"THE MEASURE OF A STRONG CHURCH"
INTRODUCTION
- The practice of assembling with a church is important - He 10:24-25
- Naturally, we hope the congregation we assemble with is a strong
one
- But such may not always be the case
- In NT times, there were many good congregations
- But some were not what they should have been - e.g., Re 2:4,
14-15; 3:2,15-17
- What, then, is the "measure" of a strong church?
- Some might consider it on the basis of:
- The building (or lack thereof)
- The number of programs, classes, etc.
- How smoothly it runs as an organization, with its committees,
departments, etc.
-- But a congregation can have all these things and still be
dead!
- I suggest a better measure is to be found when we think of the
church in terms used in the Bible to describe it...
- Such as "body," "family," "temple," "kingdom," "bride"
- Granted, these are terms used to describe the UNIVERSAL
church; but I believe these figures of speech can help us to
properly measure the strength of a LOCAL congregation
[In other words, a "strong" church is one that...]
- FUNCTIONS LIKE A "BODY"
- THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST - 1Co 12:27
- As such, it is an organism, rather than simply an organization
- You can have organization, but still not have LIFE!
- E.g., a dead body
- "the foot bone's connected to the leg bone..." can just as
easily be said of a corpse as with a living body
- THE BODY OF CHRIST HAS MANY MEMBERS...
- Not all have the same function - Ro 12:3-8
- Every member must appreciate his or her own function - 1Co
12:14-19
- Every member must appreciate the function of others - 1Co
12:20-22
- THE BODY MUST HAVE MEMBERS WHO FULFILL THEIR FUNCTION!
- Growth occurs when "every part does its share" - Ep 4:15-16
- We understand that a chain is as strong as its weakest link
- So a body's strength is affected by weak and inactive members!
- Injury or physical handicaps limit the ability of the body
to perform
- Strong members may try to help out, but then that limits
what other work they would normally do
[How each of us functions as a member of the body affects the strength
of this congregation!
A strong church is also one which...]
- LOVES LIKE A "FAMILY"
- THE CHURCH IS THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD - 1Ti 3:15
- I.e., it is the "family" of God
- Do we think of each other as "family"?
- We should, in light of 1Ti 5:1-2
- A STRONG FAMILY IS ONE WHERE THERE IS...
- Concern for one another
- Care for each other
- Love for one another
-- The church at Thessalonica is a good example - 1Th 4:9-10;
2Th 1:3
- TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF FAMILY REQUIRES...
- A willingness to get to know one another
- Taking advantage of opportunities to spend time together
-- As congregations grow, it becomes harder to maintain a sense
of family
[But how well we one love one another will be a true measure of the
strength of this church!
A strong church will also be one that...]
- PRAISES LIKE A "TEMPLE"
- TEMPLES OF OLD WERE BUILT TO GLORIFY THE BEING TO WHICH THEY
WERE DEDICATED...
- The design of the structure itself was designed to praise
- The sacrifices and services rendered in the worship also
- THE CHURCH IS GOD'S TEMPLE TODAY - 1Co 3:16-17
- We are both the "temple" and the "priests" who offer
"spiritual sacrifices" - 1Pe 2:5
- Our purpose: to proclaim the praises of God - 1Pe 2:9-10
- HOW DO WE OFFER SACRIFICES AND PRAISE TO GOD?
- By lifting our VOICES in song and prayer - He 13:15
- By doing GOOD DEEDS - He 13:16
- By offering OURSELVES as living sacrifices - Ro 12:1-2
[How each of us praise God with our voices, body and service is a true
measure of this church, Let's be careful not to despise the name of
the God we serve as a temple and priests (cf. Mal 1:6-8).
And then consider that a strong church is one that...]
- SUBMITS LIKE A "KINGDOM"
- AS THE CHURCH, WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO BE IN THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST
- As were the Colossians - Col 1:13
- As was John the apostle - Re 1:9
- A KINGDOM SUGGESTS A KING, TO WHICH SUBJECTS SUBMIT ALLEGIANCE
AND OBEDIENCE...
- Unfortunately, many churches are more like the kingdom of
England
- Where the king (or queen) is only a symbolical figure head
- The true decision-making power is in parliament
- But a strong church is one in which the citizens (members)
submit to Christ as King in reality - Col 3:17; cf. Ac 2:36
- Where things are done as He directs, by His authority
- Where we follow His commands, and not make up our own rules
[How each person submits to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is a true
measure any congregation.
Finally, a strong church is one that is...]
- PURE AS A "BRIDE"
- PAUL THOUGHT OF THE CHURCH AS A BRIDE - 2Co 11:1-2
- One that he had betrothed to Christ
- One that has a responsibility to be pure and chaste
- CHRIST THINKS OF THE CHURCH IN THE SAME WAY - Ep 5:25-29
- He offered Himself to enable her to be pure and holy
- He did this out of His great love for her!
- JOHN WAS TOLD OF THE FUTURE MARRIAGE - Re 19:6-9
- Note that bride "has made herself ready"
- She was adorned by the righteous acts of the saints
- AS THE BRIDE, AWAITING MARRIAGE, WE MUST MAINTAIN OUR PURITY AND
ADORNMENT!
- By being cleansed through the blood of Christ...
- First in baptism - Ac 2:38; 22:16
- Then in confessing our sins - 1Jn 1:9
- We also maintain our purity...
- By our "righteous acts" - Re 19:8
- By abstaining from unrighteous deeds - cf. Ep 5:3-5
CONCLUSION
- Such is "The Measure Of A Strong Church", one that...
- Functions like a BODY
- Loves like a FAMILY
- Praises like a TEMPLE
- Submits like a KINGDOM
- Is pure as a BRIDE
- How each person does his or her part will have an effect on the
measure of this church...
- We may have the best organization, and all the outwards signs of
a strong congregation
- But we may be just like the church at Sardis ("...you have a name
that you are alive, but you are dead.") - Re 3:1
Are ALL OF US doing what we can (indeed, what we must) to make the
church strong in the eyes of the Lord?