Four Characteristics of a Healthy Church
Text: Acts 2:37-47
Introduction: If we observe the days, times, and seasons that we live in there are many things that we as a church family can come to conclude. One conclusion that I have come to is that if there has ever been a time that the church must be genuinely healthy, now is the time. In the community, that Intercultural Assembly of God is a part of, being spiritually vigorous is not an option for us. Moreover, it is necessary and mandatory that we as a church be spiritually vibrant and healthy in these last days.
In our text, we observe the church immediately after Pentecost. The Church immediately after Pentecost appears to be at its happiest, most vibrant, most powerful, and healthiest stage in the entire history of The Church, as we know it. The New Testament Church of Acts is the model that we should pattern ourselves after. Therefore, it seems fitting that if we want to discover how to have a healthy Church, we learn from the example of the Church in the book of Acts immediately after Pentecost.
In these incredibly diverse times, that we live in, there is much debate as to what it takes for a church to be a truly healthy Pentecostal church. You too may ask the question, Pastor, what does it really take for a church to be truly alive, vibrant, robust, and healthy? First, healthy, and living churches are healthy and alive because of an intentional decision they made to be healthy and living. Healthy churches are not healthy and vibrant because of an accident. Healthy churches do not just happen by chance.
Living healthy churches are constantly changing. Dead sick churches do not have to change. Living healthy churches have many noisy kids. Dead sick churches are rather quiet. Living healthy churches are constantly improving for the future. Dead sick churches worship their past. Living healthy churches step out in faith. Dead sick churches always operate within the realm of human sight. Living healthy churches focus on people. Dead sick churches focus on programs. Living healthy churches are filled with tithers. Dead sick churches are filled with thieves. Living healthy churches dream great dreams of God. Dead sick churches are constantly reliving nightmares. Living healthy churches evangelize and make disciples. Dead sick churches just simply fossilize.
The Bible clearly defines for us what characteristics comprise a healthy church. These traits are the characteristics of God’s Plan for His church to be utterly triumphant and conquering. Let us examine our text and learn the four characteristics of a healthy church.
I. Commitment to doctrine.
A. Acts 2:42 reads, (KJV) “42And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
1. The first thing stated that this Church was devoted to that made them healthy is Doctrine!
a. It is rare for this to be considered of utmost importance today in Churches!
1. 2nd Timothy 4:3, 4 says, (KJV) “3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (AMP) “3For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, 4And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.”
2. It is extremely tragic that the world does not care anything about doctrine. However, it is yet even more tragic that most of the church cares nothing about doctrine as well.
b. Too often, even in some revivals, doctrine is pushed aside for experience!
c. Healthy experiences however must be guided by doctrine, and not the other way around!
B. All healthy revivals in history had as a characteristic an increased emphasis on preaching and the Word, not a decrease!
1. Lasting revivals are nourished by solid biblical preaching.
2. Momentary revivals that last only like a brushfire usually are evidenced by an avoidance of preaching in favor of experiences.
C. The Bible is quiet clear concerning the importance of the Word.
1. Romans 10:17 declares, (KJV) “17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
a. Sometimes the Church can be misled into thinking that other things are more important than the Word of God, emphasis sometimes incorrectly shifts to physical needs over the Word of God.
b. We must be careful not to neglect the Word in favor of other things as greater priorities!
Illustration: A missionary in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, reports that recently an African pastor passed through on his way home to Chad, where civil war was raging. "What would you like to take to complete your forty-four pounds of baggage allowance?" asked the missionary. "Sugar? Powdered milk? Medicine?" "If I could have some Bibles or a few good books..." said the African Pastor. ”How’s that?" the missionary asked. "Back home we lost everything in the war, and we learned to place less importance on that which passes away and more importance on that which lasts." The missionary mused: "Was I dreaming? We have heard so often ’The hungry stomach has no ears’ that we misread the Epistle to the Romans to say, ’Faith comes from what one eats,’ instead of ’Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.’ "We must not fail to share our bread with those who are hungry, but neither dare we forget that ’man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God ’"
D. It is no accident that doctrine is placed at the top of the list here in Acts 2:42.
II. Commitment to fellowship.
A. Acts 2:42 reads, (KJV) “42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
B. Acts 2:44-46 reads, (KJV) “44And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,”
1. The church of Acts did not just look at their own lives and their own needs, they cared deeply about one another, so much that under the difficult circumstances of the first century they even pooled their resources together and shared them so that they could all live and survive in an environment of difficult persecution.
