# 8 Marks of a Healthy Church (A Conversation with my Dad)

An episode of [Dial In with Jonny Ardavanis](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1505222737), 14 Jul 2026, 32 min.

Audio: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/d6bee777-2602-4855-88b6-54bc973891dd.mp3

Blockbuster had 9,000 stores and was worth $9 billion. Today, only one location remains. What happened — and what does it have to do with the church? In this episode, Pastor Scott Ardavanis sits down with his son Jonny for a father-son conversation on what actually makes a church healthy. Is it true that churches need to "change with the times or die," like Blockbuster and Kodak failed to do? Or are there timeless, transcendent principles every healthy church must hold onto regardless of culture? This episode is brought to you by our ministry partner Accountable2You. Join thousands living in freedom with nothing to hide, and visit https://accountable2you.com/dialin. Use our unique code DIALIN to get 25% off your first year of an Accountable2You Personal or Family Plan Together they unpack 8 marks of a healthy church, including: 1. A High View of God 2. A High View of Scripture (expository preaching & sound doctrine) 3. Every Member Ministry (every believer serving, not just watching) 4. A Commitment to Holiness & Discipleship 5. Christ-Centered, Spirit-Filled Worship 6. A Devotion to Prayer 7. A Gospel-Centered Focus (local & global) 8. Qualified Biblical Leadership (elders & deacons) Whether you're a pastor, church leader, or simply trying to find a healthy church home, this conversation will help you understand what to look for — and why the church doesn't need a new strategy so much as faithfulness to God's Word. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on the church, pastoral ministry, and biblical leadership. 📌 Part 2 coming soon: What is a biblical elder, and how do you know if your church has qualified leadership? Timestamps: 00:00 Intro: Blockbuster, Netflix & the Church 04:47 Pillar 1: A High View of God 07:51 Pillar 2: A High View of Scripture & Preaching 13:16 Pillar 3: Every Member Ministry 15:19 Pillar 4: Holiness & Discipleship 18:51 Pillar 5: Christ-Centered Worship 23:24 Pillar 6: A Commitment to Prayer 25:13 Pillar 7: Gospel-Centered Focus (Local & Global) 27:57 Pillar 8: Qualified Biblical Leadership 29:16 Why This Matters for Every Believer

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