Healthy church members 1

If you’re a Christian parent, what do you want for your kids? If you’re a Christian kid, what do you want for your family?

Probably you want a number of attributes to increasingly mark your family: love, joy, holiness, unity, and reverence before the Lord. You can probably think of a number of items.

But let’s try to sum up all those qualities with one not very exciting word: healthy. You want a healthy family—a family that works and lives and loves together as God designed the family to do.

So it is for our churches. I propose that Christians, whether pastors or church members, should aspire to have healthy churches.

Maybe there’s a better word to describe what the church should be than “healthy.” After all, we’re talking about the people purchased by the blood of the eternal Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords—is “healthy” the best that I can come up with? Yet I like the word healthy because it communicates the idea of a body that’s living and growing as it should. It may have its share of problems. It’s not been perfected yet. But it’s on the way. It’s doing what it should do because God’s Word is guiding it.

I often tell my congregation that when it comes to battling sin in our lives, the difference between Christians and non-Christians is not that non-Christians sin whereas Christians don’t. The difference is found in which sides we take in the battle. Christians take God’s side against sin, whereas non-Christians take sin’s side against God. In other words, a Christian will sin, but then he will turn to God and his Word and say, “Help me fight against sin.” A non-Christian, even if he recognizes his sin, effectively responds, “I want my sin more than God.”

A healthy church is not a church that’s perfect and without sin. It has not figured everything out. Rather, it’s a church that continually strives to take God’s side in the battle against the ungodly desires and deceits of the world, our flesh, and the devil. It’s a church that continually seeks to conform itself to God’s Word.

Imaging God’s character as it’s been revealed in his Word means, quite naturally, beginning with God’s Word. Why should we turn there, and not to “whatever works” (pragmatism) in determining what our churches should do and be? In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, the pastor of the church in Ephesus, he told Timothy that the Bible would “equip him for every good work.” — 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. In other words, there are no good works for which Scripture would not equip us. If there is something our churches think they should do or be that’s not found in God’s Word, then Paul was wrong, because in that case Scripture couldn’t be said to equip us for “every good work.”For example: in 1 John (chapter 4 specifically) we learn that “loving one another” is a distinguishing mark of a true Christian. In letting the Scriptures (not tradition nor “what works”) be our guide, what will a portion of our gatherings look like each week?I’ve spoken to some of you, we are seeking to establish some small groups that will meet here at the church and in our homes for the explicit purpose of joyfully carrying out the command of God in loving one another, thereby showing that we love God.

Let me give you a more precise definition, and then we’ll look at several passages of Scripture that support this definition: A healthy church is a congregation that increasingly reflects God’s character as his character has been revealed in his Word.

What Christian Doesn’t Want That?

Imaging God’s character as it’s been revealed in his Word means, quite naturally, beginning with God’s Word.

Why should we turn there, and not to

“whatever works” (pragmatism)

in determining what our churches should do and be?

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, the pastor of the church in Ephesus, he told Timothy that the Bible would “equip him for every good work.”

— 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

In other words, there are no good works for which Scripture would not equip us.

If there is something our churches think they should do or be that’s not found in God’s Word,

then Paul was wrong, because in that case Scripture couldn’t be said to equip us for “every good work.”

For example: in 1 John (chapter 4 specifically) we learn that “loving one another” is a distinguishing mark of a true Christian.

In letting the Scriptures (not tradition nor “what works”) be our guide, what will a portion of our gatherings look like each week?

I’ve spoken to some of you, we are seeking to establish some small groups that

will meet here at the church and in our homes

for the explicit purpose of joyfully carrying out the command of God in loving one another, thereby showing that we love God.

So if a healthy church is one where the congregation is one that is more and more reflecting God’s character and nature as revealed in Scripture,

then the membership of the church is going to more and more reflect that definition.

There are many words spoken in Scripture that define the task of pastors in leading the church to transformation to Christ-likeness.

In fact there’s three books (the pastoral epistles) written directly to pastors on how to lead the church and what their role is in the body.

These messages are going to be geared towards addressing you, the people that I’m supposed to be leading

and I want to help you play your role in helping your local church to increasingly reflect God’s glory!

So instead of thinking, “What are you going to do pastor Joel to fix our church?” I’m not sure if anyone even thinks that way, but just in case you do

Let me ask you how do we reconcile these verses from . Which we’ll read after we spend a moment in prayer.

