Nov 26, 2018
By Frank Mazza
SDB Church of Shiloh, NJ
Have you ever gone to the doctor for a check-up and got a report that was different than you expected? Recently, I went in for an annual physical and was told that my cholesterol was high. Dangerously high. At first, there was some denial. I am relatively young, active and have a well-balanced diet. I was not expecting to hear anything but positive results from a routine visit. Apparently, I was not as active and healthy as I thought I was. I should note that I am fairly stubborn when it comes to seeing the doctor. Unless I am in dire need of medical attention, I’d just as soon stay away. My willful neglect of my personal well-being could have been detrimental to my long-term health.
What if your church had a check-up for the spiritual body in the same way you go to the doctor for a physical check-up? Would you pass with flying colors? Would you be surprised if you found out there may be some areas where your church may not be as healthy as you thought?
About a year ago, my church in Shiloh started on the Pulse process as part of a “test run” with several other churches in the denomination. Early in the process, there is a group study of the book Autopsy of a Deceased Church by Thom Rainer. I’ll admit, the title can seem a little off-putting and maybe even abrasive. After all, who would want to study a book about dying churches—and even worse, face the possibility that parts of the book may even apply to us?! But thankfully, there were a group of willing participants who joined in a group study. While not every part of the book applied to Shiloh, there were some eye-opening discussions that took place that helped set the stage for refocusing on what is important to us.
Following the study of Autopsy, Pulse material is set up to be studied in four sections—
“Setting High Expectations, Leadership and Relationship Skills, Outward Focus, and Process of Discipleship.” For Shiloh, I wanted to create a simple vision statement that was easy to remember and easy to apply. So, we came up with the following slogan: “Love God, Love People, Serve Others, Make Disciples.” This statement represents a simple process of growth that we should all be able to follow. It all starts on the foundation of loving God. When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus responded with the following statement: “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.” (Matthew 22:38) If nothing else comes from our time studying together, my prayer is that we have a firm understanding of this command.
Building on the idea of loving God, we studied various passages from the Sermon on the Mount. We recognized that Jesus was setting a new standard that was different than Old Testament law. He was teaching concepts such as turning the other cheek and going the extra mile for those in need. Loving God means fully submitting to His will in our lives. The more we understand and apply this, both in our personal lives and in church activities, the healthier our churches will be.
After this study on what it means to Love God, we transitioned to Loving People with a focus on leadership and relationship skills. We had good discussion on how to deal with conflict and sin in the church, based on Matthew 17. A loving church will help people avoid sin by accountability and encouragement—and not by judgment and isolation.
Currently, we are studying what it means to have an Outward Focus through serving people. This study included topics that looked at Jesus’ attitude toward the outsider. Examples include Zacchaeus, Matthew (both tax collectors), and Pharisees. Lessons included points such as Jesus having an accepting attitude towards anyone who sought Him, Jesus intentionally spending time with “outsiders,” and Jesus seeking to restore what was lost. A healthy church invests time in the community with those in need.
Moving forward, we will begin studying the Process of Discipleship and what it means to be committed to spiritual growth. We will be studying the relationship between Jesus and His disciples, and what set them apart from other individuals amongst the crowds that followed Jesus. Are we willing to invest copious amounts of time helping people grow into Christ-like maturity? Discipleship is more than attending programs together—it is a deeper, more personal relationship between people that extends beyond the walls of the church. The emphasis on discipleship will be that a healthy church has the intention to build committed relationships for the purpose of spiritual growth.
I am blessed to be a part of the Pulse team and thankful for the work the Lord is doing in our Shiloh church. I look forward to completing the study material and discovering how He will continue to move in and through our church to impact our Shiloh community. It has been a time of healthy self-reflection and fruitful discussion. Most importantly, the Pulse material has allowed our study group to regain a focus on what is important to us personally and corporately—which is celebrating our faith in Him!