5 Traits of Those Who Build Up the Church

Being a part of the Church for all my life, and as senior pastor now for 17 years, I have seen up close and personally the ins-and-outs of the church and church life. I was thinking about what kind of traits make up a Believer who builds up the church.
 
One who builds the church is one who is living out the grace of God in their lives. They tend to be growing in these kinds of areas, I was thinking of five of them:

1. They “show up”. It’s the first part, and most difficult part, of faithfulness. Growing Believers will engage, they “show up”. They will engage in the body-life of the church – worship services, small groups, ministries. It’s them knowing others and being known.
2. They encourage. Believers who build the church up will be encouragers. They will move toward people. They will slow down to listen. The aim is to be able to know someone well enough that they can pray about at least one things for the person they moved toward.
3. They pray. That is a significant trait of Believers who are growing and building up the church – they pray. They will pray for the leadership, the ministries, the people, new folks. They will pray about problems and challenges in the church. They will ask for God’s mercy and protection for the church.
4. They don’t gossip. One of the traits of one who builds up the church is that they won’t indulge in gossip. It is so difficult to not share morsels of gossip. It happens in private circles, in small groups. And when it goes it spreads and kills the church! But the one who builds up the church is committed to unity as the Lord directs us again and again.
5. They are patient. They know we are all sinners in need of grace and patience. This is a significant trait to building up the church, being long on grace with people who fail. So they seek the Lord, they pray. They know love covers over a multitude of sins. So they trust the Lord to work and guide appropriately. But patience and gentleness are traits of a growing Believer.

 
As you look at these five traits, are there any here the Lord wants you to grow in? What other traits would you add to it?
 
These remind me of my need of staying close to Jesus. Without my daily walk with Him I will take matters into my own hands and just make a mess of things. God help us as we walk in Him.
 
I love you church! And I love watching God at work among us.


Held By His Abundant Grace,
 
Pastor John