How should success in the local church be measured?

Attendance, giving, facilities, and ministry activity can provide useful information, but they do not ultimately define whether a church is successful. Measuring Success in the Local Church challenges pastors and church leaders to evaluate ministry according to a more important standard: faithfulness to the mission and priorities established by Jesus Christ and revealed in Scripture.

Dr. Nathanael J. Lucas presents a biblical framework for examining the health, faithfulness, and mission of the local church. Beginning with the biblical basis for evaluation and Christ’s own standards for His church, the book explores key characteristics of a faithful congregation, including commitment to God’s Word, love, spiritual maturity, disciple-making, gospel witness, worship, prayer, unity, holiness, servanthood, stewardship, and biblical leadership.

Each chapter encourages readers to move beyond simply asking, “Are we growing?” and instead consider the deeper question: “Are we becoming the church Christ has called us to be?”

The book also includes the Local Church Evaluation Instrument, providing church leaders with a practical tool for examining their congregation through these biblical characteristics and identifying areas of strength, weakness, and needed development.

Designed for pastors, church boards, ministry leaders, and Christians who care about the health and mission of the local church, Measuring Success in the Local Church provides a Scripture-centered approach to evaluating what matters most—not merely whether a church appears successful, but whether it is faithful to Christ and His mission.