What We Should Be Known For

On Sunday I had people make a list of "things we (the Church) should be known for." We are known way too well for what we are against, but what are we for? Well here is the list we came up with (there were some repeats, and some that were basically the same as another ones):


What the Church should be known for…
· Following Christ, living as Jesus Christ lived
· Courage, integrity, kindness, generosity, wisdom, responsibility
· Taking risks for Christ
· Staying rooted in the Bible
· Actively spreading God’s word and love to our community, not just waiting for people to come to us
· Loving and helping people of all racial and economic backgrounds
· Ministering to the unsaved and to each other
· Worshipping and praising God
· Sharing Jesus through love that doesn’t condemn
· Helping to meet needs that are evident but not asked for
· Listening to those around us
· Mercy
· Supporting each other
· Creativity
· Spending time alone with God
· Thinking outside the box
· Questioning and discovering
· Hospitality, being welcoming
· Being a supportive family
· Taking care of the less fortunate
· Having fun!
· Seeing one another for how God wants them to be, not for what they’ve done
· Being knowledgeable of cultural and relevant issues
· Being good stewards of our finances
· Taking care of the earth
· Never giving up or losing hope
· Using the gifts God has given us to glorify and enjoy the Lord Jesus
· Discipling new believers
· Nurturing children to know the Lord
· Being prayer warriors
· Supporting missionaries
· Fellowshipping
· Supporting our pastor and church leaders
· Growing
· Love, joy, peace
· Discernment, acceptance, truth, reconciliation, sanctification, education
· Good parenting skills
· Repentance, forgiveness, loyalty
· Thankfulness, faithfulness
· Loving our families
· Surrendering our lives to Christ
· Humility
· Having a vision
· Compassion, purity
· Being kind to people even when we don’t feel like it
· Being a place to come and relax, a place where you can be yourself
· Being a place where you can always find a friend