Too Good Not to Share

Some gems found stashed among things people have passed along...

Signs of Life (kudos to the author, who is unknown to me...)

1. Breath: Just inhale, then exhale and hold your breath .... Breathing is essential for life. It is interesting that in Scripture that the word for "spirit" is interchangeable with the word for "breath". There must the work of the Holy Spirit within a church for there to be life.

2. Movement: Living things move. We generally say that if there is no movement visible in a thing that it is dead. A church also needs to be going somewhere. A church needs a sense of direction.

3. Sensitivity: If a thing is unresponsive to touch (feeling) it is often considered dead. A church also must be sensitive to the feelings those in the body and sensitive to the urging of the Holy Spirit.

4. Intake: If we don’t eat or have intake, we will soon die. The church must also feed upon the Word of God. The baby Believers are to drink the milk, and the mature ones are to eat the meat.

5. Refuse: Where there is life, there is also waste or byproducts. Removal of waste is essential both the physical body and to the church. Life in Christ is always new.

6. Purpose: When people lose purpose, death soon follows. Young people without purpose begin to look at suicide. Older people without purpose just give up and die. A church must also have a sense of purpose.

7. Growth: It is only natural that a living being grows. A lack of growth in a church is an indication of death. However, growth in a church is an indication of life. Sometime, a church must go through a death experience before it can experience new life and growth.

8. Reproduction: Reproduction is not only a sign of life, it is also an indication of fulfillment. A church will not find fulfillment until it begins to see its member multiply - Believers leading others to Christ.

And a keeper from James Ryle...

“Healthy things grow. Growing things change. Change challenges us. Challenges cause us to trust God. Trust leads to obedience. Obedience makes us healthy. And healthy things grow.”