Worship
Do most attendees actively participate in corporate worship?
Is worship practiced Biblically (body positions, testimonies, preaching, etc.)?
Are thanksgivings offered regularly?
Are the songs focused on God and our relationship with Him?
Is there a major emphasis on application of the message?
Are members writing new songs?
Evangelism
How many new converts has the church acquired in the last quarter?
What is the ratio of attendees to missionaries?
Has the church adopted a single method of presenting the gospel that every member learns in discipleship?
Are events open to the community scheduled regularly?
What needs-based ministries do the church sponsor, participate in, or organize?
Does the church have a specific target?
Money/Stewardship
Is the church saving?
Are specific ministries worked into the budget? (Does any ministry have to do its own fundraising?)
Are members required to tithe?
Does a professional handle the finances—budget, taxes, etc.—of the church?
Are the demands on the budget fairly balanced?
Good Leadership
Does the church have a strong, specific vision statement?
Are responsibilities delegated to gifted volunteers?
Is the pastor trusted, respected, and backed by the people and other key leadership?
Do the shepherds know their sheep?
Are the leaders servants?
Do the elders meet all of the qualifications?
Discipleship
Does the church have an intentional program for spiritually raising new believers to become ministers of the gospel?
Do the older men teach the younger men, the older women the younger women?
Is discipleship carried out outside of Sunday morning?
Is the church capable of replacing any of its leaders with people in the congregation?
Does the church work with local schools and Christian colleges to provide community service, SLT’s, and internships?
Discipline
How does the church handle unruly children?
Does the church have a written policy concerning church discipline, and is it carried out accordingly?
Does the pastor do most of the confronting, or do the members confront members when unrepentant sin is recognized?
What is the policy concerning leaders in the church when they confess a falling short?
Does discipline produce friends or strangers?
Dependence on God
Does anyone give out of what he or she has to live on?
Who honestly receives the credit for significant advances forward or the arrival of key personnel?
Are requests and petitions brought to God on a regular (weekly) basis as a congregation? as individuals (daily)?
Is prayer a crucial part of evangelism?
Do church dreams become church goals or remain as dreams?
Community
Are members comfortable with confronting one another and confessing to one another?
Are family needs met without leadership intervention or pleading from the bulletin? Is the pastor’s family taken care of?
Are members guided in identifying their spiritual gifts and encouraged to apply them in or through the church?
Does the church work in conjunction with other local churches and/or parachurch ministries?
Does the church work to maintain good relations with its surrounding community and to draw in its surrounding community?
Spiritual Disciplines
Is Bible reading promoted on a regular (monthly to weekly) basis?
Is church-wide fasting ever incited? When?
Do the same people pray every time?
Do adults form small groups that study the Bible and instruct on how to study the Bible?
Are leaders accountable for Bible reading, prayer, and application of the message?
Preaching, Doctrine, Philosophy
Does the church have a biblical, transferable, visible doctrinal statement?
Is preaching need-based, application oriented, and usually expository?
Is the Bible esteemed as the only and final word on living all of life with faith?
Is the pastor’s philosophy of ministry consistent with the people’s philosophy?
Does the church function in accordance with its philosophy, doctrine, and preaching (or are they simply vestiges)?
CHURCH HEALTH SURVEY
Teaching/Preaching
How does the pastor view preaching?
What evidence is there of spiritual growth in the lives of the people? Is this growth intentional?
Does education in the church cover the four categories of Conversion, Growth, Participation, and Life Commitment?
Does the church have a doctrinal statement that is accessible?
Focus
Does the leadership uphold the vision? Do the people know it and support it?
What steps are being taken to make the vision a reality?
How much preaching/teaching is focused on the vision?
When was the last time the church changed its programs to adapt to the vision?
Leadership
Does the church have written criteria for leaders?
What is the process for choosing and training new leaders?
Describe a typical leadership meeting. What is discussed? Are leaders busy taking care of business or busy ministering?
Ministry
How are visitors welcomed? Are regular services visitor-friendly?
What about your church would be attractive to newcomers?
How do attendees become members? Is membership promoted?
Describe the church’s outreach program. Do the people have a method or training for evangelism? Do they evangelize?
How many members are doing ministry? Why do they do ministry?
Prayer and Worship
What kinds of organized prayer groups does the church have (i.e., prayer chain, prayer partners, prayer meetings)?
What prayers have been answered lately?
Is church-wide fasting ever incited? When?
Describe how the church practices worship, both corporately and privately.
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the highest), how focused is the church on worship (hint: not just music)?
Relationships
How many close friends do you have within the congregation? When was the last time you had a meaningful conversation with someone in the congregation other than a close friend?
Describe the church’s one-on-one ministry.
Describe the church’s small group ministry.
Describe the church’s fun ‘n’ fellowship times (i.e., special dinners).
How are difficulties handled in the church? Is church discipline carried out and followed through?
Stewardship
Does the church leadership give consistently? tithe?
In what ways is good stewardship emphasized?
How are the church’s programs (men’s/women’s meetings, Sunday school, prayer meetings, etc.) evaluated for effectiveness? How often are they evaluated?
Is the church willing to change or replace programs in order to better meet needs?
Do members give (percentage)?
Structures
How long would it take an idea to become a ministry?
What program is emphasized the most? Why?
What needs do the church’s current programs meet?
What needs don’t they meet?
