Sermon Tone Analysis

2 Peter 3:17-18

Introduction

Nine Marks of a Healthy Church

1) Expositional preaching, 2) Biblical church leadership, 3) Biblical church discipline, 4) Biblical theology, 5) a Biblical understanding of the gospel 6) a Biblical understanding of church membership, 7) a Biblical understanding of conversion, 8) a Biblical understanding of evangelism, and 9) A concern for promoting Christian discipleship and growth.

A healthy church is one that is seriously concerned for their growth in Christ.

Four questions to consider:

1) Is growth biblical?

2) What kind of church will cultivate growth?

3) Is growth important?

4) What does it mean if we do not grow?

\\ 1A.

Is Growth Biblical?

Two kinds of growth in are mentioned in the Bible, numerical growth, and spiritual growth.

1B.

Numerical growth is biblical.

From the beginning, numerical growth was commanded by God.

Genesis 1:22 (NASB) 22God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”

Numerical growth among God's people is a sign of God's blessing.

Jeremiah 29:6 (NASB) 6‘Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease.

Psalm 92:12-13 (NASB) 12The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13Planted in the house of the LORD, They will flourish in the courts of our God.

Numerical growth of the kingdom of heaven is expected.

Isaiah 9:7 (NASB) 7There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.

\\ Numerical growth in the church is normal.

Acts 6:7 (NASB) 7The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

Acts 12:24 (NASB) 24But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.

Acts 13:49 (NASB) 49And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.

Acts 19:20 (NASB) 20So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.

Numerical growth goes on in the New Testament, but the growth prayed for is not just that, for unhealthy assemblies can also have numerical growth.

The problem in the modern church is that we have made numerical growth the only measure of health.

\\ 2B.

Spiritual growth is biblical.

Every Christian is to grow spiritually.

Ephesians 4:15-16 (NASB) 15…we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Spiritual growth is a result of God’s work in our lives.

Colossians 2:19 (NASB) 19…the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NASB) 6I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.

7So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.

Spiritual growth requires our participation.

2 Peter 3:18 (NASB) 18but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.

Amen.

Ø      We are to grow in the qualities of Christ.

(2 Peter 1:5-8)

Ø      We will grow when we study the Word of God.  (1 Peter 2:1-5)

\\ 2A.

What Kind of Church will Cultivate growth?

1B.

A church with expositional preaching

Ø      Preaching God's word helps us to hear Him as He speaks to our individual lives.

Ø      We should pray for pastors who will preach ALL of God's word, not selected parts of it.

Ø      When the Bible is preached expositionally, we are less dependent on the preacher and more dependant on God's word.

2B.

A church with a biblical theology

Ø      We begin to grow in knowledge of God and trust in Him more, to see the big picture and be encouraged by it, seeing how He is trustworthy.

Ø      We especially need a biblical understanding of the gospel.

3B.

A church with a biblical understanding of the gospel

Ø      Will produce a more biblical understanding of man’s condition.

Ø      When we understand our sin we will better understand God’s love.

4B.

A church with a biblical understanding of conversion

Ø      This makes us deeply thankful, gives us a more certain hope because it's based on God's faithfulness, not ours.

Spurgeon, November 25 Evening reading.

\\ 5B.

A church with a biblical understanding of evangelism

Ø      The lack of spiritual growth in people who call themselves Christians is often a result of a false kind of evangelism.

Ø      It is our duty to tell the truth, to be faithful to the message--the rest of it is up to God.

6B.

A church with a biblical understanding of church membership

Ø      We are encouraged by the work of God in other people's lives.

Ø      Church membership that means something – Church Covenant.

7B.

A church with a biblical understanding of church discipline

Ø      In an undisciplined church, it is hard to find models, examples.

Ø      Weeds grow naturally.

Ø      The church is composed of imperfect people who yet love the Lord and want to become more like Him.

8B.

A church with a biblical understanding of church leadership

Ø      We must recognize that leaders are God’s gift to His church.

Ø      We must learn to trust others to lead and to follow their example.

\\ 3A.

Is growth important?

1B.

Yes, because growth indicates life

Spiritual growth is not optional; it is vital because it indicates life.

Things that are alive grow.

“The only certain observable sign of true Christian growth is a life of increasing holiness, rooted in Christian self-denial.”

(Jonathan Edwards, “Treatise Concerning Religious Affections.”)

2B.

Yes, because growth brings glory to God.

1 Corinthians 3:6 (NASB) 6I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.

1 Peter 2:12 (NASB) 12Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Matthew 5:16 (NASB) 16“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

\\ 4A.

What Does It Mean If We Do Not Grow?

Hebrews 12:4-11

1B.

It may mean that you are temporarily living in rebellion to God.