Today we conclude our studies on "The Good to Great Church." I introduced the series by citing Jim Collins' best-selling business book Good to Great. Collins asks the question, "How can good companies become great companies?" The woods are full of good churches. How can these good churches become great ones?

Christian writer Thom Rainer took Collins' thesis and applied it to churches. He did rigorous case study research to determine the common qualities of churches which have transitioned into greatness. His book is called Breakout Churches.

What did he conclude? Breakout churches are led by pastors who portray the type of leadership witnessed in the Book of Acts. These churches also have an "aha" moment in which they wake up to the fact that they are plateaued or declining and decide to do something about it. Then they focus a lot of attention on personnel and developing the kind of infrastructure that is conducive to significant growth. They also discover where the gifts and passions of the congregation intersect with the needs of the community. And they demand and strive for excellence in every area of ministry.

Rainer's book is filled with helpful ideas. My messages during these studies, I confess, have not been based on hundreds of hours of rigorous research. They simply represent some of the basic key ingredients that any church needs to possess in order to transition from a good church to a great one.

So let's review. Great churches are filled with great Christians. Great Christians will, first of all, protect the unity of the church by loving their fellow members, by refusing to gossip and by following the leaders. Second, great Christians will share the responsibility of their church by praying for its growth, by inviting the unchurched to attend and by warmly welcoming those who visit. Third, great Christians serve the ministry of their church by discovering their gifts and talents, by being equipped to serve by the pastors, and by developing a servant's heart.

Today, we will look at the fourth key, supporting the testimony of my church. Before jumping in to the three truths I want to teach, I want to introduce you to {Bud Batchelor, B.J. Estes, Kim Kennerly}. He/she is going to come and share for a few minutes what brought them to Chapin Baptist and how God has blessed them since becoming a part of this church family. {I've really enjoyed these stories we've heard. I trust you have as well.}

How do I support the testimony of my church? First, by attending faithfully. I can relate to the psalmist who said, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD" ( Psalm 122:1, KJV). I enjoy being in God's house each Sunday. Not just because I am a preacher, and Sunday is my day. No, I enjoy Sundays because I enjoy worship. Every Sunday I get to be in God's house with God's people. I have an opportunity to encounter the living Christ.

For those of you who don't come every Sunday, I don't see how you make it spiritually. My worship experience each week is vital to my soul and spiritual well-being. When I'm on vacation, I do my best to make sure I'm where I can attend a church somewhere on Sunday. Not just so I can see how others do it, but because I need it for my own spiritual well-being.

Through the years we've allowed our culture to convince us that attending church each week is really not that important. A 2003 Gallup survey showed that only 38 percent of adults had attended church or synagogue in the last seven days. That's less than half. Thankfully, our teenagers got it better than adults. 43 percent of teenagers had attended in the last seven days.

There is a dangerous trend happening in our culture. Studies show over and over that spiritual interest among people is at an all-time high. But more and more are seeking spiritual fulfillment in arenas outside of Christianity and the local church. This trend says something about the anti-Christian sentiment in our society. But it also sounds alarm bells to the local churches that they better wake up and recognize that what brought the glory days of the church in the 50s and 60s is not going to cut it if we're to impact our communities with the gospel today.

That is why I try to lead our congregation to always be open to innovative and fresh ways of presenting the old, old gospel story. The story never changes, but the way we present it must catch up to the new millennium we're living in or thirty years from now churches in America will be just like they mostly are in Europe—dying or dead.

It is important for every member of Chapin Baptist Church to be faithful in attending church each week. The Bible says, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching" ( Hebrews 10:25). In other words, go to church. We need to be here each Sunday to encourage one another. If you've allowed other interests to take you away from church, I challenge you today to rethink your priorities. Set the example for others to follow.

Before moving to the second point, let me make one more observation. Many of you battle the issue—do I go to worship or do I attend Sunday School? You need both. Every believer needs the worship experience. Your number one God-given objective in life is to worship God. Don't ever minimize how important the worship experience should be in your life. But then you need a small group experience as well. Whether you meet in someone's home during the week or here at the church, you need to attend a small group where you can build strong Christian friendships, where you can openly discuss God's Word, and where you can experience spiritual transformation. It's hard for me to fathom how anyone can reach his/her God-given potential if either worship or the small group experience is absent.

By the way, did you know that those who attend church regularly live longer? That's right. Research showed that those who did not attend church lived an average of 75 years. Those who attended less than once a week, 80 years. Once a week, 82 years. And more than once a week, 83 years. I kid you not. Attend faithfully. You just might live longer.

