Be real, not religious. Show authenticity in faith by being authentic with one another at church and acting authentically in the world. Validate your church’s message by your actions in your community. Don’t wear masks with one another; be honest and open in your relationships. Make it a goal for people in the community to see your church as vital. Encourage your members to trust each other enough to confess their sin. Incorporate members into small groups for growth and accountability. Prioritize member involvement with unchurched people. Make it easy in your church’s culture for people to admit unanswered questions about their faith.

Teach to obey rather than to know. Missional churches aren’t satisfied simply to transfer biblical knowledge. Their goal is members’ obedience to spiritual revelation. They understand that it’s not what they know, but what they live that counts. They equip believers, practice “applied Christianity,” have a high regard for the Bible, help members learn obedience through spiritual disciplines (Bible study, meditation, prayer, fasting, solitude, submission, service, simplicity, worship, confession, celebration, and guidance) and use a variety of methods to reach people. They partner new believers with existing members in learning relationships. They challenge members to be responsible in their obedience to God. They equip members to apply Bible knowledge to real-life situations. Members hold one accountable for obeying God’s Word.

Rewrite worship every week. Design worship to exalt God, not to entertain people. Keep your worship fresh by making it highly participatory, creative, and focused on content rather than form. Also remember that worship is more than words; design your worship services to engage each of the five senses. Encourage members to contribute their talents to your church’s worship. Routinely incorporate new ideas or methods into your worship services. Emphasize members’ personal experiences in God’s presence.