Characteristics of a Healthy Church
Scripture
Background
Story
Scripture
The early church didn’t just dabble in the Word, folks. They devoured it. Joshua 1:8 says, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
Fellowship
Should we not see that lines of laughter about the eyes are just as much marks of faith as are the lines of care and seriousness? Is it only earnestness that is baptized? Is laughter pagan? We have already allowed too much that is good to be lost to the church and cast many pearls before the swine. A church is in a bad way when it banishes laughter from the sanctuary and leaves it to the cabaret, the nightclub and the toastmasters.
Helmut Thielecke
“I don’t need koinonia,” you say. “I’ve been a Christian for fourteen years. I’m as strong and tall as a redwood tree.” Really? Think about the redwood tree: Redwood trees appear invincible, but in reality, a relatively mild wind can topple one. You see, above the surface, redwoods seem strong, but their root systems are very, very shallow. That is why they always grow in groves. Their strength comes from interlocking their roots with other redwoods.
Breaking Of Bread
Communion is vital to the health of the church corporately and to believers individually. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth that, because they took Communion lightly, many of them were weak, sick, and even dying unnecessarily (1 Corinthians 11:30). Whenever we fail to give worth to the Lord’s table, I believe we jeopardize not only our spiritual life, but our physical, marital, and emotional life as well
These early Christians also found common ground in the Lord’s Supper. They were quick to remember and to commemorate God’s great blessings on their lives. When these people gathered, they did so to celebrate their Common Ground: The Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Ill. Things haven’t changed! The same thing that brought these people together is the same thing that binds us one to another. It is the death, resurrection and return of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we come together at the Lord’s Table, may we always remember that we are here, we are saved, and we are family all because of what Jesus did for us at Calvary. We were nothing when He found us, and we are nothing apart from Him today, John 15:5. Everything we have, everything we are, everything we ever hope to have or be, we owe to Jesus! When we forget this and feel that we are partly or wholly responsible for who we are, them we are in deep spiritual trouble.)
Prayer
Conclusion
As you’ve listened to this message, I trust that the Lord has pointed out areas where you need to make improvements in your own life. If so, I invite you to bring those needs to Jesus and let Him take care of them today.