a. The Christian life is not just a set of doctrines, but is the WORD MADE FLESH just as it was in Christ, but now it is in us!
b. Even as Christ gave Himself for us, we are to give ourselves to one another through continual fellowship.
2. It is the acts of love and fellowship that let others know that good doctrine is in fact at work in our lives!
Illustration: A man came to the pastor one time and said, "I don’t know what’s wrong with my life, but that first Christian joy I knew has passed by. I still live a moral life. I go to church. But how can I recover the lost radiance of my faith?" His pastor said, "this is what you should do: go to the store and buy a big basketful of groceries and go to an address of a poor family I will give you. Then when you have given your gift, you sit down with them to find out what they need. Let them know that you are interested in them and that you are their friend. Then lead them in the Lord’s Prayer before you leave, and the radiance will come back.”
a. It is often the simple, yet practical everyday, seemingly mundane things, which demonstrate God’s love and the power of the Word of God alive in us!
III. Commitment to Worship.
A. Acts 2:42 reads, (KJV) “42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (AMP) “42And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread [including the Lord’s Supper] and prayers.”
1. It is interesting that communion of the saints (which is more commonly referred to as fellowship) is followed with communion with God (which is commonly referred to as Worship)!
a. It was John in his first epistle that linked the vertical with the horizontal!
b. 1st John 1:3-7 states, (KJV) “3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (AMP) “3What we have seen and [ourselves] heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship that we have [which is a distinguishing mark of Christians] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 4And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy [in seeing you included] may be full [and your joy may be complete]. 5And this is the message [the message of promise] which we have heard from Him and now are reporting to you: God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [no, not in any way].
6[So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are [both] speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth [which the Gospel presents]. 7But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].”
1. One cannot have fellowship with God (worship) that does not have fellowship with his fellow believers!
2. One cannot have fellowship with his fellow believers that does not have fellowship with God (worship).
2. Because God’s Word is alive, doctrine has to flow somewhere through us, towards God and towards one another!
3. Being "devoted" to doctrine, fellowship, and now worship and communion reflects a genuine effort, a constant striving towards something, which is in this case is a strive toward excellence and the becoming of a healthy church.
B. As true disciples, we are to be a worshipping church.
1. The early church was characterized by its fervent worship and prayer.
2. 1st Corinthians 11:17-30 (AMP) “17But in what I instruct [you] next I do not commend [you], because when you meet together, it is not for the better but for the worse. 18For in the first place, when you assemble as a congregation, I hear that there are cliques (divisions and factions) among you; and I in part believe it, 19For doubtless there have to be factions or parties among you in order that they who are genuine and of approved fitness may become evident and plainly recognized among you. 20So when you gather for your meetings, it is not the supper instituted by the Lord that you eat, 21For in eating each one [hurries] to get his own supper first [not waiting for the poor], and one goes hungry while another gets drunk. 22What! Do you have no houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and mean to show contempt for it, while you humiliate those who are poor (have no homes and have brought no food)? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, [most certainly] I will not! 23For I received from the Lord Himself that which I passed on to you [it was given to me personally], that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was treacherously delivered up and while His betrayal was in progress took bread, 24And when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and said, Take, eat. This is My body, which is broken for you. Do this to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance. 25Similarly when supper was ended, He took the cup also, saying, This cup is the new covenant [ratified and established] in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink [it], to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance. 26For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are representing and signifying and proclaiming the fact of the Lord’s death until He comes [again]. 27So then whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is unworthy [of Him] will be guilty of [profaning and sinning against] the body and blood of the Lord. 28Let a man [thoroughly] examine himself, and [only when he has done] so should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without discriminating and recognizing with due appreciation that [it is Christ’s] body, eats and drinks a sentence (a verdict of judgment) upon himself. 30That [careless and unworthy participation] is the reason many of you are weak and sickly, and quite enough of you have fallen into the sleep of death.”
