Important Qualities of a Church Family

Important Qualities of a Church Family
Author: Katie Lemley, Ministry Team Administrative Coordinator 
Running the Race - Part 4

– Hebrews 10:24

When I was younger, my parents did not attend church. I was an only child and an extrovert, so I enjoyed any opportunity to be around other kids my age. When I was about four or five years old, my neighbors invited me to church. I began to attend Sunday school and Vacation Bible School in the summer. These neighbors were kind to me and made a big impact on my life. They were being the hands and feet of Jesus by showing me that I was important to God. They would allow me to go with them to church whenever I wanted, and I sometimes wonder how my life would have been different without my neighbors' simple invitation to church.

On Sunday, Pastor Josh shared six qualities of a church family. The church should be Christ-centered, Hope-sharing, Unity-pursuing, Relationship-building, Care-giving, and the Hands and feet of Jesus. All of these qualities are important for the success of any church.

Christ-centered means we put God first in everything we do, including decisions about the church and how we live our lives. Hope-sharing means that we tell others about the hope that we have eternal life because of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. Unity-pursuing means we work together and get along regardless of different ideas and feelings. Relationship-building means growing in our relationships with other people by connecting with others. Care-giving means showing kindness and love to others by helping care for their needs. Being the hands and feet of Jesus means that we are eager to do good works for a lost and hurting world.

My neighbors demonstrated many of the qualities above, such as hope-sharing and being the hands and feet of Jesus. They invited me to church and let me ride with them whenever I wanted to. They had planted a seed that continued into my adulthood. Fast forwarding to college, I learned about Chestnut Ridge Church because I was part of Campus Crusade for Christ at WVU. Many of my friends from there attended The Ridge and invited me to church. I enjoyed the worship; the messages were always interesting, and I learned something new every week. My neighbors' simple invitation to church has impacted my life throughout my school years and even today.

How can you demonstrate God’s love to other people? You could be like my neighbors and invite someone to church. You could join an upcoming Connect Group at The Ridge to build relationships with other believers. You could even get involved with one of our outreach campaigns, such as the coat or backpack drive. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to demonstrate God’s love to others.