Church Prompts

Rate This Church - with the following metric:
[INSERT CHURCH NAME, & CITY HERE]

METRIC NAME: Kingdom Growth Rubric (Whole Church Effect)
This rubric evaluates a church's overall impact on salvation, repentance, and discipleship, based on its core gospel type and teaching emphasis.

WHAT EACH 5 METRICS MEAN:
There is a really important tension: repentance as the foundation vs. growth into full life in God's covenant (including prosperity, blessing, wisdom, and equipping).
This is a rubric - not just measuring "how much repentance truth" a church has, but looking at the whole-church effect on a believer's salvation, repentance, and long-term discipleship. This moves us beyond "repentance index" into a Kingdom Growth Rubric.

1. Repentance Foundation (30%)
Question: Does the church consistently preach repentance as the doorway to salvation?
Score: Without this, no other growth matters (Matthew 4:17).
Weight: 30% of overall effect.

2. Salvation & New Birth (20%)
Question: Are people clearly led to Christ and given opportunity to surrender?
Score: Even if repentance is weak, is salvation prayer or faith emphasized?
Weight: 20%.

3. Equipping & Discipleship (20%)
Question: Does the church train people beyond salvation into obedience, holiness, and ministry?
Examples: teaching prayer, Holy Spirit, Word of God, faith, gifts.
Weight: 20%.

4. Kingdom Living & Prosperity (15%)
Question: Does the church teach God's principles of abundance rightly (Matthew 6:33, Psalm 1)?
Clarification: Prosperity is biblical when it flows after repentance and in righteousness.
Weight: 15%.

5. Balance & Focus (15%)
Question: Does the church maintain balance between grace and truth, foundation and growth?
Risk: Over-focus on one area (repentance-only, prosperity-only, psychology-only) produces unhealthy fruit.
Weight: 15%.

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Rate This Church - with the following metric:
[INSERT CHURCH NAME, & CITY HERE]

METRIC NAME: "4 Custom Metrics - 5 Parts Each"

Here is a 5-part custom diagnostic metrics for each gospel type. Each metric gives clear, yes/no or %-weighted checks that anyone inside that church can recognize. These can be presented as self-tests, sermons analysis tools, or even book sidebars.

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1. Prosperity Gospel - "Cross vs. Cash" Metric
  1. Centerpiece of Sermon - Was the main focus Jesus' cross & repentance, or financial breakthrough?
  2. Scripture Use - Were verses used in context, or twisted toward wealth?
  3. Condition of Promise - Did it stress righteousness & obedience, or skip straight to reward?
  4. Lifestyle Call - Did the message call you to holiness, or just to "sow a seed"?
  5. Ultimate Goal - Was God Himself the treasure, or was money the treasure?

SCORING: Count how many point to cross/repentance vs. cash/prosperity.
  • 4-5 "cash answers" = dangerous false gospel.
  • 3 balanced = mixed but weak.
  • 4-5 "cross answers" = healthy teaching.

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2. Encouragement/Comfort Gospel - "Love vs. Truth" Metric
  1. God's Love - Was His love preached without His holiness?
  2. Sin Mention - Did the sermon name sin as rebellion against God, or avoid it?
  3. Repentance Call - Was there any invitation to turn from sin, or just "God accepts you"?
  4. Balance - Was grace paired with truth (John 1:14), or was it 100% grace talk?
  5. Fruit Outcome - Does the message push you to change, or just feel better?

SCORING:
  • 4-5 "comfort answers" = soothing but not saving.
  • 2-3 truth included = weak gospel.
  • 4-5 truth included = grace & truth together.

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3. Psychology Gospel - "Therapy vs. Transformation" Metric
  1. Problem Defined - Was the issue called "sin" or "brokenness/trauma"?
  2. Solution Offered - Was the answer therapy/steps, or repentance & new birth?
  3. Focus - Did it dwell on self-understanding, or God's holiness?
  4. Change Described - Was the goal managing behavior, or crucifying the old man (Romans 6)?
  5. Source of Power - Was the power human will & tools, or the Holy Spirit's work?