a. The Apostle Paul severely criticized the Corinthians for their improper communion services because they had become nothing more than just a meal, and even at this they didn’t take any consideration for one another in their eating with each other!
1. The poorer members sat there with little to eat, and their richer brothers and sisters in Christ did not even share with them their own abundant meal!
2. They had lost the sense of worship in communion, and in the Church!
b. Their devotion to worship (represented here by communion) was to be fervent and real … directed to Christ as the symbol of the communion elements.
1. Too often today, worship has become a formality or ritual!
2. Worship is not just an act or a programmed list, it is to reflect the passion of our hearts, and show devotion so strong that we cannot be sidetracked by other things when Christ is being focused on!
Illustration: A missionary tells of a woman in India holding in her arms a weak, whining infant, while at her side stood a beautiful, healthy child. The man of God saw her walk to the banks of the Ganges River and throw the robust youngster to the crocodiles as an offering, and then turn toward home again still clutching the sickly child to her bosom. Tears were running down her cheeks when he stopped to question her concerning her shocking actions; however, she proudly replied in defense of her conduct, "O sir, we always give our gods the best!"
C. Unsaved people will not be turned off by a passionate worship service, the world has had enough of empty rituals and meaningless dogma, and it is hungry to know that there is a real God worshipped by real passionate disciples!
IV. Commitment to Evangelism and prayer
A. Acts 2:46,47 (AMP) “46And day after day they regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose, and in their homes they broke bread [including the Lord’s Supper]. They partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous hearts, 47Constantly praising God and being in favor and goodwill with all the people; and the Lord kept adding [to their number] daily those who were being saved [from spiritual death].”
1. The fourth thing this healthy Church was devoted to is communicating the joy of salvation!
a. Evangelism flowed out of their devotion!
b. Their devotion was so powerful that they enjoyed the "favor of all the people…and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
2. This fourth area really has two directions of communicating.
a. "praising God" – prayer
b. "adding to the Church those who were being saved" – evangelism
3. This last item reflects the Church’s passion to speak to God and the world!
4. No doubt these are connected like fellowship - if it does not happen vertically, it is not likely to happen horizontally!
a. A praying Church is an evangelizing Church!
b. An evangelizing Church is a praying Church!
5. The early Church was a praying Church. This fueled their evangelism!
a. The Church or Christian that has learned to speak to God will have no problem learning to speak to men!
Illustration: I would rather be able to pray than to be a great preacher; Jesus Christ never taught his disciples how to preach, but only how to pray.
B. A healthy Church evangelizes because it is in contact both with God and with people!
1. It cannot help but share what it is all about!
2. As others witness the devotion and life of a healthy Church, they are attracted to the Gospel and the Church!
C. The best form of evangelism is to be a healthy Church and to be healthy Christians!
D. We would need far fewer seminars on Church growth if we would heal the Church internally rather than just expend energy on external things!
1. If the early Church could be healthy without money, without buildings, without Gospel Publishing House, without Church growth experts, it can be healthy today too!
E. The four characteristics of a healthy Church are always within reach to those who are devoted to living them!
Conclusion: The early Church was healthy because it was full of love for God and His Word and love for one another. The Church today can be healthy too if we are willing to allow God’s Spirit to do a similar work in us and be devoted to doctrine, (the teaching of doctrine is called discipleship), fellowship, worship and evangelism! (The most effective expression of evangelism is compassion).
