies in their homes for neighbors? At work for co-workers?
• Is family worship becoming more regular in our homes?
• Are our parents leading their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord? Are the children subsequently increasing in obeying and honoring their parents?
• Is sacrificial giving growing in our membership?

A culture of evangelism. Jesus came to seek and save the lost and has commissioned His people to do seek and teach the lost (Matt. 18:11, 28:19). Christians are always to be ready to give an account of their faith in Christ (1 Pet. 3:15). A faithful pastor will “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5) and will equip His people to do the same.

To measure faithfulness and fruitfulness in this area ask questions like:

• Is there an increasing compassion and concern for the plight of sinful men?
• Are we prioritizing our week to make room for hospitality?
• Are growing numbers of members sharing the gospel with the lost?
• Are we finding more people stirred to take the gospel to all nations?
• Do our members know their neighbors?
• Are members increasingly bringing lost friends and family members to church?
• Is there an increasing accent in our prayers for people to come to faith in Christ?
• Are we increasingly seeing people baptized?
• Are there groups of members banding together for the task of encouraging and challenging each other in personal evangelism?

A FAITHFULLY FRUITFUL CHURCH

These are the avenues on which a faithful and fruitful church loves to ride: prayer, the word, love, discipleship, and evangelism. We love to hear if we are to be faithful, and it is only here that we will ever be fruitful.

In sum, the question ought not to be, “Is faithfulness or fruitfulness the right metric for evaluation?” Scripture doesn’t separate the two, so let us not tear asunder what God has joined. What we long for is faithfulness in fruitfulness.

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