WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF A HEALTHY CHURCH?. John 15:4-8 - Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No...

WHAT ARE WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF THE SIGNS OF

A HEALTHY A HEALTHY CHURCH?CHURCH?

John 15:4-8 - Remain in me, and I will remain in you. John 15:4-8 - Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in meremain in me. “I am the vine; you are the . “I am the vine; you are the branches. branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruitwill bear much fruit; apart from me you can do ; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you that you bear much fruitbear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my , showing yourselves to be my disciples.disciples.

Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is lovelove, joy, , joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulnessfaithfulness..

I Thessalonians 3:9-13 - How can we thank God I Thessalonians 3:9-13 - How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and again and supply what is lacking in your faithsupply what is lacking in your faith. Now . Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each othermake your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. ones.

Since the Thessalonian church was Since the Thessalonian church was becoming a healthy church - becoming a healthy church - what can we learn from them to what can we learn from them to make our church a healthy one?make our church a healthy one?

II Thessalonians 1:3-5 - We ought always to II Thessalonians 1:3-5 - We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. Therefore, among each other is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.suffering.

I. Make Sure Our Faith is GrowingI. Make Sure Our Faith is GrowingWe ought always to thank God for you, We ought always to thank God for you,

brothers, and rightly so, because brothers, and rightly so, because your faith your faith is growing moreis growing more and more, and the love and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is every one of you has for each other is increasing. - v3increasing. - v3

A. Faith begins with an acceptance A. Faith begins with an acceptance of of testimonytestimony..

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being surebeing sure of what of what we hope for and we hope for and certaincertain of what we do not of what we do not see. see.

I. Make Sure Our Faith is GrowingI. Make Sure Our Faith is Growing


1. A will: 1. A will: if you careif you care for Aunt for Aunt Suzy Suzy you will receiveyou will receive all of your all of your uncle’s property.uncle’s property.



2. The Lord: 2. The Lord: if you submitif you submit to the to the Lord’s authority Lord’s authority you will receive you will receive eternal life.eternal life.


B. Faith matures as B. Faith matures as trusttrust..


B. Faith matures as B. Faith matures as trusttrust..I Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on him I Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on him

because he cares for you.because he cares for you.


II. Make Sure Our Love is GrowingII. Make Sure Our Love is GrowingWe ought always to thank God for you, We ought always to thank God for you,

brothers, and rightly so, because your faith brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and is growing more and more, and the love the love every one of you has for each other is every one of you has for each other is increasingincreasing. - v3. - v3

A. Biblical love starts out as a A. Biblical love starts out as a dutyduty..

II. Make Sure Our Love is GrowingII. Make Sure Our Love is Growing


1. The common element - what is 1. The common element - what is the expectation for giving?the expectation for giving?



a. a. Love # 1Love # 1 ((ερωςερως)) = I give to = I give to receive satisfaction, pleasure, receive satisfaction, pleasure, reward.reward.

““I love hamburgers!”I love hamburgers!”



b. b. Love # 2Love # 2 ((στεργωστεργω)) = I give = I give because of my marriage because of my marriage relationship.relationship.

““I love my wife”I love my wife”



c. c. LoveLove ((φιλέωφιλέω)) = I give = I give because because of the relationship & of the relationship & mutual mutual benefit.benefit.

““I love my friend Bill”I love my friend Bill”



d. d. LoveLove ((ἀγαπάωἀγαπάω)) = I give = I give because there’s a need to fulfill.because there’s a need to fulfill.

““I want to give to theI want to give to the

starving in Darfur”starving in Darfur”



2. Love is given to satisfy a need 2. Love is given to satisfy a need because the need is there!because the need is there!



3. This type of love can be 3. This type of love can be commandedcommanded..

Matthew 5:44 - But I tell you: Matthew 5:44 - But I tell you: Love your Love your enemiesenemies and pray for those who persecute and pray for those who persecute you.you.



3. This type of love can be 3. This type of love can be commandedcommanded..

Matthew 5:44 - But I tell you: Matthew 5:44 - But I tell you: Love your Love your enemiesenemies and pray for those who persecute and pray for those who persecute you.you.

Matthew 25:40 - The King will reply, ‘I tell you Matthew 25:40 - The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, least of these brothers of mine, you did for you did for meme.’.’


B. Love matures by becoming a B. Love matures by becoming a joyjoy..


III. Make Sure Our Endurance III. Make Sure Our Endurance Overcomes Our PersecutionOvercomes Our Persecution

Therefore, among God’s churches we boast Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. - persecutions and trials you are enduring. - v4v4

A. Not passively enduring - but A. Not passively enduring - but using trials to strengthen faith.using trials to strengthen faith.

