“Is That A Good Church?"
Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Intro.: Several years ago just after VBS, while at a grocery store, I had a lady ask me, "Is that a good church?" I had forgotten that I had our church's insignia on my shirt. "Yes,: was my immediate answer, "It is a good church!"
That
bothered me. I could
not get away from it. Are we a good church? Who decides? Who knows? Today I
want to look at what is involved with being a "good church."
The first area I want to examine, is…
What makes up a good church in peoples' eyes?
Available? Is it open, close, parking, transportation, right service times, etc.
Doctrine? Denomination, preaching, teachings, practices, Biblical views, etc
Fit? Worship style, social make-up, nice people, size, singing, etc.
So all of these and more, are used by people to determine if we have a "good Church."
One question I want to deal with this evening is…
What makes a good church in God's eyes?
Do any of the above things matter to God?
I would say yes.
Yes, doctrine does matter and our love.
I also believe that He cares about anything we do that reaches the lost.
Revelation chapters 2 & 3 deal with seven different churches that God talks about. We see several things that God draws to our attention… Works; Doctrine; Location; Financial problems; Love; Repentance; Opportunity; Faithfulness; Hearts’ Condition.
I want to look at a few things in Rev. 3:7-22 and see what the Lord notices about a church…
Revelation
3:7-22(KJV) 7And to the angel of
the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he
that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man
shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open
door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept
my word, and hast not denied my name.
9Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they
are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship
before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep
thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try
them that dwell upon the earth.
11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no
man take thy crown.
12Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of
my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my
God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem,
which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him
my new name.
13He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith
unto the churches.
14And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write;
These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of
the creation of God;
15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:
I would thou wert cold or hot.
16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I
will spue thee out of my mouth.
17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods,
and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and
miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that
thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that
the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve,
that thou mayest see.
19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous
therefore, and repent.
20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my
voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he
with me.
21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my
throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto
the churches.
Just what matters to God?
Earnest in practice of the Great Commission - His last directions
Matt. 28:18-20 18And Jesus
came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in
earth.
19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Enlisted in His service as redeemed believers - His primary reason for coming.
Excited about His return and coming kingdom - Enough to tell people about Jesus.
Extensive in their praying - One of God's touchy spot when it comes to churches
Prayer:
Matt. 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Matt 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but
by prayer and fasting.
Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord
in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of
Jesus, and with his brethren.
Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together
into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually
to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison:
but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Rom 12:1-12 1I
beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service.
2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God.
3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is
among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to
think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not
the same office:
5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members
one of another.
6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to
us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth,
on teaching;
8Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it
with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with
cheerfulness.
9Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave
to that which is good.
10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in
honour preferring one another;
11Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant
in prayer;
The idea here is enduring in prayer, steadfastly in prayer, constant in prayer, devoted in prayer, persistent in prayer.
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 050910pm first used - 080199am