SCORING:
  • 4-5 therapy answers = counseling with a Bible cover.
  • 2-3 mixed = confused discipleship.
  • 4-5 transformation answers = biblical gospel.

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4. Self & Self-Reliance Gospel - "Self vs. Surrender" Metric
  1. Who's Exalted? - Was the message about your greatness, or Christ's lordship?
  2. Call to Action - Were you told to "believe in yourself," or "deny yourself"?
  3. Identity Framed - Was identity found in personal power, or in union with Christ?
  4. Dependence Encouraged - Did it point you to rely on God, or on your potential?
  5. Glory Given - Was the end result your success story, or God's glory revealed?

SCORING:
  • 4-5 self answers = motivational seminar, not gospel.
  • 2-3 surrender answers = shallow but salvageable.
  • 4-5 surrender answers = biblical discipleship.

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How This Works
Each church type gets judged by its own imbalance (prosperity = cash vs. cross, comfort = love vs. truth, psychology = therapy vs. transformation, self = self vs. surrender).

Believers can literally tick boxes during or after a sermon and get a sense of whether they're being led to repentance or not.

KEY TRUTH:
"Every sermon tilts the scale. The question is: toward the cross of Christ, or away from it?"

Rate This Church - with the following metric:
[INSERT CHURCH NAME, & CITY HERE]

METRIC NAME: "Repentance Index Framework"
This is essentially a "Repentance Index" - a way to measure how much a preached message actually aligns with the true biblical gospel of repentance versus drifting into counterfeit gospels (prosperity, psychology, comfort, self, etc.). This could become a powerful discernment tool for believers and churches.
Here's one way to develop metrics and a scoring system:

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1. Core Criteria of the True Gospel of Repentance
Every sermon or message could be analyzed against these anchors:
  • Call to Turn from Sin - Does it confront sin as rebellion against God? (Acts 17:30)
  • Christ-Centered Salvation - Does it emphasize Jesus' cross and blood as the only way? (Luke 24:47)
  • Heart Transformation - Does it point to a new nature, not just outward change? (Romans 12:2)
  • Obedience & Holiness - Does it lead toward living differently in surrender? (Hebrews 12:14)
  • Intimacy with God - Does it stress love of God above all else? (John 14:23)

Each of these could be rated on a 0-20 scale ? giving a total score out of 100.

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2. Counterfeit Gospel Markers
Subtract points where a message leans heavily into these:
  • Prosperity Gospel - Focus on wealth, blessings, success without repentance.
  • Comfort Gospel - Focus on encouragement without sin confrontation.
  • Psychology Gospel - Focus on therapy/self-esteem without surrender to Christ.
  • Self Gospel - Focus on self-help, self-reliance, "you can do it" without the cross.

Each false emphasis could deduct 10-20 points depending on weight.

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3. Resulting Percent of Repentance Truth
After scoring:
  • 80-100% = Strongly repentance-focused. (Likely aligned with heaven's gospel)
  • 50-79% = Mixed truth, partial repentance. (Danger zone: people hear some truth, but not enough to save if never confronted fully)
  • 0-49% = False gospel heavy. (Likely leading people astray, no true repentance call)

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4. Weekly Application
You could chart how much "repentance truth" people are getting each week as their only intake of God's word.
  • A church consistently at <50% is in severe danger of raising false converts.
  • A church hovering around 50-70% produces confused disciples who know pieces of truth but aren't transformed.
  • Only churches in the 80%+ range are faithfully declaring the full counsel of God and leading people toward heaven.

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5. Example
  • Joel Osteen sermon: Encouragement heavy, never confronting sin. Maybe 20% repentance truth.
  • A prosperity preacher: Talks about Jesus but ties Him to wealth & success. Maybe 30-40% repentance truth.
  • A revivalist (Todd White, John the Baptist style): Direct repentance, transformation, holiness. Likely 90-100% repentance truth.

