--- title: "435: Essential Traits of a Thriving Church Community" description: Discover the essential traits of a thriving church community, focusing on spiritual health, servant leadership, and deep relational connections. Dr. Steve Macchia, founder and president of Leadership Transformations, Inc. shares how to foster a flourishing church culture. --- [Podcast | Best Christian Workplaces ](https://workplaces.org/podcast) # [435: Essential Traits of a Thriving Church Community](https://workplaces.org/podcast/435-essential-traits-of-a-thriving-church-community) Written by [Best Christian Workplaces](https://workplaces.org/podcast/author/bcw) | March, 24 2025 What if the key to a thriving church isn’t just great leadership, but a leader’s spiritual health? In this episode, Dr. Steve Macchia, founder and president of [Leadership Transformations, Inc](https://www.leadershiptransformations.org/)., shares insights from his book [*Becoming a Healthy Church*](https://a.co/d/7sRILH9) on how soul care, deep community, and servant leadership lay the foundation for a truly flourishing church. ## Listen to the Audio [Listen in Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/flourishing-culture-podcast/id1060724960?mt=2) | [Listen in Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/64EQOg7jkiZCiC8iY8miz0?si=91bdb6d89b134e1c)  | [Listen in YouTube Music](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-gI3MlL4aiMwkeZFQbcDTLZXdl-9LWw0) In this episode: **Example of a Healthy Church** • Steve shares about his church, **Church of the Cross in Boston**, as an example of a thriving and healthy church. (05:17) • Characteristics of the church: • Filled with young families and professionals. (05:27) • Strong culture of **grace**, fostered by the pastor’s leadership. (05:35) • Creative environment with musicians, artists, and poets. (05:43) • Vibrant ministry to children and young people. (05:54) • Deep **spiritual connection** among members, with no competitiveness. (06:15) • Focus on **both vertical (God) and horizontal (community) relationships**. (06:25) • Steve and his wife enjoy being among the older members in a young, growing church, which gives them **hope for the future of the church**. (07:10)   **The Importance of Spiritual Vitality in Leadership** • **Spiritual health is foundational** for church and Christian leaders. (07:27) • Leaders often **neglect their own soul**, prioritizing other responsibilities instead. (08:02) • Key practices for leaders to maintain spiritual vitality: • **Consistent prayer time** (having a dedicated space like a prayer closet). (08:36) • **Engagement with Scripture** and **reflective prayer practices**. (08:55) • **Listening to God**, not just speaking in prayer. (09:01) • **Daily examine** to reflect on emotions, actions, and spiritual growth. (09:06)   **The Role of Noticing and Reflective Practices** • **Noticing practices** help leaders slow down and be more aware of God’s presence. (12:02) • Examples include: • **Sabbath** as a time to pause and reflect. (12:16) • **Journaling** to track spiritual insights and prayers. (12:30) • **Daily examine** to reflect on anxieties, joys, and spiritual growth. (12:48) • Noticing practices foster **spiritual depth** and create opportunities to encourage **community-based spiritual growth**. (13:35) • Steve emphasizes the importance of **practicing faith in community** rather than in isolation. (14:17)   **Building Relational Health in Churches** • **Listening as a Foundational Practice (15:47)** • People don’t want to be “fixed”; they want to be truly heard. (15:49) • Teaching “pure listening” involves giving someone uninterrupted time to speak and then reflecting back what was heard. (16:03) • Many church environments are filled with people who think they already know everything, leading to a lack of genuine listening. (17:02) • True witness comes from “with-ness”—being present and truly understanding others. (17:40) • **Practicing Love and Grace** • Churches should emphasize grace and love rather than conflict. (18:22) • Recognizing our own need for grace helps us extend it to others. (18:28) • A healthy church culture is marked by love, joy, and peace rather than competition and division. (18:21) • **Understanding Personal and Others’ Stories** • Everyone’s life experiences are complex and unique. (19:12) • Acknowledging personal stories allows for deeper empathy and stronger community. (19:21) • The fruit of the Spirit should be evident in church culture, creating an environment of love, joy, and peace. (20:12)   **Servant Leadership in Churches** • **Recognizing and Developing Individual Callings** • Every person has gifts and a calling, which may be inside or outside the church. (21:37) • Church leaders should help members identify and pursue their God-given purpose. (22:09) • Leadership development should focus on equipping people to serve in various spheres of life, not just within church roles. (22:43) • **Expanding the Church’s Vision of Service** • Churches should celebrate and support Christians serving in secular workplaces. (23:25) • Leaders should bless and send people into their respective callings rather than