A Healthy Church Part 1 (Acts 9:31)
Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
When we are first introduced to Saul in the New Testament, he is the ringleader of the persecution of the church. But one day, he met Jesus, and that changed everything. He stopped persecuting Christians and started preaching the gospel.
After Saul’s conversion, the believers enjoyed a season of less persecution. But while they were resting, they were still very active. Acts 9:31 says, “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”
This verse describes four characteristics of a spiritually healthy church: Edification, Sanctification, Consolation, and Multiplication. We can also say that these traits will be found in the life of a spiritually healthy Christian since the character of the church is a reflection of the character of its members. The church will only be as healthy as the members who make up the church. Therefore, we must each be growing spiritually and walking with God.
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- Oct 13, 2024A Healthy Church Part 1 (Acts 9:31)
A Healthy Church Part 1 (Acts 9:31)Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.When we are first introduced to Saul in the New Testament, he is the ringleader of the persecution of the church. But one day, he met Jesus, and that changed everything. He stopped persecuting Christians and started preaching the gospel.After Saul’s conversion, the believers enjoyed a season of less persecution. But while they were resting, they were still very active. Acts 9:31 says, “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”This verse describes four characteristics of a spiritually healthy church: Edification, Sanctification, Consolation, and Multiplication. We can also say that these traits will be found in the life of a spiritually healthy Christian since the character of the church is a reflection of the character of its members. The church will only be as healthy as the members who make up the church. Therefore, we must each be growing spiritually and walking with God.
- Sep 15, 2024A Tale of Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32)
A Tale of Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32)It is incredible how people born to the same parents and raised in the same home can turn out completely opposite. Sometimes, they do not even resemble one another in appearance; other times, they look similar, but their personalities are polar opposites. The differences between even close relatives are often by God’s design to display His glory through the diversity of His creation.But not all differences are good. When one person makes right choices, and another does not, their lives will look very different. Even more importantly, our choices impact eternity. Sometimes, the difference between people is literally the difference between heaven and hell.In Matthew 21:28-32, Jesus told a parable about two sons who were polar opposites. There were those among Jesus’ audience who thought they were better than others because they gave a good impression of being righteous, but their religion was lip service. They did not obey God from their hearts, and so they were still lost in their sins. They needed to understand that it makes little difference what you say, but it makes all the difference what you do. It is not enough to give the impression that you are right. You must repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved from your sin and death in hell.
- Sep 1, 2024Burden For Believers
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- Sep 1, 2024Not Good Enough (Mark 10:17)
Not Good Enough (Mark 10:17)Many people imagine that getting to heaven is simply a matter of ensuring your good works outweigh your bad. If you try to be kind and avoid any enormous sins like murder or robbing a bank, then you are good enough to go to heaven when you die. All false religions teach this concept in one form or another.According to this thinking, sin and good works are like plusses and minuses in your bank account. As long as you keep your balance in the positive and do not overdraft your good works account, you are fine. But the Bible teaches something entirely different. The Bible says that our good works cannot save us and our righteous deeds are worse than worthless. They are like filthy rags fit only for the garbage.One day, Jesus encountered a young man who wanted to know how to have eternal life. He was a rich, educated, religious man who thought he was pretty good, maybe even good enough to get to heaven. And if he wasn’t, he certainly wasn’t far from it. Jesus knew what was in the man’s heart, and, in a brief conversation, He revealed a truth that our eternity hinges on: we are not good enough. There is only One who is truly good, and that One is God. The only way that we can be saved from eternal death in hell and receive eternal life is to admit that we are not good enough and trust in Jesus for our salvation.
- Aug 25, 2024Listen Up (Malachi 3)
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- Aug 25, 2024Why Church? For God’s Glory (Ephesians 3:21)
Why Church? For God’s Glory (Ephesians 3:21)1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” We exist to bring glory to God and have been commanded to glorify God intentionally. So, it only makes sense that a primary purpose of the church is to glorify God. The church belongs to God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He began the church and bought the church, and the church is His bride and body. He deserves to be glorified in and through the church, and we should be happy to take part in the glorification of God in the church.Sadly, churches have all too often mutated into institutions that glorify man. People remember “flagship” ministries for the men who lead them more than for the work of God done in them. The problem has been perpetuated by the Satanic philosophy that man must increase for God to increase. But John said, “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) Many people despise the day of small things as inferior and undesirable. We must correct our thinking. We should belong to the church and be accountable to the church for the glory of God alone. We should encourage and edify each other for the glory of God. We should insist that the church preach and teach the truth and proclaim the gospel to the lost for the glory of God. God and God alone should get glory in the church. He is the One who has all power. He is the One who has saved us and works in us to change us to be more and more like Christ. He is the One who deserves glory in the church now and forever.