O Sovereign Lord, we beseech you to bless your people with an unusual humility, unity, joy, peace, and care for one another. We pray that you would increasingly make all of your people spiritually healthy and fruitful, not only as individuals but as one body, one new man, laboring together to grow up into Christ, even the fullness of his stature. Bless the reading, hearing, and study of your word for the glory of your name. And, O Lord, be pleased to use even this little message in some way to advance your kingdom and beautify your bride. Father, we ask these things knowing that nothing is too hard for you, with the full assurance of faith, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

There are many words spoken in Scripture that define the task of pastors in leading the church to transformation to Christ-likeness.

In fact there’s three books (the pastoral epistles) written directly to pastors on how to lead the church and what their role is in the body.

These messages are going to be geared towards addressing you, the people that I’m supposed to be leading

and I want to help you play your role in helping your local church to increasingly reflect God’s glory!

So instead of thinking, “What are you going to do pastor Joel to fix our church?” I’m not sure if anyone even thinks that way, but just in case you do

Let me ask you how do we reconcile these verses from .

That the risen Christ gave pastors and teachers to: “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” —

So I’m called to equip you for the “work of ministry”. Christ gifts leaders (v. 11)

so that they can train believers to exercise their own respective gifts (v. 7)

for ministry rather than do all the work for them.

so that the body of Christ may be built up. Spiritual gifts are ultimately for the edification of the church,

not for self (; ).

These gifted leaders and the body of Christ are working towards maturing and building herself up in love by speaking truth.

So that we may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ

— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Paul continues to use the imagery of the body to describe church growth.

From him. Christ, as head of the body, is the source of sustenance for the church (cf. ).

whole body… together … every … every. Shows the necessity of each member utilizing the gifts that Christ has given them (v. 7) for the corporate growth of the body.

love. Its repetition (vv. 2, 15) emphasizes its importance for maturity and unity.

So if a healthy congregation is one that is increasingly, more and more reflecting the image of God and coming into conformity to Him.

Then what does a healthy church member look like in light of Scripture?

How can you, an individual member of a local church, contribute to the positive health of your church?

By quitting because you don’t agree?

By gossiping?

By, on your way out of the service, roasting me in front of everybody so that everyone around you knows that you disagree?

By gossiping?

By, on your way out of the service, roasting me in front of everybody so that everyone around you knows that you disagree?

Are those things that mature healthy members of the body of Christ do?

How will you become a better member and contribute to the health of God’s family in this place?”

Those questions belong to every Christian.

The health of the local church depends on the willingness of its members to

inspect their hearts,

correct and change their thinking, and

apply their hands and feet to the work of the ministry.

Today you’re going to be encouraged towards

“Expositional Listening” to the Word of God.

Healthy church members are those who listen in a particular way to the Word of God

as it is preached and studied—

they let God set the agenda by seeking always

to hear the true meaning of the text

so that they can apply it to their lives.

If churches are to be healthy, then pastors and teachers must be committed to

discovering the meaning of Scripture and allowing that meaning to drive the agenda with their congregations.

There is an important result or effect for every member of a local church.

Just as the pastor’s preaching agenda should be determined by the meaning of Scripture, so too

should the Christian’s listening agenda be driven by the meaning of Scripture.

When we listen to the preaching of the Word, we should not listen primarily for “practical how-to advice,”

though Scripture teaches us much about everyday matters.

Nor should we listen for messages that bolster our self-esteem or that rouse us to political and social causes.

Rather, as members of Christian churches we should listen primarily for the voice and message of God as revealed in his Word.

We should listen to hear what He has written, in His omniscient love, for His glory and for our blessing.

So what exactly do I mean by “expositional listening”?

Expositional listening is listening for the meaning of a passage of Scripture and

accepting that meaning as the main idea to be grasped

listening for the meaning of a passage of Scripture and accepting that meaning as the main idea to be grasped for our personal and corporate lives as Christians.

for our personal and corporate lives as Christians.

Exposition vs Topical

So if we did a character study, like we did once on Eli as the characteristics of a bad father

Those studies are ok and profitable. However, I’m trying to get us to think, long term.

What’s the best consistent diet for us as a healthy body?

I want us to look at some benefits to delighting in this kind of hearing of God’s Word.

But let’s turn to .

— 103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

Here God’s words are compared to the sweetest thing imaginable. As the mouth loves the taste of honey, so the pslamist expresses his delight in God’s Words.

They are extremely pleasurable to him, providing him with instruction that gives him joy in truth and hatred of false ways.

Expositional listening benefits us, first, by

Cultivating a hunger for God’s Word.

As we tune our ears to the kind of preaching that makes the primary point of the sermon

the primary point of a particular passage of Scripture,

we grow accustomed to listening to God.

We become fluent in the language of Zion and conversant with its themes.

His Word, His voice, becomes sweet to us (); and as it does,

we are better able to push to the background

the many voices that rival God’s voice for control over our lives.

