What measurements would you use to evaluate the effectiveness of your church? Would it be the size of the membership, the quality of the preaching, the vitality of its educational program, the strength of its youth ministry, or the friendliness of its members? These are all crucial elements of a dynamic church, but they are not the ultimate test of greatness.
The church is not just a building to which you go on Sunday to worship God – it is primarily what its members are and what they do seven days every week to honor God and serve others. It is what Paris Island, South Carolina is to the U.S. Marine Corps – a training center to prepare believers for witness and ministry. The true test of any church is whether or not it produces fruitful followers of Christ.
But what does this mean? The parable of the fig tree found in Mark 11:12-14, 19-22 tells us. It was the season for figs to be growing, but a specific fig tree that Jesus and His disciples saw contained no figs, only leaves. Jesus spoke to the fruitless tree and said, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again” (v. 14).” The following day when the disciples and Jesus passed that fig tree again, its leaves had withered. Peter expressed astonishment, “Master, look! The tree you cursed has withered” (v. 21).
Jesus was making the point that Israel was like this fig tree in that it was bearing no fruit. Rites, rules, regulations, and restrictions had become more important than the fruit produced by personal faith. Jesus was concerned about “the weightier matters of the law – righteousness, justice and love” (see Matthew 23:23). These could not be accomplished without a dependent trust in God. It would be fine if we could end our examination of the parable of the fig tree by saying that it applied only to Israel. But the message here is timeless. It speaks truth to every church and to every individual Christian.
The danger of churches having leaves without fruit is ever-present. Today our elaborate buildings, massed choirs, structured educational programs, vibrant youth activities, and other kinds of programs mean little for the kingdom of God if they bear no fruit. But the parable also has a message that applies to every Christian. Unless our prayers, churchmanship, and activity produce fruit, we are in danger of being cut off.
John 15:4, 5 gives us the secret of fruitfulness – for a church or for any Christian: “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” When we abide in Christ, we appropriate all that He has done for us. That means unreserved acceptance of His death for our sins and His resurrection for the defeat of the enemies of the abundant life.
True fruitfulness — for an individual Christian and for a church — depends on Christ abiding IN us and speaking THROUGH us. Fruitfulness is never one or the other. According to the words of Jesus found in John 15, both are necessary What Christ does IN us reaches out THROUGH us to bless and serve others.
The ultimate test of fruitfulness for any church is to reproduce the Christian faith in others. You and your fellow members may meet weekly in a beautiful building. Your church may have a large ministerial staff, and support many programs and activities. But the important question is this: How many people has your church introduced to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord in the last year? In the last five years? And with how many people have you personally shared your faith in the past year? In the last ten years?
If that is the primary way churches fulfill their assigned mission, how effective is your church?
The Paper Pulpit 
Leave a Reply