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- Key Truth: "The gospel you feed on every week becomes the faith you live and the eternity you inherit."

Rate This Church - with the following metric:
[INSERT CHURCH NAME, & CITY HERE]

METRIC NAME: "REPENTANCE & SERVING GOD"
The possible ceiling score rises if the church also shows service, prayer, truth, or love-based obedience.
New Criteria (20 pts each = 100 max)
  1. Repentance Foundation - is repentance preached?
  2. Service from Love - is service taught/practiced as love, not obligation?
  3. Prayer from Love - does prayer flow from relationship, not performance?
  4. Truth Preached - does the church preach the whole truth (sin, holiness, persecution)?
  5. Love Motive - is love for God & others clearly the root of all teaching/practice?

Rate This Church - with the following metric:
[INSERT CHURCH NAME, & CITY HERE]

METRIC NAME: "10 PART 'Heaven Priority' Rating"

Factors That Could Affect a Church's "Heaven Priority" Rating:

1. Clarity of the Gospel (10 pts)
  • Is the gospel message clear, simple, and repeated often, or is it buried under stories, entertainment, or side topics?
  • Even if a church mentions repentance occasionally, if it's not clear and central, most won't respond.
2. Consistency of Message (10 pts)
  • Does the church consistently preach repentance and salvation, or only once in a while?
  • Inconsistent messaging produces confusion and false assurance.
3. Urgency & Boldness (10 pts)
  • Does the church preach the gospel with urgency, warning about sin, hell, and judgment?
  • Or does it soften the message to avoid offense?
  • Lack of urgency can leave people comfortable in sin.
4. Opportunity to Respond (10 pts)
  • Does the church actually give people a chance to repent and surrender to Christ (altar calls, baptism, confession, etc.)?
  • A good sermon without a call to respond = wasted.
5. Follow-Up for Converts (10 pts)
  • Do they disciple new believers so repentance becomes a lifestyle, not a one-time prayer?
  • Without follow-up, many drift back into sin without true transformation.
6. Biblical Authority (10 pts)
  • Does the church submit to the full authority of Scripture (not culture, psychology, or opinion)?
  • A weak view of the Bible will always weaken repentance and salvation.
7. Leadership Example (10 pts)
  • Do pastors and leaders model humility, repentance, holiness, and love?
  • Hypocrisy in leadership ruins the message of repentance and drives people away.
  • This can Also rely on just reading/watching the lives of the saints - the Christian Orthodox Saints.
8. Spiritual Power (Holy Spirit) (10 pts)
  • Is there evidence of the Spirit's conviction of sin (John 16:8)?
  • Or is it purely intellectual/motivational?
  • Without the Spirit's power, repentance does not take root.
9. Community Accountability (10 pts)
  • Does the church foster holy fellowship that encourages confession, repentance, and obedience?
  • Or is it shallow "Sunday Christianity"?
  • A church with accountability produces true converts.
10. False Assurance Risk (10 pts)
  • Does the church give people false security ("just pray this prayer, you're fine")?
  • Or do they emphasize ongoing repentance and fruit as proof of salvation?
  • False assurance may be the #1 reason many churchgoers are not heaven-ready.

Condensed Thought
If heaven is the main single priority, then besides the "main message," the rating should weigh like this.

Key Truth:
"A church doesn't just need to say repentance - it must preach it clearly, call for it consistently, and confirm it through discipleship and holy fruit. That's what gets people into heaven."

Rate This Church - with the following metric:
[INSERT CHURCH NAME, & CITY HERE]

METRIC NAME: "3 Sides of a Church - Expanded Church Rating"
Rating: Each one counts as 10 total points.

