So you're meeting regularly with a group of believers who call themselves "church." But you can't shake the sense that the atmosphere has gone stale, that you're missing something.

You sense that God intended more for you, but it's hard to know what that might be. If that's you, let me offer four questions that are worth answering:

1) Discipleship.  Are people continually helping you grow? Your church body needs to be composed of a series of interconnected relationships where those with greater experience are continually helping those who are young in the faith. Think of these as friendship-based apprenticing relationships. They help you to press into God.

2) Community. Are you independent contractors or are you doing life together? In our overly busy world, we have to create space to intersect and add value to one another. We need daily encouragement and support from each other. Yesterday's blog addresses this issue.

3) Grace and Freedom. Does church make you feel inadequate or encouraged? Most people I know who are running from religion are not rejecting Jesus, they are just tired of the condemnation and control that his followers demonstrate. Legalism is a huge problem in the church. Unless we lead with love, we forfeit the right to share truth.

4) Outreach. Is your faith spilling out into your community and the world? We've been given spiritual power and authority for a reason. God wants his family back and he's chosen you and me as his tools to go get them.

I've written more about these basics of church here.