8 Critical Signposts of a Healthy Church

Imagine yourself on a trail deep in the woods. You’ve been walking for a long time, and though you set out on a clearly marked trail, it’s been quite some time since you’ve seen any markers. The undergrowth has become thick; there are few signs that people have regularly walked this way before.

It’s at that moment you would hope to encounter some kind of signpost—a marker placed along the path to help you know for certain that you’re still going the right way, how far you’ve come, and even how far you have to go.

This is what signposts do on a path—they convey information about the progress you’re making.

As a church leader, perhaps you know that feeling of being deep in the woods. You intend to guide your congregation on the pathway of discipleship and spiritual development, but sometimes it’s hard to know if people are truly making progress.

Like the person deep in the woods, you long for some kind of signpost that indicates you’re still on the right track.

Lifeway Research has engaged in the largest research study of its kind on the subject of discipleship. This included qualitative surveys of experts in the field of discipleship and multiple surveys of thousands of Protestant pastors and churchgoers in the United States.

All this research identified eight domains of the Christian life that lead to spiritual health in a believer. These attributes of discipleship serve as signposts on the pathway of discipleship. In other words, these are the characteristics that ought to be present, in increasing measure, in the life of someone who is growing toward Christlikeness.

1. Bible engagement

It should go without saying that believers will be engaged in the study of the Scriptures. Leadership, however, must often begin with the restatement of the obvious. Transformation can be recognized in a person when their mind is sharpened by the Bible, their perspective is shaped by the Bible, and their actions are directed by the Bible.

2. Obeying God and denying self

Discipleship is the process of obedience to one who is in authority over you. The study found that people progressing in their faith are those who prioritize God’s desires over self-will. Transformation can be seen in them because they progressively set aside earthly delights for kingdom priorities.

3. Serving God and others

Just as Jesus said He came to serve and not be served, so must believers. The choice to serve others is just that… a choice. It highlights a maturity of soul that we allow the needs of others to trump our own. Transformation is evident when personal needs, and even dreams, are set aside for the needs of others.

4. Sharing Christ

Inherent to being a disciple of Christ is the making of other disciple-makers for Christ. Even with the need to live out the effects of the gospel, maturing believers know that speaking about the message is a necessity. Transformation is evident when we talk about the source of it.

5. Exercising faith

Can you measure a person’s faith? Probably not. But you can see it when it’s put into action. Believers participating in the research noted they understood the importance of living by faith rather than by personal strength. Transformation is seen in believers when risk-aversion is set aside and our lives are characterized by faithful obedience to God’s will.

6. Seeking God

A person becomes a disciple of Christ because they intend to follow Him and become like Him. A continuous hunger should arise from this life. It’s referred to in Scripture as our “first love,” and believers are commanded at times to return to it. Transformation is seen when we desire to know God more deeply and experience His work more fully.

7. Building relationships

Our faith is personal, but it’s not intended to be private. Jesus established the church for our collective good and our collective growth. After all, humans are relational by nature; spiritually, we are no different. As believers, our horizontal relationships should develop just as our vertical relationship with God does. Transformation is occurring when relational maturity is evident in our lives.

8. Living unashamed

It’s natural to think that a person following Christ would be willing to publicize such a matter. The research noted that believers felt it appropriate, and even necessary, for others to know them as Christians and be held accountable for a life exemplary of that name. Transformation is evident when a believer is unashamed in presenting their own life as being aligned with Christ.

The fruit of discipleship

These signposts are statistically validated marks of transformation that show people are on the right track. When people are growing as disciples of Jesus, that growth is displayed through attributes like these.

When we turn to Scripture, we find the Bible describing these signposts using the word “fruit.” In this agricultural metaphor often employed by biblical authors, we see clearly how transformation leads to visible acts of obedience.

For just as a tree produces fruit according to its kind, so also will someone who is genuinely a Christian have visible marks of their transformation apparent in their lifestyle.

Are these the only signposts for the Christian? They aren’t. Paul described other types of fruit in Galatians 5.

Christians should grow in these attributes as time goes by. Conversely, if you’re not seeing growth in these areas, discipleship may have stalled out in the congregation.

Discipleship pathway

So what do you do if that’s the case? How can you help people get back on the right track?

The first step is to make sure people understand the path they’re on. No matter how hard we try, there are still many in our congregations who don’t understand the moment of salvation is not the end for them; it’s only the beginning of a lifelong pursuit of Christlikeness.

This pursuit takes intentionality on their part; they must give themselves in surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

To remind people of this fact, present a clearly articulated discipleship pathway. There are many ways churches have done this in the past. The research has led us to develop a pathway that incorporates these eight signposts of spiritual growth and development.

Tools for discipleship

One of the most powerful ways a church can support its people as they walk the path of discipleship is by providing access to high-quality, biblically sound resources.

While relationships and environments are essential to disciple making, the tools we place in people’s hands can either accelerate or hinder their growth. Thoughtfully chosen resources—whether curriculum, books, articles, or digital content—can help individuals and groups engage Scripture more deeply, apply truth more personally, and live out their faith more intentionally.

Resourcing your church well means more than simply offering content—it means curating tools that align with your discipleship pathway and meet people where they are in their spiritual journey.

From foundational studies for new believers to deeper theological explorations for mature disciples, the right resources can provide structure, clarity, and momentum. They can also help group leaders feel more confident and equipped, especially when paired with training and support.

Lifeway offers several versions of ongoing curriculum that meet the discipleship needs and strategy of all types of churches in every context for all age groups. Each curriculum option provides a structured, long-term Bible study plan for groups and leaders, minimizing repetition and ensuring comprehensive coverage of major topics.

Every one of us in Christ is on a pathway. Let’s do all we can to make sure our people are clear about the one they need to be walking on, because the church flourishes when disciples are being formed.

Healthy churches have an intentional plan for making disciples.