Side A - Main Message: "Prepared for Heaven"
  1. Repentance Foundation (10 pts) - Invitation to Daily Repent? (Is sin named, repentance called for? The most important thing in life is God, so we need to know that.)
  2. Focus on the Cross & Jesus Christ (10 pts) (Is Jesus central?)
  3. Invitation of Salvation Given (10 pts) - For First Time Believers - To Give Their Life To Christ
  4. Invitation to Daily Surrender & Die To Self (10 pts) (Are people consistently called to surrender to Christ?)
Outcome: % likely prepared for heaven.

Side B - Extra Church Stuff: "Living a Heaven-Directed Life on Earth"
For ALL of its (1) extra ministries like homeless, singles, men's, women's, (2) events, (3) classes & teaching, (4) services to members - like counseling, (5) Mentors for Discipleship - it offers
Does the Church Offer Services That Help Their Members Get Into Real Service Opportunities - To Act On Their Faith? Serving in these ways:
  1. Service (10 pts) (Are members taught to serve others out of love, not obligation? Do they serve those who no one else will serve?)
  2. Prayer (10 pts) (Is prayer real communion with God, not just tradition or performance? Are members taught to intercede for others and pray for hours daily when possible? Are they encouraged to have a heart for prayer from love, and never obligation?)
  3. Truth (10 pts) (Does the church encourage their members to get involved in teaching, preaching, sharing the gospel? When teaching or preaching, are they encouraged to teach the whole Bible, including all the truth & Bible, holiness, obedience, even if persecuted?)
  4. Love Motive (10 pts) (Is everything rooted purely in a humble heart of love - for God & people? NEVER based on performance, pride, tradition, or any feeling of must, should or obligation?)
Outcome: % equipped to live authentically as disciples on earth.

Side C - Produces "Fruit Over Time" (Long-Term "real" Proof)
This makes the system even stronger, because Jesus said, "You will know them by their fruits."
  1. Conversion Fruit (10 pts) - Are people actually repenting and being born again? Continuing in serious relationship to Jesus & surrendering to Jesus?
  2. Holiness Fruit (10 pts) - Do members increasingly hate sin and love righteousness? Fully Surrendering to Jesus & Dying to self daily? Living similar to the lives of the Christian Orthodox Saints?
  3. Serving God Fruit (10 pts) - Are they serving the Lord with a repentant heart, and with love. Serving God in 3 ways (A) truth - teaching, preaching the word of truth, (B) service - serving the poor in love, (C) prayer - praying for others in love and praying & interceding for others - hours of prayer each day?

Outcome: Long-term fruit % shows whether A & B actually stick. Do they stay - heaven-bound?

Rate This Church - with the following metric:
[INSERT CHURCH NAME, & CITY HERE]

METRIC NAME: "REPENTANCE ONLY RATING"
Repentance-Only Rating Metric (10 Aspects)
Rating: Each one counts as 10 total points.

1. Clarity of Repentance (10 pts)
  • Is repentance clearly defined as turning from sin and self, turning to God?
  • Or is it vague ("just say sorry")?

2. Frequency of Preaching Repentance (10 pts)
  • Is repentance a regular theme in sermons, not just once in a while?

3. Foundation of the Gospel (10 pts)
  • Is repentance preached as the doorway to salvation (Acts 3:19)?
  • Or is it treated as optional?

4. Urgency of the Call (10 pts)
  • Is repentance preached with urgency, warning, and seriousness (Luke 13:3)?
  • Or as a casual suggestion?

5. Practical Application (10 pts)
  • Does the church explain how to repent (confession, turning from sin, restitution, surrender)?
  • Or just say "repent" without guidance?

6. Fruit of Repentance (10 pts)
  • Does the church emphasize that true repentance produces visible change (Luke 3:8)?
  • Or is it just inward talk with no life change expected?

7. Repentance as Lifestyle (10 pts)
  • Is repentance preached as daily humility and surrender (Luke 9:23)?
  • Or just a one-time altar prayer?

