It has often been said that we need to raise the bar on what it means to be a disciple and lower the bar on what it is to be a church. When you think about it, this statement appears counter cultural to the Western mind and raises the question “how far can we go or should we go in lowering the bar?”

As we realise that we must press into innovation in how we do church, the question arises as to what are the boundaries we should, or in fact need to observe?

To put it another way, what are the irreducible traits of a biblical church?

Can churches that are purely online be recognised as being legitimate forms of church? Or what about micro churches, or churches that gather in a cafe, a workplace or even under a tree?

The following extract from Chapter 6; (The Ecclesiology: Defining the Essentials of Church) of the Exponential eBook “The Mobilization Flywheel” By Larry Walkemeyer and Todd Wilson states that “Church” is happening when these seven traits are recognizable in a gathering. 

So straight from the eBook, here are Exponential’s Description of the Seven Irreducible Traits of a Biblical Church.

Trait #1 Jesus is Worshipped as Lord.

• The gathered believers are united in loving fellowship around the Trinitarian presence of the one true God: the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
• Jesus is honored as the incarnation of God and foundation/ cornerstone of the church.
• Worship in any of its multiple forms (prayer, singing, giving, etc.) is happening.
• Jesus is acknowledged as the ultimate authority, leader, and head of the church (Lord).
• Jesus is honored as present when a group (even two or three) gather in his name.

 Trait #2 Scripture is Taught and Obeyed as Truth.

• The Scriptures are honoured as the authority in all matters of doctrine and life.
• The Scriptures are read and shared as the directive of the faith community.
• The Scriptures provide a moral authority which imparts a standard of conduct to the community.
• The Scriptures define and prioritize individual and corporate holiness

 Trait #3 Believers Gather Regularly for Fellowship and Prayer.

• The church is made up of “believers” — those who have been born again into her.
• The church is interdependent individuals (the people of God) who assemble for spiritual purposes.
• The assembling of a defined group of believers happens frequently enough to advance the interactive realities of behaving as a family.
• Fellowship, “koinonia,” the “joint sharing together in Christ,” is occurring in the gathering.
• The “one another” passages of Scripture are practiced as a fulfillment of “fellowship.”
• Active love and mutuality, caring for the needs of one another, is prioritized.
• Unity of the faith and spirit overcome divisions caused by race, class, status, or gender.
• Prayer for one another is a defining practice of the fellowship.

Trait #4 Sacraments are Practiced.

• Prayer is an active and vital ritual of the church.
• Baptism is practiced for initiating believers into the church.
• Communion, the Lord’s Supper is practiced as an ongoing remembrance of the reality and centrality of Christ’s salvific work.

 Trait #5 Spiritual Authority is Present, Credible, and Active.

• Overseers and leaders (elders, deacons, apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teachers) are established in a credible manner.
• Overseers and leaders teach and equip the saints for maturity, ministry, and mission.
• Church discipline is exercised to guard the church and aid the individual believer.

 Trait #6 God’s Mission of Disciple-Making and Servanthood are Core Priorities.

• The church understands itself as an expression of God’s kingdom mission.
• The Great Commission (going and making disciples) is prioritized and practiced.
• Serving in missional practices is prioritized and practiced.
• Evangelism is prioritized and viewed as the first step in disciple-making.
• The priesthood of all believers shapes how the church pursues the mission.
• Intercessory prayer and fasting is practiced as a primary means of mission advancement.

 Trait #7 The Presence of the Spirit is Active in the Gathering.

• The Spirit is empowering the fruit and gifts of the Spirit.
• The Spirit is teaching the gathered believers.
• The Spirit is comforting and guiding the church.

So, there you have it. That’s what the authors of The Mobilization Flywheel determine as the Seven Irreducible Traits of a Biblical Church. Other authors will have different lists. You can read about some of these in the eBook The Mobilization Flywheel.

The challenge is to match innovation with biblical authenticity in terms of what it is to be a church. Maybe our starting point should be the Book of Acts? In the meantime, perhaps the above seven traits may be a useful guide.

Tim O’Neill
National Leader, Exponential Australia.

30 January 2025

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