- Aug 11, 2024Why Loosing Everything Is The Best Thing (Philippians 3:7)
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- Aug 11, 2024Why Church? For Growth (I Corinthians 13:11)
Why Church? For Growth (I Corinthians 13:11)Growing up is an odd thing. We spend much of our time as children trying to act like grown-ups, and then some grown-ups spend a lot of their time acting like kids. The difference between children and adults is maturity. However, we do not expect adults to act like kids; we expect them to act maturely. Paul summarized growing up this way, "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." (1 Corinthians 13:11)In Ephesians 4, Paul wrote that God has gifted certain people to the church "for the perfecting of the saints." We are perfected as we grow and mature in our Christian life. The community in which that growth takes place is the local church. You and I need the church to help us "grow up into him." The Christian life is designed to be one where we work together, learn together, and grow together so that we all grow more and more like Jesus. When we are each in our place, lovingly doing our part for the body of Christ, the result is consistent growth, individually and collectively. We must be committed to God's plan for the local church to grow up into Christ because proper growth in the Christian life cannot happen apart from the church.
- Aug 7, 2024Wrong is never Right (1 Samuel 24)
Wrong is never Right (1 Samuel 24)Right and wrong are not determined by the circumstances we face. What is convenient is not always right. Sometimes it is easier to do the wrong thing. Occasionally our friends will mistakenly encourage us the wrong way. We must look past the immediate situation and see the will of God. We must block out the noise of other voices and listen to the Word of God. We must do right, even when doing wrong seems like a better idea.
- Jul 14, 2024Stir Up The Gift (II Timothy 1:6)
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- Jul 14, 2024Special Sunday School Class in response to the Trump Assasination attempt.
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- Jun 23, 2024The Teaching Ministry in the Church (Romans 15:6-7)
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- Jun 23, 2024Why Church? For Belonging (Acts 2:41)
Why Church? For Belonging (Acts 2:41)God created man with a need to belong. We were not designed to exist in isolation but in community with God and each other. At creation, God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). We need a relationship with God to be fulfilled, but we also need relationships with other people where we enjoy mutual love and acceptance.Adam’s need for belonging was met perfectly by God and Eve before the fall, but sin corrupted mankind’s relationship to God and each other. Through faith in Christ, we are restored to a right relationship with God so that when we are saved, we are restored to the right communion with God. We belong to Him.But the gospel does not only restore our relationship with God. Christians belong to a unique group of people who belong to Jesus. This is why the Bible uses such language as is found in Acts two. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:41, 47) They had a place where they belonged in the body of Christ. And God continued to add to the church so that more and more people found a place where they belonged.Each of us needs to belong. God wants to meet that need first through salvation so that you belong to Him and then through the church, a community of people that belong to Christ. The church belongs to Christ, and if you belong to Christ, then church is where you belong.
- Jun 16, 2024Deacon a Noun and a Verb (Philippians 1:1)
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- Jun 16, 2024Why Church? For Accountability (Matthew 18:15-21)
Why Church? For Accountability (Matthew 18:15-21)Why would people want to avoid commitment? People do not want to make commitments because there consequences for breaking them. They want to be able to do what they please and not be held accountable.God created us to exist in committed relationships. Even before the fall, God said, “It is not good that man should be alone.” So God made Eve, brought her to Adam, and they entered into a committed relationship. God soon instituted human government as another form of committed relationship that provides accountability. We are bound to obey the laws of the land or face the consequences.Accountability was also one of the reasons that Jesus instituted the church. Church is more than a place to gather, fellowship, be taught the Bible, and worship God corporately. The church exists to hold us accountable for what we believe and how we behave. Many people today miss out on this vital purpose of the church.In Matthew 18:15-20, Jesus taught His disciples about this necessary role of the church in providing accountability. The local church has a role in holding individual Christian’s accountable when they err in belief or behavior. Accountability takes place on a smaller scale as we regularly participate in the life of the church.You need accountability to help you live how God wants you to live. The church, when operating according to God’s Word, provides that accountability. Therefore, you should want to be an active member of the church and benefit from the accountability that it provides.