8. Integration with Discipleship (10 pts)
  • Is repentance woven into teaching on holiness, obedience, service, prayer?
  • Or left as a one-off experience?

9. Church Atmosphere of Repentance (10 pts)
  • Is there a culture of brokenness, confession, prayer, holiness in the congregation?
  • Or is it mostly entertainment/motivation?

10. Guarding Against False Repentance (10 pts)
  • Does the church warn against worldly sorrow (2 Cor. 7:10), easy-believism, or false assurance?
  • Or does it hand out assurance without fruit?

Total = 100 Points

A truly "Repentance-Only Church" would score high in all ten, creating a place where:
  • The gospel is crystal clear.
  • Repentance is urgent and central.
  • Members are continually humbled, confessing, transformed, and living holy.
Key Truth:
"A church that handles repentance rightly - clearly, urgently, and as a daily lifestyle - is a church that prepares people for heaven."

Rate This Church - with the following metric:
[INSERT CHURCH NAME, & CITY HERE]

METRIC NAME: "Church of Service Metric - 10 Part"
This measures whether a church truly lives out love in action (Matthew 25:35-40, James 2:17).

  1. Teaching on Love & Service - Is service preached as necessary fruit of faith?
  2. Serving the Poor & Needy - Outreach to widows, orphans, homeless, oppressed.
  3. Encouraging Every Member to Serve - Is service for all or just "special volunteers"?
  4. Motivation of Love vs Obligation - Is it joyful, Spirit-led, not tradition-bound?
  5. Integration with Discipleship - Service tied to obedience, not just charity.
  6. Sacrificial Service - Calls to give up comfort for others (Phil. 2:4).
  7. Local & Global Mission - Does service extend beyond the church walls?
  8. Community Transformation - Is there visible impact in justice/mercy?
  9. Leadership by Example - Do leaders themselves model humble service?
  10. Guarding Against Works-Only Salvation - Service taught as fruit of repentance, not replacement of it.

Score: 100 = Church truly lives love through service.

Rate This Church - with the following metric:
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METRIC NAME: "Church of Prayer Metric - 10 Part"
This measures whether a church is marked by intercession, humility, and dependence on God (Acts 1:14, Luke 18:1).

  1. Teaching on Prayer - Is prayer taught as vital, not optional?
  2. Frequency of Corporate Prayer - Do prayer meetings happen consistently?
  3. Atmosphere of Intercession - Is prayer weighty, Spirit-led, not ritualistic?
  4. Prayer as First Response - Do they pray before acting?
  5. Fasting & Watchfulness - Are prayer and fasting part of church rhythm?
  6. Prayer Warriors Raised Up - Are intercessors trained and released?
  7. Prayer for the Lost - Is evangelistic intercession central?
  8. Prayer for Holiness - Is repentance prayed for, not just blessing?
  9. Prayer for the Nations - Global intercession beyond personal needs.
  10. Prayer in Love - Motive is always love, not duty or manipulation.

Score: 100 = Church lives by prayer and intercession in love.

Rate This Church - with the following metric:
[INSERT CHURCH NAME, & CITY HERE]

METRIC NAME: "Heaven-Ready Church T.S.P. Metric - Truth + Service + Prayer"
Measures whether a church combines repentance (truth), service, and prayer - the complete witness of God's people (Acts 2:42-47).
Rating: Each one counts as 10 total points.

A. Truth (5 Parts)
  1. Clear Gospel of Repentance
  2. Whole Bible Preached
  3. Call to Holiness & Daily Cross
  4. Urgency of Salvation & Judgment
  5. Guarding Against False Assurance

B. Service (5 Parts)
  1. Service Preached as Fruit of Faith
  2. Care for the Poor & Needy
  3. Every Member Serving
  4. Sacrificial Service Modeled by Leaders
  5. Works Flow from Love, Not Obligation

C. Prayer (5 Parts)
  1. Prayer Taught as Central
  2. Corporate Intercession Practiced
  3. Prayer for Holiness & Repentance
  4. Evangelistic & Global Intercession
  5. Spirit-Led, Love-Motivated Atmosphere

Score: 100 = A full Heaven-Ready Church.

