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What
is the purpose of the New Testament Church? The answer
is simple! God has intended to display through His
church the glory of His perfection and love. Imagine
what this would look like in our local congregations:
God’s name being exalted in song and sermon.
Christ’s sacrifice being displayed in lives of sinful,
but repentant people. Relationships held together by
love and service to their Lord and Saviour. Marriage and
families built for endurance, and countless other
benefits and blessings.
Isn't this what our human hearts should truly
desire?
God
in His goodness and love has not called us to be
Christians living to ourselves. Though we individually
sin, and are called out of the world individually, we
are also commanded to come together in a local
congregation to worship and serve our Lord Jesus Christ
and others. This assembly of believers is called in the
New Testament church, or the Body of Christ.
However,
today the doctrines of man permeate the grand majority
of many churches. Speakers on the circuit and numerous book
stores are flooded with volumes asserting the best
styles of worship, character building, philosophy,
seminars, ministry aids, educational programs, spiritual
encounters, styles of music, sound systems, visual
displays, building and parking lot designs, and an
unending list of methods for building a great church.
Who is right? How can we tell if our church is
really healthy and in compliance with the God of Holy
Scripture, and His eternal and unchangeable Word?
The
Apostle Paul stated to the Ephesians elders, “I have
not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all
the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you
overseers, to feed the
church
of
God
, which He hath purchased with His own blood.”
Acts 20:27-28. “For
the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears” 2 Tim. 4:3
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Church
leaders do not need another innovative method or
engaging metaphor for growing their churches. They need
to embrace the Biblical Theology and priorities that God
Himself designed for cultivating a healthy and holy
local congregation. The Scriptures actually teach church
leaders how to build churches to display God’s glory.
How? God commands us to rely only on His Holy
Scriptures for all faith and practice! When the
Word is faithfully proclaimed, it is the work of the
Holy Spirit to convert the lives of the hearers; then
build them up in the faith, and to lead them to practice
holy living daily.
“So then neither is he that planteth any thing,
neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the
increase.” 1
Cor. 3:7. “But
grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for
ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18.
Therefore,
this series of messages on the “Nine Marks of a
Healthy
Church” has been developed for your edification, and
growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ. We believe that there is no better
evangelistic tool, mission’s strategy, or counseling
program than the image of God displayed through His
gathering of unperfected but transformed people.
As
we learn more about God’s Word, we will learn that, “we
are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God hath before ordained that we should
walk in them”. Eph 2:10. "Gather the
people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders,
gather the children” Joel 2:16.
Listen
to each of these great massages and learn what our Lord
wants each local congregation to believe and how to
practice their faith in sincerity and truth.
So take your Bible in hand and follow along as we
explore what the scriptures tells us. God still seeks
those to worship Him!
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