[ ] 7/28/02 #453
WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD CHURCH
1 Timothy 3:14-16
INTRODUCTION: Paul gives us three pictures of the church: (1) "house of God" (2) "church of the living God" (3) "pillar and ground of the truth." The church is the family of the living God who upholds the truth of God. We have no perfect churches on planet earth. There will be one perfect church in glory. It will be made up only of people who have been born again by God's Spirit. We shall consider some of the basic things a church must have to be a good church.
I. FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH
A. CHRIST CENTERED.
1. Love for Christ. (Matt. 22:37-38; John 14:21)
2. Lordship of Christ. (Rom. 14:9; 1 Cor. 1:9; Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18)
B. CONVERTED MEMBERSHIP. (John 3:3 & 5; Acts 2:47b)
C. CORRECT DOCTRINE.
1. Scripture (inspired 2 Tim. 3:16; inerrant Prov. 30:5; infallible Jn. 17:17)
2. Savior (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 2 Tim. 3:15)
3. Sin (Rom. 3:10, 23, 5:12; Gal. 3:22)
4. Salvation (grace through faith in Christ: Eph. 2:8-9)
II. FUNCTION OF THE CHURCH
A. WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH.
1. Preaching of the Word. (1 Cor. 1:17-18; 2 Tim. 4:2)
2. Power of the Spirit. (Rom. 15:13; 1 Thess. 1:5)
3. Praying in the Spirit. (Eph. 6:18; Jude 20)
4. Proper songs and hymns. (Ps. 40:3, 69:30; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16)
5. Practice of sacrificial giving. (Acts 20:35; 2 Cor. 9:6-7)
B. WORK OF THE CHURCH.
1. Witness to the lost. (Acts 1:8)
2. Discipling of the saved. (Eph. 4:12-16; Col. 2:6-7)
III. FELLOWSHIP OF THE CHURCH
A. CORNERSTONE FOR FELLOWSHIP.
A. Salvation in Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 1:9; 1 John 1:3)
B. Sufficiency of grace. (2 Cor. 13:14; 9:8; 1 Pet. 4:10)
B. CARE WITHIN FELLOWSHIP.
1. Love one another. (John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:10, 13:8)
2. Comforting of one another. (1 Thess. 4:18, 5:11)
3. Ministering one to another. (1 Pet. 4:10)
4. Bearing one another's burdens. (Gal. 6:2)
5. Forgiving one another. (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13)
6. Confessing faults and praying for each other. (James 5:16)
7. Exhorting and encouraging one another. (Heb. 3:13, 10:24-25)
8. Committed to keep the unity of the Spirit. (Eph. 4:2-3; Rom. 14:19)
LESSONS FOR LIFE:
1. A good church is focused on glorifying and exalting Jesus Christ.
2. A good church has a converted membership whose conduct exemplifies Christ.
3. There are no perfect churches but we have a Perfect Savior.