Characteristics of an Organic Church

Two years ago, we did a sermon series called Organic Church.One of the messages was entitled “Living Together in Loving Community.” We know what organic foods are…production that uses methods that do not involved synthetic pesticides and materials. This makes them free of toxins & contamination—while they’re healthier they’re also more costly.

Organic Church is a natural way of doing church that God intended. It produces healthier followers, free of worldly influences & compromises. An Organic Church will grow & produce fruit the way God intended it to grow. Organic means our life comes from our relationship with Christ.

An Organic Church is centered on and around the person of Jesus. Eph. 5:23bsays it clearly, “…Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.” When we come together we are focusing on Jesus—we gather together four Jesus & around Jesus! This affects everything we do. Our focus here is not the preacher…not the worship leader. If we focus on humanity we will be disappointed.

An Organic Church is about joy. “You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.” (Psalm 92:4)It’s why we sing joyful upbeat music—it gets people moving towards Jesus.He has given you a new way to live—it is with joy that we celebrate and worship passionately.

An Organic Church is about obedience. We trust Jesus and prove it by obeying Him. We move beyond mere confession to obedience—it is that obedience that leads to TRANSFORMATION. If you love me, obey my commandments.” John 14:15).Obedience pragmatically works itself out in acts of obedience no matter the personal cost.

An Organic Church is about humble obedience. Means we repent of our sins quickly & frequently—not just to be forgiven but because we know that sin is an offense against a Holy God—it severs our connection to our loving Heavenly Father. “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts” (1 John 1: 8-10).

An Organic Church is about acceptance. We accept each other–with our imperfections—Why? Because Jesus accepted US with all our messes. Any person struggling with any issue should be able to come here and feel loved and accepted by Jesus. It’s not that we approve of sin—not approval but acceptance.  “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Romans 15: 5-7).

An Organic Church is about grace.The grace effect is this—we have been extended grace therefore we give grace!  “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony” (Col. 3: 12-14).

An Organic Churchis about generosity. “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2: 44-47).

An Organic Church is about prayer. It’s impossible to grow in our relationship with God outside of prayer—the church is to be a place of prayer. “…for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7b).

An Organic Church is about missions. Missions is God’s invitation to live for something bigger than ourselves. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28: 19-20).

All these things are what the church should look like—because the church is not a building—when we leave the church leaves the building—we are the church—we live differently so we can show people what the invisible God is like.