Objective: Understanding how the invisible universal Church is expressed in the visible local Church.
Acts chapter 2 opens with the day of Pentecost, the birthday of the Church. On that day, the risen Christ began to build His Church to reach the world with Him and through Him.
The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts
Every time the Holy Spirit came upon someone in the book of Acts, it was tied to the purpose Jesus gave the Church in the Great Commission:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
— Acts 1:8
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
— Acts 2:42
All gifts of the Holy Spirit are spiritual gifts. Some are more pastoral, and some are more practical, but all come from the same Spirit.
Mary and Martha
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed, or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
— Luke 10:38–42
Mary and Martha were both followers and friends of Jesus. They were sisters, each with her own set of spiritual gifts. I picture Martha as the classic Type-A older sister, someone like me who loves to care for others, stay organized, and keep things practical. On the other hand, Mary feels more like the laid-back younger sibling, not too concerned with the details and more drawn to sitting and learning with the men.
Luke 10:39 (KJV) says:
“She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.”
To sit at someone’s feet” was a way of saying someone was a student, learning from a teacher (see Acts 22:3). Jesus affirmed Mary’s hunger for knowledge and her desire to be with Him, and He also affirmed Martha’s devotion.
Looking at Jesus’ ministry, working as a carpenter, living and serving alongside fishermen, and washing His disciples’ feet, it’s clear He valued practical service, too.
Some of us are more like Mary. Others are more like Martha.
And that’s a good thing. Churches need both, those with a primarily pastoral mindset and those with a practical one.
One without the other is ineffective. Both are essential for a healthy church to function.
Like Mary and Martha, both are valuable in their strengths and called to grow in faith and truth.
Church Models
As you read through Acts, take note of the patterns in the early Church. These are the visible fingerprints of the invisible Church.
The local, visible community we belong to should be a real-life expression of the universal Church Christ is building. Just like fingerprints leave a mark that tells where we’ve been and what we’ve touched, the Church leaves signs, too, indicators that the Holy Spirit is moving.
In Acts, the early Church displayed unmistakable “fingerprints”, evidence of God at work.
These same signs are how we can measure the health of our churches today.
When we see these characteristics, we can recognize how much our local Church is reflecting the global Church Jesus is building:
10 Fingerprints of a Healthy Church
1. Evangelism
The Church should be actively sharing the good news. It drifts from its primary mission without intentionally reaching out and welcoming others.
2. Teaching
Through truthful and assertive teaching of Scripture, people should be growing, not staying stuck or complacent.
3. Fellowship
The Church should be a place of friendship and genuine connection. Like a family, a healthy Church supports its people in both good times and bad.
4. Worship
The Church should be a house of worship where people sing, praise, and delight in the Lord together. Congregational worship is one of the great joys of the Church.
5. Prayer
A praying Church lifts one another’s needs, joys, and burdens to God, together and privately. Both pastors and members should be grounded in prayer.
6. Unity
A healthy Church isn’t known for conflict but for peace and unity. Disagreements are handled through grace, communication, and prayer.
7. Diversity
Thriving churches embrace diversity in all its forms. Differences don’t weaken them, they strengthen them.
8. Plurality
Strong churches don’t depend on one leader. They have multiple pastors and leaders with different strengths who share the load and support one another.
9. Empathy
Great churches care deeply for people, especially those who may feel different or marginalized. They focus on understanding, not judging.
10. Equality
Top-down systems that place one group above the others can’t sustain a healthy church over time. In the Kingdom, everyone has equal worth.
Time to Reflect
Going to Church each week can easily become routine, another item on our list.
But what if we paused to reflect on what’s happening?
This Sunday, take a moment to look around. Can you see the fingerprints of a healthy church?
If not, what can you do to support your church family?
A thriving church needs all its people to grow truly.
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