THE HALLWAY TEST
Do you have one of those sweet little wall hangings in your home? The kind that says something like “Serve One Another in Love”? We’ve got one in our upstairs hallway.
It’s a nice touch.
But it’s more than that, though. It reflects the sort of holy living Jesus invites us into.
Lately, I’ve been wondering—do I actually live this? Not just when it’s convenient or someone’s watching, but when it’s costly? When no one sees?
Pastor or Church leader, I realize that you’re in the thick of things right now. You’re looking for a program or curriculum that will fix the problems of your church.
But church health doesn’t start with a program. It doesn’t start with a new hire, a staff restructure, or a better website. It doesn’t start with kicking out the “problem people” of your church.
While you may do some of these things on your way to church health, it doesn’t begin there.
It begins with your spiritual formation.
There is a deep, inward transformation Jesus desires for you and me. That kind of transformation starts in the messy, mundane moments where it doesn’t feel like anything of significance is happening.
Several months back, our church walked through a discipleship series called Practicing the Way, based off the book by John Mark Comer. The big idea? That becoming like Jesus doesn’t happen by accident. It’s cultivated. Formed. Practiced.
We’re all being formed by something. The average American spends over seven hours a day looking at screens.
That’s a discipleship engine!
Algorithms are shaping our affections.
Culture is catechizing us.
So what do we do? How do we fight that tide?
At our church, we’ve identified five personal rhythms that help us tether our souls back to Jesus. They’re simple, sacred practices:
Abide in Christ
Persist in Community
Serve the Kingdom
Live Generously
Pursue the Lost
Your church may have different verbiage, but each of these rhythms act as a rung on a trellis, where the branches of our spiritual lives can grow up and out, bearing lasting fruit.
Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches” (John 15:5). That means your job isn’t to strive harder—it’s to stay longer. To abide. To remain. To direct your attention back to the One who made you. It’s when you allow Him to set your priorities that your church moves towards greater health.
Let’s zoom in on one of these rhythms: Serving the Kingdom.
In a world built around platform, hustle, and personal brand, the way of Jesus invites us to something deeper. Something countercultural. A life of hidden, humble service. Not just on Sunday mornings, but in your home, your workplace, your neighborhood.
Church health is often measured by the three B’s—bucks, butts and buildings. Again, numerical growth can be an indicator of church health. But it’s not the only metric. The real metric is obedience. Daily service. Working in cooperation with Jesus to shape us into a people who give their lives away for the good of others.
Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
In the words of Jesus, it’s a narrow road. But it’s also the path to real life.
So here’s what I’ll refer to as the hallway test. When no one’s looking, when the moment is small and ordinary, when your mood is low and the sheep are biting—do you still serve in love?
Not in the limelight, but in the hallways.
Not in the applause, but in the quiet.
That’s where God begins to form you into His image.
That is where the heart and mind of a servant are formed.
And it is where a healthy church begins to take shape.
If your church needs guidance in navigating this cultural moment, I would love to start a conversation about what contextualized consultation could look like for your congregation.
Contact me today to learn more.
Grace & Peace,
