The Measure of a Healthy Church: How God Defines Greatness in a Church

by Gene A. Getz, Michael J. Easley (Foreword)

"It just isn't a healthy church..." In a world of competing voices about what church is all about, we need a thoroughly biblical understanding of what makes a church strong, healthy, and mature. Gene Getz, with the wisdom God has granted him over decades of ministry, gives us just this. Previously titled The Measure of a Church, this book addresses matters If we don't know what a true and healthy church really is , we'll never get close to attaining it. Learn how God measures a church, that you might go about your work more faithfully.

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2006

About the author

Gene A. Getz, (B.A., Rocky Mountain College; M.A., Wheaton College; Ph.D., New York University), a host and teacher of Renewal Radio, served as a professor at Moody Bible Institute and Dallas Theological Seminary. He has authored more than 60 books, including The Measure of a Healthy Church, Elders and Leaders, and the Men of Character series. He has been a church planting pastor in the Dallas metroplex since 1972 and now serves as President of the Center for Church Renewal and Pastor Emeritus of Fellowship Bible Church North in Plano, Texas.

- http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_au...

Reviews

[Brian Orahood · Rating 5 out of 5]

For any church leader who as accepted the call to revitalize a stagnant church, Gene Getz provides sound, biblical measures to assess your church’s situation. However, there are no shortcuts here; and, there are no easy fixes offered. You will find plenty of questions to help focus your thoughts, solidify your ideas, and formulate practical action steps.

Real, sustained growth is the result of patiently making a ministry map for YOUR situation. It is only wishful thinking at work when you are naive enough to believe: “If that Outreach Top 100 Fastest Growing Church’s five step plan made them a mega-church, then it will do the same for us!” Really?

Get Getz’s book. Read it. Pull together your leadership team. Do the work!

[Danielle Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decent resource to measure the health of one's local church

Well set out biblical theology of key topics related to Measuring the maturity of one's local church. Getz provides a good analysis Of biblical literature relating to how one's local church demonstrate faith hope and love. He sythesizes the biblical theology down to practical Biblical principles tohelp the reader evaluate where their local church needs to refocus on Scriptural Mandates and calls to Maturity. very practical Biblical thedogy

[Joshua A. Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another solid resource from Gene Getz.

Gene Getz has proven his ability to lead well in his pastoral experiences and has a great group of elders that has enabled him to offer great help to the local church.

[Tung · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fan of Gene Getz and his ministry. I’ve read other books by him, and always appreciate his heart for improving the training people of faith. In this book, he tackles the question “How do we measure the success and/or health of a church?” He takes down the notion that success is measured in weekend service attendance figures or total annual giving. Rather, he examines major aspects of faith (love, hope, grace, Godly leadership, etc), establishes their importance as concepts, and then presents guiding principles for churches to consider in measuring their health based on these faith concepts. For example, if love is the defining characteristic of God and Christianity, shouldn't a church’s health and success be measured by the amount of love it shows within its membership, and also externally to the community? Overall, I appreciate Getz’s approach, but I don’t necessarily agree that the aspects of faith he chooses are the complete set of aspects by which a church should be measured. I also find it disappointing that, while Getz establishes a number of important guiding principles, he doesn't provide any suggestions or practical measures by which a church could measure itself by these principles. A solid read to see Getz’s perspective, but nothing directly helpful from a practical standpoint.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

READ JAN 2011

Getz takes a unique approach to church health focusing more on the individual and collective maturity of a church based on the variables of faith, hope and love.

Best quote, "Churches are measured in many ways today. Some look at good Bible teaching or evangelistic preaching. Others look at numerical growth, building projects, well-orchestrated services, contemporary music, or a seeker-sensitive environment. Still others measure a church by its potpourri of activities, mission outreach, organizational efficiency, or even its management style. All of these things are noteworthy, and most are even important, but they aren't what Paul and other New Testament writers thanked God for in their letters to New Testament churches. Rather, they were thankful for the degree of faith, hope, and love that existed in those churches" (p. 90).

[Michael Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getz gives a biblical look at how to measure the health of the church. His focus is on faith, hope and love throughout the book. He tells some of his story in developing these ideas and is very Biblical in his approach. However, faith, hope and love are very hard to measure. I would have liked to hear more about how he has developed these in his churches, but he does some of this in other books (Sharpening the Focus of the Church; Elder and Leaders). More practical ways to develop these would have also been helpful. This book is definitely worth the read.

[Stuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent resource for assessing churches. I like his simple and clear Bible teaching with pointed and specific growth questions (discussion) and assessment.

[Duke Revard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some helpful thoughts here. Utilized this when building a church assessment tool and found 60% of the categories to be helpful.