Expositional listening gives us a clear ear with which to hear God.

Now turn to — My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

1. My sheep listen to my voice. See on 10:3, 8, 16.

2. And I know them. See on 10:3, 14.

3. And they follow me. See on 10:4, 5.

What is stated here, accordingly, amounts in brief to this:

“My sheep—having become such because they were given to me by my Father (10:29)

—put forth an effort to catch the sound of my voice.

They do this constantly.

They eagerly obey me, placing their full confidence in me.

I know them, acknowledging them as my very own.

They follow me, but turn away from strangers.

This leads us to the second benefit which follows the first.

Expositional listening helps us to focus on God’s will and to follow him.

Our agenda becomes secondary.

The preacher’s agenda becomes secondary.

God’s agenda for His people

takes center stage,

reorders our priorities, and

directs us in the course that most honors Him.

The Lord himself proclaimed, “My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” ().

Listening to the voice of Jesus as it is heard in his Word is critical to following him.

Now turn to — 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Paul is aware that many people will not want sound teaching, hearing only what they want to hear, hence the itching ears.

And a reason is now given, showing why Timothy must be diligent in the work of heralding the gospel and of reproving, rebuking, and admonishing: For the season will arrive when they will not endure the sound doctrine.

For the season will arrive when they will not endure the sound doctrine.

In every period of history (see on ) there will be a season during which men refuse to listen to sound doctrine.

As history continues onward toward the consummation, this situation grows worse.

Men will not endure or tolerate the truth, the doctrine, which because it promotes spiritual health is called sound.

But, having itching ears, will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own fancies.

It is not the herald of the gospel that is at fault, but the hearing of the fickle men who make up the audience!

They have ears that are itching to be tickled, it means “to have an irritating desire.

Their craving is for teachers to suit their fancies or perverted tastes (see on ).

So great is that hankering that they pile up teacher upon teacher.

This reminds one of

, “The prophets prophesy falsely … and my people love to have it so,” and of

, “And lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear thy words, but they do them not.”

The people here pictured are more interested in something different, something sensational, than they are in sober truth.

And when sober truth is presented (as it surely was by Ezekiel), they are not interested in the truth itself,

but only in the way in which it is presented, the preacher’s “style,” “oratory,”

… the preacher himself, his voice, bearing, looks, mannerisms.

Here in , the emphasis is on the craving for fascinating stories and philosophical speculations: and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to the myths.

God’s redemptive truth, which deals with sin and damnation, with the necessity of inner change, etc. (cf. ) they cannot stomach.

They turn away (as in ) from it, and turn aside (as in ) to “the myths,” those familiar old womanish myths mentioned earlier (see on , ; ; ; cf. )

or anything similar to them. There are always teachers that are willing to “scratch and tickle the ears of those who wish to be tickled.

Third, expositional listening protects the gospel and our lives from corruption. Taking this passage to heart, we see the failure to listen expositionally has disastrous effects.

False teachers enter the church and hinder the gospel.

Ultimately, the truth is displaced by myths and falsehoods.

Where members cultivate the habit of expositional listening they guard themselves against “itching ears” and protect the gospel from corruption.

Now turn back to — Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

So the elders are the pastor’s given my the risen ascended Christ, given to equip the church for the work of the ministry.

The “ruling well” would be the directing the dealings of the local church.

And Elders in the church are to “labor”. They are to work in the word and doctrine.

This is their preaching and teaching ministry.

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching (v. 17).

The fourth benefit, then, is that expositional listening

Encourages faithful pastors.

Those men who serve faithfully in the ministry of the Word are worthy of double honor ().

Few things are more discouraging or dishonoring to such men than a congregation inattentive to the Word of God.

Faithful men flourish at the fertile reception of the preached Word.

They’re made all the more bold when their people give ear to the Lord’s voice and give evidence of being shaped by it.

As church members, we can care for our pastors and teachers and help to prevent

unnecessary discouragement and fatigue by cultivating

the habit of expositional listening.

Fifth, expositional listening benefits the

Gathered congregation.

Repeatedly, the New Testament writers exhort local churches to be unified—to be of one mind.

Paul writes to one local church, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there may be no divisions among you, but that you may be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (; see also ; ; ).

As we gather together in our local churches and give ourselves to hearing the voice of God through His preached Word,

we’re shaped into one body.

We are united in understanding and purpose.

And that unity testifies to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ ().

But if we listen with our own interests and agendas in mind, if we develop “private interpretations” and personal and individual views,

we risk shattering that unity, provoking

disputes over doubtful matters, and weakening our corporate gospel witness.