III. Make Sure Our Endurance Overcomes Our III. Make Sure Our Endurance Overcomes Our PersecutionPersecution


1. Two ways to view tragedy: 1. Two ways to view tragedy: blame God or depend on Him for blame God or depend on Him for strength.strength.


Lord I Don't Bother NobodyLord I Don't Bother Nobody

I Try To Treat Everybody The SameI Try To Treat Everybody The Same

But Every time, I Turn My BackBut Every time, I Turn My BackThey Scandalize My Name.They Scandalize My Name.


Now When My Folks Would Slay MeNow When My Folks Would Slay Me

These Things They Will Try To DoThese Things They Will Try To Do

But Lord, Don't Touch EmBut Lord, Don't Touch Em

But Within Their HeartBut Within Their Heart

Make Em Give Their Life To You.Make Em Give Their Life To You.


Now Lord Don't Move My MountainNow Lord Don't Move My Mountain

But Give Me The Strength To Climb But Give Me The Strength To Climb itit

And Lord, Don't Take Away My And Lord, Don't Take Away My Stumbling BlocksStumbling Blocks

But Lead Me All Around it.But Lead Me All Around it.



2. Many Christians deal with grief 2. Many Christians deal with grief by asking God for strength.by asking God for strength.


B. Those of you who successfully B. Those of you who successfully endure trials become examples.endure trials become examples.

Therefore, among God’s churches we boast Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. - v4persecutions and trials you are enduring. - v4


IV. The Results of Developing These IV. The Results of Developing These Character Traits in Our ChurchCharacter Traits in Our Church

All this is evidence that God’s judgment is All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. - v5you are suffering. - v5

A. They are evidence of a trans-A. They are evidence of a trans-formed Christian life.formed Christian life.

IV. The Results of Developing These Character Traits in IV. The Results of Developing These Character Traits in Our ChurchOur Church

B. They are evidence of your worth-B. They are evidence of your worth-iness of the kingdom of God.iness of the kingdom of God.

All this is evidence that God’s judgment is All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result right, and as a result you will be counted you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of Godworthy of the kingdom of God, for which you , for which you are suffering. - v5are suffering. - v5



1. This is not working your way to 1. This is not working your way to heaven.heaven.

Ephesians 2:8-9 – For it is by grace you have Ephesians 2:8-9 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — notfrom yourselves, it is the gift of God — notby works, so that no one can boastby works, so that no one can boast.



2. You must show evidence of a 2. You must show evidence of a redeemed life.redeemed life.

James 2:26 - As the body without the spirit is James 2:26 - As the body without the spirit is dead, dead, so faith without deeds is deadso faith without deeds is dead..



3. You were created for good 3. You were created for good works.works.

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God’s Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God’s workmanship, workmanship, createdcreated in Christ Jesus in Christ Jesus to do to do good worksgood works, which God prepared in advance , which God prepared in advance for us to do.for us to do.


C. They are evidence that God’s C. They are evidence that God’s judgment is right.judgment is right.

All this is evidence that All this is evidence that God’s judgment is God’s judgment is rightright, and as a result you will be counted , and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. - v5are suffering. - v5



1. A judgment will happen!1. A judgment will happen!Matthew 16:27 - For the Son of Man is going to Matthew 16:27 - For the Son of Man is going to

come in his Father’s glory with his angels, come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he and then he will reward each person will reward each person according to what he has doneaccording to what he has done..



2. Some say a judgment will not 2. Some say a judgment will not happen.happen.

John 3:18 - Whoever believes in him is not John 3:18 - Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.only Son.



3. Deeds will be shown.3. Deeds will be shown.John 3:21 - But whoever lives by the truth John 3:21 - But whoever lives by the truth

comes into the light, comes into the light, so that it may be seen so that it may be seen plainlyplainly that what he has done has been done that what he has done has been done through God.through God.


4. What’s a possible answer?4. What’s a possible answer?

The judgment for a Christian is the The judgment for a Christian is the evidence of a transformed life!evidence of a transformed life!




Matthew 7:21 - Not everyone who says to me, Matthew 7:21 - Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only heaven, but only he who does the will of my he who does the will of my Father who is in heavenFather who is in heaven..




Romans 6:4 - We were therefore buried with Romans 6:4 - We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new lifelive a new life..


Is your conversion really real?Is your conversion really real?

The sign of a healthy church is The sign of a healthy church is spiritually healthy people!spiritually healthy people!

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF A HEALTHY CHURCH?. John 15:4-8 - Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No...

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