How to Have a Healthy Church

August 28, 2022 Speaker: Ted Detiveaux Series: Getting Healthy

Topic: Church Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Series: Getting Healthy

 

Title: How to Have a Healthy Church

 

Jesus lays the groundwork for the early church.  

 

Matthew 16:18

 

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

 

So here we see that Jesus is the architect of the church, He is the designer & builder of the church.  Furthermore, His church that He builds will be victorious over the powers of darkness.  It is a statement of absolute truth.  If Jesus said it then it was sure to happen, and his disciples had the great privilege of being an instrumental part of Christ’s church. 

 

The church that Jesus builds is founded on the revelation that He is the Christ the Son of the living God.  For a church to be a healthy church it must have a healthy foundation.  It must be established on Christ the solid rock. 

 

As the old hymn goes “Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand.”

 

A healthy church is built upon and modeled after Christ and His love for the church. 

 

The word church is used which comes from the Greek word

 

Church- ekklēsia

 

the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth; collectively, all who worship and honor God and Christ in whatever place they may be.

 

The church is made up of many members throughout the earth.  Since it is not possible for every believer in Christ to meet regularly, we have the local church.  Our goal is to ensure things are healthy here in the local church.

 

A healthy church is a community of imperfect Jesus followers who share the same vision, as they thrive together in ministry under the guidance of trusted leadership who have submitted themselves to the Holy Spirit.

 

Here are some signs of a healthy church

 

In a Healthy Church God’s Word is Supreme

 

You would think this would be understood throughout all churches, sadly it is not the case in every church.  In many churches it is not God’s word that is supreme, but rather the appeasement of man.  Many will preach messages that are non-confrontational and are meant to tickle the ears of their followers just to keep a crowd.  But the Bible says this about itself:

 

 

Hebrews 4:12

 

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

 

Meaning the word of God cuts like a sword.  It does not always feel good when you read it.  Rather it should make us aware of our deplorable condition brought about by our fallen sinful nature.

 

If the messages being preached are never confrontational, if they do not cause me to look at myself in complete disgust, then it is not the word of God.  There must be messages on both Mercy and Holiness.

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17

 

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

 

In a Healthy Church, the Bible (God’s Holy Word) is the absolute authority for everyday living. It is preached and put into practice by all who hear.  It is used to teach correct and train others in Godliness.

 

In a Healthy Church Christ Like Character is on Full Display

 

Let’s establish one thing.  You won’t find perfect people in a healthy church.  If you are looking for a perfect churchwho has perfect people, and a perfect pastor, then you are most certainly at the wrong place.  We are broken, messed up people who are saved by faith in Christ and by the grace of God.  We are being perfected each day, but we are not perfect yet.  That is because we still live in a fleshy body. One day when Christ comes back we will have a glorified body and will achieve perfection.  But till then, do not throw the baby out with the bath water. 

 

Just because you see human imperfection, does not mean you throw out church all together.  Many times the Lord will use flaws of another to either point out our own flaws, or to test our faith to see how we will respond to human imperfection.  Often God will use those who we have difficulty getting along with to teach us some important lesson.

 

If you have been in church for some time, then you have witnessed imperfections in the church. With that being said (though its members are not perfect) a healthy church consist of members who are actively portraying the character of Christ on and off of the court. 

 

         2 Peter 1:5-7

 

5 make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue (moral goodness), and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, (one who masters his desires and passions) and self-control with steadfastness (unswerved), and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

 

 

In addition, displaying Christlike character as a church, requires committing to spiritual disciplines as a church. Disciplines such as praying together, reading and/or studying God’s word together, growing together, having funtogether, laughing together, being mission minded together. All these things help create a healthy church atmosphere.

 

In a Healthy Church People Are Like Family

 

In a healthy church God brings people of different backgrounds, nationalities, socioeconomic statuses, and spiritual maturity levels together (Ephesians 3:10). The diversity in a healthy church is a beautiful thing, and by being with people who are unlike us helps us to grow spiritually.

 

Furthermore, there is a unique bond that we all share with other believers

 

         Ephesians 2:19-22

 

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

 

Ephesians 4:1-6

 

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

 

It should be obvious from the text that we are called to be one.  One family with God being our heavenly Father.  One Lord who is Jesus who has made the way for us to be joined together as one.

 

         1 Corinthians 12:25-26

25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

 

Being in a healthy church, means that people are reaching out to each other in genuine love and concern.

Part of being in the family of God is that there is a younger generation in need of being discipled and it is up to the mature believers to help disciple them.  By the way making disciples is part of the great commission.

 

         Matthew 28:18

 

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 

A Healthy Church Looks Outward to Bring Others In

 

We must be constantly outward minded.  A healthy church realizes that it is placed in a community to bring Jesus to that community but also to bring people to Jesus.

 

John 10:14-16

 

14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 

 

The heart of our savior says there are still more who are lost and in need of saving.  

           

         2 Peter 3:9

 

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

 

His heart is that none would perish even though many will.  But as a body of believers let it be said of us that we are doing our part in bringing the hope that is found in Jesus to a world that is in desperate need.

 

To have a healthy church requires having healthy individuals. What is your Role to play in a healthy church. 

 

In a Healthy Church God’s Word is Supreme

  • Do you personally value God’s
  • Is His word absolute truth in your life?
  • Are you aligning yourself to His word?
  • Are you a hearer only?
  • Are you a doer of the Word as well?

 

In a Healthy Church Christ Like Character is on Full Display

  • Do you demonstrate Christlike character on Sundays as well as on weekdays.

 

In a Healthy Church Members Are Like Family

 

  • Do you treat other members of the church like family (in a good way)
  • Do you show genuine concern when others are going through things
  • Do you rejoice when things go well for other members
  • Are you making disciples

 

In a Healthy Church members look Outward to Bring Others In

  • Are you bringing others in?
  • Have you shared your faith lately?