Top 10 Signs That You're In a Spirit-filled Church

      The Top 10 things you never hear in church. 10) Hey! It's my turn to sit in the front row; 9) I was so enthralled that I didn't even notice that the sermon lasted 40 minutes; 8) I find evangelizing to be more enjoyable than golf; 7) I've decided to give our church the $500/mo. that I had been sending to TV ministers; 6) I will happily volunteer to be the forever Sunday School teacher for Jr. High kids; 5) Say, let's forget the denomination's minimum salary and pay our pastor top dollar; 4) I love it when we sing songs that we've never sung before; 3) Since most of us are already here, let's start worship service early; 2) Let's send the pastor to a Bible seminar in the Bahamas; and 1) Nothing inspires me more than our annual stewardship drive! The top 10 signs that you are in the wrong church: 10) The church van has a gun rack; 9) The church staff includes Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor, and Socio-Pastor; 8) The pew Bible is the Alfred E. Newman version; 7) There is an ATM in the lobby; 6) New members are required to bring W-2's from the last 10 years; 5) There is a 2-drink minimum at Fellowship events; 4) The karaoke service is the church's most popular worship service; 3) Choir members wear leather robes; 2) Ushers ask attendees if they want to sit in the "smoking or non-smoking" section; 1) the Women's Quartet is married to the pastor.
      I could go on because Top 10 lists are everywhere.  But since this is Pentecost, I would simply like to list The Top 10 signs that you're in a Spirit-filled church, regardless of your denomination or way of worshiping. 10) Spirit-filled churches are bold because God is bold. The gospel is bold- even radical. Transformation is bold, and Spirit-filled churches are in the transformation business; 9) Spirit-filled churches have more dreams than memories because God is not dead; 8) Spirit-filled churches are filled with optimism because they have traded in the mantra, "We've never done in that way before"... for "God can do anything;" 7) Spirit-filled churches are inviting and affirming because their ministries are anchored in John 3:16; 6) Spirit-filled churches are obsessed with God's word because God's word speaks to them. If your church is Spirit-filled, it will offer a variety of Bible Studies and Adult Education classes (which will be well-attended); 5) Spirit-filled churches mention the name of "Jesus" a lot- right out loud, frequently, and in many different forums- because Jesus is their Lord and Savior; 4) Spirit-filled churches are filled with Spirit-filled leaders. Their pastors are men and women of God, their elders see themselves as spiritual leaders; and their deacons truly believe that they are doing Christ's work; 3) Spirit-filled churches have a greater commitment to spiritual growth than they do to numerical or financial growth; 2) Spirit-filled churches embrace both mind and spirit because God has given them both. Even as Paul said, "I pray and sing psalms with the Spirit and also my mind," Spirit-filled churches embrace both order and ardor; 1) Spirit-filled churches worship and serve a BIG God- a God who challenges and reshapes them, even as He affirms their faithful work. Spirit-filled churches live and die for a God whom they will never completely understand.  
      Well, there you have it- a non-denominational Top 10 list. I confess that it's not funny and that it's far short of being complete. But I hope it makes the point that the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost ... so that Christ's church would have the power to be both bold and faithful. Being bold means being more concerned with ministry than religion, and being faithful means that everything we do and say is centered in and connected to Christ. Amen.