"THE MEASURE OF A STRONG CHURCH"

INTRODUCTION
  1. The practice of assembling with a church is important - He 10:24-25
    1. Naturally, we hope the congregation we assemble with is a strong one
    2. But such may not always be the case
      1. In NT times, there were many good congregations
      2. But some were not what they should have been - e.g., Re 2:4, 14-15; 3:2,15-17
  2. What, then, is the "measure" of a strong church?
    1. Some might consider it on the basis of:
      1. The building (or lack thereof)
      2. The number of programs, classes, etc.
      3. How smoothly it runs as an organization, with its committees, departments, etc.
      -- But a congregation can have all these things and still be dead!
    2. I suggest a better measure is to be found when we think of the church in terms used in the Bible to describe it...
      1. Such as "body," "family," "temple," "kingdom," "bride"
      2. 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...]

  1. FUNCTIONS LIKE A "BODY"
    1. THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST - 1Co 12:27
      1. As such, it is an organism, rather than simply an organization
      2. You can have organization, but still not have LIFE!
        1. E.g., a dead body
        2. "the foot bone's connected to the leg bone..." can just as easily be said of a corpse as with a living body
    2. THE BODY OF CHRIST HAS MANY MEMBERS...
      1. Not all have the same function - Ro 12:3-8
      2. Every member must appreciate his or her own function - 1Co 12:14-19
      3. Every member must appreciate the function of others - 1Co 12:20-22
    3. THE BODY MUST HAVE MEMBERS WHO FULFILL THEIR FUNCTION!
      1. Growth occurs when "every part does its share" - Ep 4:15-16
      2. We understand that a chain is as strong as its weakest link
      3. So a body's strength is affected by weak and inactive members!
        1. Injury or physical handicaps limit the ability of the body to perform
        2. 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...]

  2. LOVES LIKE A "FAMILY"
    1. THE CHURCH IS THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD - 1Ti 3:15
      1. I.e., it is the "family" of God
      2. Do we think of each other as "family"?
      3. We should, in light of 1Ti 5:1-2
    2. A STRONG FAMILY IS ONE WHERE THERE IS...
      1. Concern for one another
      2. Care for each other
      3. Love for one another
      -- The church at Thessalonica is a good example - 1Th 4:9-10; 2Th 1:3
    3. TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF FAMILY REQUIRES...
      1. A willingness to get to know one another
      2. 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...]

  3. PRAISES LIKE A "TEMPLE"
    1. TEMPLES OF OLD WERE BUILT TO GLORIFY THE BEING TO WHICH THEY WERE DEDICATED...
      1. The design of the structure itself was designed to praise
      2. The sacrifices and services rendered in the worship also
    2. THE CHURCH IS GOD'S TEMPLE TODAY - 1Co 3:16-17
      1. We are both the "temple" and the "priests" who offer "spiritual sacrifices" - 1Pe 2:5
      2. Our purpose: to proclaim the praises of God - 1Pe 2:9-10
    3. HOW DO WE OFFER SACRIFICES AND PRAISE TO GOD?
      1. By lifting our VOICES in song and prayer - He 13:15
      2. By doing GOOD DEEDS - He 13:16
      3. 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...]

  4. SUBMITS LIKE A "KINGDOM"
    1. AS THE CHURCH, WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO BE IN THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST
      1. As were the Colossians - Col 1:13
      2. As was John the apostle - Re 1:9
    2. A KINGDOM SUGGESTS A KING, TO WHICH SUBJECTS SUBMIT ALLEGIANCE AND OBEDIENCE...
      1. Unfortunately, many churches are more like the kingdom of England
        1. Where the king (or queen) is only a symbolical figure head
        2. The true decision-making power is in parliament
      2. 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
        1. Where things are done as He directs, by His authority
        2. 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...]

  5. PURE AS A "BRIDE"
    1. PAUL THOUGHT OF THE CHURCH AS A BRIDE - 2Co 11:1-2
      1. One that he had betrothed to Christ
      2. One that has a responsibility to be pure and chaste
    2. CHRIST THINKS OF THE CHURCH IN THE SAME WAY - Ep 5:25-29
      1. He offered Himself to enable her to be pure and holy
      2. He did this out of His great love for her!
    3. JOHN WAS TOLD OF THE FUTURE MARRIAGE - Re 19:6-9
      1. Note that bride "has made herself ready"
      2. She was adorned by the righteous acts of the saints
    4. AS THE BRIDE, AWAITING MARRIAGE, WE MUST MAINTAIN OUR PURITY AND ADORNMENT!
      1. By being cleansed through the blood of Christ...
        1. First in baptism - Ac 2:38; 22:16
        2. Then in confessing our sins - 1Jn 1:9
      2. We also maintain our purity...
        1. By our "righteous acts" - Re 19:8
        2. By abstaining from unrighteous deeds - cf. Ep 5:3-5
CONCLUSION
  1. Such is "The Measure Of A Strong Church", one that...
    1. Functions like a BODY
    2. Loves like a FAMILY
    3. Praises like a TEMPLE
    4. Submits like a KINGDOM
    5. Is pure as a BRIDE
  2. How each person does his or her part will have an effect on the measure of this church...
    1. We may have the best organization, and all the outwards signs of a strong congregation
    2. 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?