just filling internal church positions. (24:04) • True servant leadership follows the example of Jesus—leading as a servant, shepherd, and steward. (24:38) **Key Elements of Healthy Church Leadership** • **Administration & Accountability** • Wise administration is essential for both daily operations and long-term planning. (26:14) • Financial and organizational accountability are necessary at all levels, including oversight from groups like ECFA. (26:40) • Leaders and ministry roles require clear accountability structures. (27:01) • **Discernment vs. Strategy** • Decision-making should be guided by spiritual discernment rather than just strategic planning. (27:46) • Leaders must focus on listening to God and the congregation for direction. (27:55) • **Outward-Focused Ministry** • Churches must balance internal health with external mission work. (28:34) • Evangelism, social action, and global outreach should be structured with accountability and proper resource management. (28:42)   **Overview of the Church Health Model** • **Steve’s Book Series on Church Health** • Books and tools, such as *Becoming a Healthy Church *and the Church Health Assessment Tool (CHAT), help churches evaluate their health. (31:13) • The 10 traits of a healthy church are grouped into three core areas: 1. **Life of Worship** – Focuses on God’s presence, worship, and spiritual disciplines. (31:50) 2. **Life of Community** – Covers relationships, servant leadership, and internal growth. (32:22) 3. **Outward-Focused Church** – Includes evangelism, mission work, stewardship, and accountability. (33:07) • The Church Health Assessment Tool (CHAT) provides data-driven insights for churches. (34:37)   **Impact of Church Staff Culture on Church Health** • A flourishing church requires a **healthy leadership culture**—without it, church health suffers. (35:56) • Churches should function as **a team** and embody biblical metaphors like the **body of Christ** or **oaks of righteousness** to guide their approach to leadership and community. (36:13)   **Timeless and Emerging Aspects of Church Health** • The **10 traits of a healthy church** remain relevant and serve as a strong foundation for assessing church vitality. (38:52) • Younger generations prioritize **relationships and inclusivity**, sometimes leading to concerns about doctrinal flexibility. (39:19) • Encouraging trends include a **renewed focus on Scripture, theology, and Spirit-led living**. (39:54)   **Generational Leadership and Mentorship** • The older generation should **pass the baton** while still mentoring and supporting young leaders. (40:51) • Young pastors are deeply engaged in **biblical study and teaching**, sometimes preaching for extended periods. (40:28) • The next generation values **mentorship and guidance** rather than complete independence. (41:15)   **Challenges Facing the Church** • Division within churches due to **politics, COVID-related disagreements, and cancel culture**. (41:31) • A need to **return to unity, trust, and the priorities of Christ**. (42:05) • A desire to reflect the **relational nature of God**, as seen in *The Chosen*, fostering deeper connections within church communities. (42:12)   **The Role of Trust and Community in Church and Workplace** • Trust is the **foundation of relationships**—essential for teams, friendships, and marriages. (43:24) • Leaders must cultivate **trust, integrity, and open communication** to foster a strong workplace and church culture. (43:19)   **Personal Spiritual Growth and Soul Care** • The importance of **prioritizing soul care**, prayer, and a deepening relationship with God. (43:59) • Encouragement to **respond to God’s invitations**, live abundantly, and embrace a Spirit-led life. (44:54)   **Final Encouragement** • A call to **focus on spiritual growth**, both individually and within the church. (45:23) ## Read the Transcript Read a complete, word-for-word [transcript of the episode](https://workplaces.org/podcast-transcript/essential-traits-of-a-thriving-church-community-steve-macchia) ## FOLLOW OUR HOST Follow our Host, Al Lopus, on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/allopus/) & [Twitter.](https://twitter.com/allopus) Email our host at [al@workplaces.org](mailto:al@workplaces.org) [View full post](https://workplaces.org/podcast/435-essential-traits-of-a-thriving-church-community) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Best Christian Workplaces" }, "dateModified" : "2025-03-24T12:00:01.096Z", "datePublished" : "2025-03-24T12:00:00Z", "headline" : "435: Essential Traits of a Thriving Church Community", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 450, "url" : "https://22209945.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/22209945/Social%20Media/435%20Steve%20Macchia_Essential%20Traits%20of%20a%20Thriving%20Church%20Community.jpg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://workplaces.org/podcast/435-essential-traits-of-a-thriving-church-community", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 60.0, "url" : "https://22209945.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/22209945/logo.png", "width" : 169.14287 }, "name" : "Podcast" } } ```