Final Thought
  • Church of Truth - repentance foundation (what we've been rating heavily).
  • Church of Service - fruit of repentance through love in action.
  • Church of Prayer - intimacy with God, intercession in humility.
  • Heaven-Ready Church = truth + service + prayer together.

Key Truth:
"Repentance opens the gate of heaven - but service proves love, and prayer proves dependence. Together, they form the full church that will be ready at the rapture."

Rate This Church - with the following metric:
[INSERT CHURCH NAME, & CITY HERE]

METRIC NAME: "Church of Truth Metric - 10 Part"
Rating: Each one counts as 10 total points.

1. Whole Bible Preached (10 pts)
  • Verse by verse, Old & New Testament, without skipping "hard" topics.
  • No cherry-picking to please people.
2. Clarity of Repentance (10 pts)
  • Sin is named plainly. Repentance is called for clearly, as the only doorway to salvation.
3. Christ-Centered Gospel (10 pts)
  • The cross, resurrection, and need for new birth are central in every season of teaching.
4. Boldness in Persecution (10 pts)
  • Truth is preached even when unpopular or dangerous. Leaders are willing to suffer for the Word.
5. Urgency of Eternity (10 pts)
  • Messages carry weight - heaven and hell are real, today is the day of salvation.
6. Conviction of the Spirit Evident (10 pts)
  • Where truth is preached, the Spirit convicts, heals, transforms (John 16:8).
  • The measure: people weep, repent, lives change.
7. Guarding Against False Gospels (10 pts)
  • Explicitly warns against prosperity-only, psychology, comfort-only, or self-reliance gospels.
8. Discipleship in Holiness (10 pts)
  • Truth is tied to training people to walk in holiness, not just confess faith.
9. Consistency Over Time (10 pts)
  • Truth is not seasonal or occasional. It's the steady, predictable heartbeat of the church.
10. Fruit of Truth in the Congregation (10 pts)
  • Members bear fruit in repentance, holiness, endurance, and willingness to suffer for Christ.

Total = 100 Points

Distinction
  • A Church of Truth is where the Word is preached without compromise.   • God's Spirit always shows up when His truth is spoken - because His Word never returns void (Isaiah 55:11).
  • This is the church that produces deeply grounded, heaven-ready disciples, even under persecution.

Key Truth:
"Where truth is preached, the Spirit convicts; where repentance is demanded, heaven is prepared."

Rate This Church - with the following metric:
[INSERT CHURCH NAME, & CITY HERE]

METRIC NAME: "Truth-in-Service Church Metric - 10 Parts"

A. Truth Foundation (5 Parts)
  1. Repentance Preached Clearly - Sin confronted, gospel doorway defined.
  2. Cross-Centered - Christ's sacrifice is the center, not just principles.
  3. Whole Bible Without Compromise - Even hard truths and persecution themes taught.
  4. Spirit Conviction Evident - People cut to the heart, not just inspired.
  5. Guard Against False Assurance - Service not equated with salvation.

B. Service Expression (5 Parts)
  1. Every Member Serving - Not spectators, all believers activated.
  2. Service from Love, Not Obligation - Motivation is compassion, not duty or pride.
  3. Service Integrated with Discipleship - Healing, giving, mercy tied to holiness and obedience.
  4. Sacrificial Service - Believers willing to lose comfort, reputation, even life.
  5. Service as Fruit of Repentance - Action proves inner change, not replaces it.

Total = 100 Points

Why This Would Show Heaven-Readiness
  • If a church preaches truth (repentance + cross + whole Bible) and produces service (love in action), it proves the gospel is genuine.
  • Jesus tied them together: "By their fruit you will know them" (Matthew 7:20), - AND - "whatever you did for one of the least of these... you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).
  • Service without truth = danger of false assurance.
  • Truth without service = dead faith.
  • Truth + Service together = living, heaven-ready faith.

