What is a Healthy Church?

The Identity of the Church

The church is an assembly

The word church (“ekklesia”) means assembly

Ps 35:18 “18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly (g: ekklesia); among the throngs I will praise you.”

Not all uses of ekklesia refer to the church (i.e. political assemblies)

There is both a universal and local sense of ekklesia in the NT, though the local sense is dominant

The church is called to meet together

Heb 10:25 “25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

One another v. one to many

At creation, God’s plan for worship included community

Gen 2:18 “18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.””

In eternity, God’s plan for worship includes community

Rev 5:13 “13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!””

The church is composed of Christians

Believe, be baptized, belong

Ac 2:38-40 “38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.””

Those within the church who do not follow Christ should be placed outside the church

1 Cor 5:9-13 “9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.””

The church is defined by a shared faith

Truth forms the basis of Christian unity

Eph 4:3-6 “3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” ‘

The church is called to be pure and holy

Col 1:22 “22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—”

The Centrality of Christ in the Church

The church is built by Christ

Mt 16:18 “18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

The church belongs to Christ

Mt 16:18 “18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

The church is commissioned by Christ

Mt 28:18-19 “18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

The church will be presented to Christ

Eph 5:25-27 “25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”

The Mission of the Church

Glorify God

Eph 4:11-14 “11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.”

Preach the Gospel

To Unbelievers

Mt. 28:18-20 “18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””

To Believers

Jud 20-21 “20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”

Be Transformed

Rom 12:2 “2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”