So, what’s it all about, anyway?

Lately, I have been thinking deeply about every aspect of ministry. Not just individual areas, but how things fit together. And just so you don’t think that this is purely an organizational analysis, I have been considering this all in light of a new scorecard.

Well, the expression “new scorecard” indicates that there was an “old scorecard.” Since the days of the Church Growth gurus, the scorecard has been the 3 B’s: Bodies, Budget, and Buildings. That’s what churches measured in order to determine if they were “healthy.” Now, don’t hear me wrongly. I believe it’s very important for leadership to track these areas of ministry. But, since we seek to feel good about what we’re doing and if we use these measures as the indicators of success, we have now determined how we will move forward in ministry, namely in ways that show advancement in these categories.

But is that what we should really be measuring to determine if we are doing well has a church? While I believe that we should still measure in these areas, isn’t there a better, more biblical way to measure health in the church? At the heart of these questions is the fundamental question of what the church is. Or rather, What is the purpose of the church?

Well, not to get into a lengthy ecclesiology (theology of the church), the purpose of the church is to bring glory to God,

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6

And the method by which the church glorifies God is found in the Great Commission,

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

And finally, the manner in which this is done is found in the Great Commandment,

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40

So, I am considering a new scorecard. Rather than the 3 B’s, how about one that I picked up while reading recently. How about we measure:

• People who are being transformed to be more like Christ,


• Congregations that are acting like the Body of Christ, and


• Communities that are beginning to reflect the Kingdom of God.

Later, what’s at stake if we don’t get this right…