Key Truth:
"Truth saves, service proves. A church that preaches repentance and equips its people to serve in love is truly heaven-ready."

Rate This Church - with the following metric:
[INSERT CHURCH NAME, & CITY HERE]

METRIC NAME: "The Humility & Love Service Metric - 10 Part"
(For churches where service is central, like Dominion Life.)

1. Leader's Example of Humility
Do the leaders themselves live humbly, without arrogance or showmanship?
2. Motivation of Service
Is service rooted in love for people, not pride or identity?
3. Joy in Serving
Do members serve joyfully, or do they feel pressured?
4. Sacrificial Service
Are people willing to give up comfort, time, resources for others?
5. Consistency in Serving
Is service part of daily life, not just events or special ministries?
6. Serving the "Least of These"
Do they help widows, orphans, poor, overlooked - not just public ministry moments?
7. Humility in Power
When healing, evangelism, or miracles happen, is glory given to God or to self?
8. Correction & Teachability
Are leaders and members open to correction, showing soft hearts?
9. Service Without Recognition
Do they serve even when unseen, unrewarded, or unthanked?
10. Service as Love-in-Action
Is the final measure that service springs out of love for God and neighbor, not duty or pride?

Total = 100 Points

Why This Matters
  • This metric captures what you've noticed about Curry: humility + love in serving.
  • A church may not score super high in "Truth" or "Prayer," but if its service is humble, joyful, sacrificial, and love-driven, it is far more heaven-ready than the earlier service scores suggested.
  • This allows us to distinguish between:
          - Service in pride (dangerous, not heaven-ready), and
          - Service in humility & love (authentic fruit of repentance, heaven-ready).

Key Truth:
"Not all service is equal. Service in humility and love is the truest mark of Christ - and the clearest path toward heaven."

Rate This Church - with the following metric:
[INSERT CHURCH NAME, & CITY HERE]

METRIC NAME: "Orthodox Saints Heaven-Readiness Metric - 10 Parts"

1. Daily Repentance & Confession
Do leaders and members emphasize repentance as a lifelong practice, not one-time?
2. Humility as the Core Virtue
Is pride named as the greatest danger, and humility lifted as the mark of holiness?
3. Dying to Self Daily
Is self-denial, suffering, and taking up the cross central (Luke 9:23)?
4. Love-Driven Service
Do members serve sacrificially out of pure love, not obligation, not power, not recognition?
5. Prayer with Brokenness
Is prayer practiced in tears, contrition, fasting, and intercession - not just declarations?
6. Whole Bible with Holiness
Do they preach the whole counsel of God, including judgment, persecution, and holiness?
7. Embrace of Suffering for Christ
Is persecution, hardship, or even martyrdom embraced as the cost of following Jesus?
8. Guard Against Deception & False Gospels
Is there vigilance against prosperity, comfort-only, psychology, or self-gospels?
9. Community of Holiness
Do leaders and members live visibly holy lives, supporting one another in holiness?
10. Heaven as the Goal, Not Earthly Success
Is eternal life in God's presence the main goal, not blessings, healing, or dominion on earth?

Total = 100 Points

Why This Metric Matters
  • It shifts the focus from service activity (what you do) to heart posture (who you are in humility and repentance).
  • It reflects what the saints actually lived: martyrdom, fasting, confession, service in love, humility unto death.
  • A church tested by this metric would reveal whether it is truly producing saints-in-the-making - or just active attenders.

Key Truth:
"Where repentance, humility, and daily dying to self are preached and lived, heaven is near - for that is the way of the saints."