How can I support the testimony of my church? Second, by living a godly life. Don't just say that you're a Christian. Prove it by living like one everyday of your life. The Bible says, "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ" ( Philippians 1:27). I love the Message Bible rendering of this verse. It says, "Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ" (Msg).

Remember, great churches are filled with great Christians. And great Christians walk the talk everyday of their lives, whether at home, at work, at the ball game or gym, at the restaurant, or around the business dealing table. At this time of the year, I might add great Christians are completely above board on their tax filing. Great Christians have integrity. They are honest, kind, loving and courteous. Well, I guess you could say they live like Jesus everyday and everywhere. They're the same, whether they are at church or out in the community.

I know you've seen the stickers on back of transfer trucks that say, "How's my driving? Call 1-800-…." A few years ago one of our members reported to me they had seen a man wearing a T-shirt at the state fair that said, "How's my behavior? Call my pastor at …." Not a bad idea. If you don't act well in public, do us all a favor and take off the cross you're wearing. If you drive like a maniac, would you please remove the Christian bumper sticker from your car? Don't wear that Christian T-shirt out in public unless you know your behavior matches your claim to be a Christian.

You've seen these walking billboards, haven't you? You may see them driving by a place of business or walking back and forth on a downtown sidewalk. They are advertising some kind of product. There's a message on the front and on the back. As a Christian, you need to accept the fact that you are a walking billboard for Jesus Christ. In fact, before you go out each day, imagine that you put on a two-sided billboard that everyone will see. On one side it says, "I am a follower of Jesus Christ." On the other side, it says, "I am a faithful member of Chapin Baptist Church."

It may sound trite, but it is true: You are the only Jesus some people will ever see. I will add to that: You may be the only impression of Chapin Baptist that some will ever have. So live a godly life—every day!

How can I support the testimony of my church? By attending faithfully. By living a godly life. And, third, by giving regularly. You didn't think I could go through this whole series on becoming a great church without talking about the importance of giving, did you?

First of all, let me commend you. I don't know how the rest of the year will pan out, but so far this year, it is obvious that many of you have been responding to what the Bible teaches about tithing. Our giving is ahead of last year's. And to be within $2,000 of budget needs in spite of the fact that some key contributors moved out of the area and that the church went through a period of inner turmoil at the end of 2005, is a sure indication that the hand of God is upon us.

The Bible says, "On the first day of every week each of you should put aside some of your money. Give a certain part of what you have earned" ( 1 Corinthians 16:1, NLV). In other words, when Sunday comes around, bring your tithe to the place of worship.

I've discovered two key things in my years of ministry when it comes to giving. First, believers want to know what the Bible teaches on how we should handle our money. And, second, people give more generously when they know their gifts have an impact on eternity. So a few Sundays out of the year I lay out what the Bible teaches on money and giving. And then I try to keep before you throughout the year how God is using your gifts to change people's lives.

I'm excited about what seems to be an escalating passion among our members to make a difference in our community. Every time I walk through the children's building and The Pointe, I think, "What an eternal investment these buildings are turning out to be!" I see students making commitments to full-time ministry. I hear dreams of wanting to start new ministry outposts in the community.

I believe when God is at work, people respond with their gifts. I simply give you the biblical reminders throughout the year, like the verse that says, "A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD" ( Leviticus 27:30). Again, I commend you for the way you are giving. Keep it up, and let's see what God will do as a result.

Every member giving regularly. It is one of the keys to becoming a great church. My recent series "In the Zone" must have really hit a positive chord. I still hear comments about how God used the messages in your life. One mom was telling me how she had been teaching her 11-year-old boy about tithing. He wasn't sure that these Bible verses applied to little children. But she finally convinced him that tithing was the right thing to do even for fifth grade boys.

One of the neighbors had asked this boy to feed their pet while they were out of town for a few days. No big deal. Glad to help. Then he comes home and shows his mom an envelope with his name on it. He opens it and inside is $30. You would have thought he had won the lottery. His mom was able to remind him how God always blesses when we commit to bring the tithe.

I could tell you story after story of how God blesses when His people give. Keep sending me your stories. They're so uplifting. They remind me that God is molding us into being a great church.

"The Good to Great Church." Let me close this series of messages with a final probing question. We've looked at what it takes to become a great church: protecting the unity, sharing the responsibility, serving the ministry and supporting the testimony. Here is the question: If every member were just like you, would our level of greatness increase or decrease? Remember, great churches are filled with great Christians.