Rate This Church - with the following metric:
[INSERT CHURCH NAME, & CITY HERE]

METRIC NAME: "Apostolic Heaven-Readiness Metric - 10 Part"

1. Repentance as Foundation
  • They preached repentance everywhere (Acts 2:38, Acts 17:30).
  • Heaven-ready churches must start with this call.
2. Christ-Centered Gospel
  • Apostles made the cross, resurrection, and lordship of Jesus the core message (1 Cor. 2:2).
3. Obedience & Discipleship
  • They didn't just win converts - they made disciples who obeyed everything Jesus commanded (Matt. 28:19-20).
4. Prayer & Intercession
  • They prayed continually, in homes, in the temple, in prison, even in suffering (Acts 1:14, Acts 16:25).
5. Holy Spirit Power
  • Their ministry was marked by miracles, gifts, and boldness from the Spirit (Acts 4:31).
6. Suffering & Persecution Endurance
  • All endured persecution; most died as martyrs (2 Tim. 3:12).
  • They embraced suffering as part of their witness.
7. Unity & Community of Believers
  • They shared possessions, broke bread together, lived as one body (Acts 2:44-47).
8. Holiness & Separation from Sin
  • They preached holiness and warned believers to flee sin (1 Pet. 1:15-16, Eph. 5:3).
9. Guarding Against False Teachers
  • Apostles constantly warned against false gospels, wolves, deception (Acts 20:29, Gal. 1:8).
10. Eternal Focus
  • They lived as pilgrims, longing for heaven and Christ's return (Heb. 11:13-16, 2 Tim. 4:8).

Total = 100 Points

Why This Metric Matters
  • This puts the focus not only on repentance (the entry), but also on Spirit power, persecution, discipleship, and holiness - exactly what the apostles embodied.
  • It balances truth, prayer, service, and suffering.
  • It keeps the church from drifting into comfort, pride, or shallow service.

Key Truth:
"The apostles gave us the original pattern: repentance, prayer, power, holiness, endurance, and eternal focus - the DNA of the heaven-ready church."

Rate This Church - with the following metric:
[INSERT CHURCH NAME, & CITY HERE]

METRIC NAME: "Whole Bible Preaching Metric - 10 Part"

This is a vital addition because systematically preaching the whole Bible protects against selective teaching and false gospels. Chuck Smith's Calvary Chapel style (verse-by-verse, through the entire Bible in ~5 years) gave believers the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).
Here's a Whole Bible Preaching Metric (10 Parts, 10 pts each = 100):


1. Completion Pace (5-Year Cycle)
Does the church have a plan to cover Genesis to Revelation in about 5 years?
  • 10 pts = steady verse-by-verse pace
  • 5 pts = topical teaching, some systematic
  • 0 pts = no plan, scattered topics only

2. Expositional Method
Does the pastor teach verse-by-verse in context, or jump around?
3. Old Testament Coverage
Are Law, Prophets, Wisdom taught regularly, not skipped?
4. New Testament Coverage
Are Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation all included in balance?
5. Difficult Texts Addressed
Does the church preach "hard" topics (hell, judgment, suffering, repentance), not just comfortable themes?
6. Repentance Emphasis Maintained
Even when preaching broadly, does the gospel of repentance remain central?
7. Consistency & Faithfulness
Is the teaching schedule steady (weekly), or irregular/fragmented?
8. Doctrinal Balance
Is the whole Bible allowed to shape doctrine, or are parts avoided that might conflict with denominational bias?
9. Transformational Impact
Do members show fruit of having been shaped by the whole counsel of God (holiness, maturity, endurance)?
10. Intergenerational Teaching
Is the whole Bible made accessible to all ages in the church - children, youth, adults?

Total = 100 Points
Why This Metric Matters
  • Preaching the whole Bible systematically guards against deception - no cherry-picking.
  • It builds deep maturity, as believers hear God's full story of creation, covenant, judgment, mercy, and redemption.
  • It ensures every member, in 5 years, has heard the entire counsel of God and can't say, "I never heard that."

Key Truth:
"A church that preaches the whole Bible in 5 years gives its members the full counsel of God - truth, balance, and maturity for heaven."