"Healthy Church"
Acts 2:37-47
HAM, HENEK, MET
hile I was serving in Paraguay, a Maka Indian named Rafael came to sit on my porch. I was eating and went out to see what he wanted. He responded, "Ham, henek met." Again I asked what I could do for him, but the answer was the same. I understood what he was saying but not its significance: "I don't want anything; I have just come near." I later shared the incident with a local veteran missionary. He explained that it was Rafael's way of honoring me. He really didn't want anything; he just wanted to sit on my porch. He found satisfaction and pleasure just being near me.
"What brings you here, my child?" the Lord asks. "Ham, henek met." Doesn't that reveal the heart of true worship?
SOURCE: Stuart Sacks, Villanova, Pennsylvania
Introduction: A great deal has been written in the last few years about church growth and revitalization. Several different approaches and analysis have been suggested and these are good. I am for anything that will help the local church! Recently, the discussion has moved in a different direction that excites me as someone who has pastored churches in three states for the last 42 years. Many who have a genuine love for the church and want to see it prosper are now speaking about church health. Questions are being asked like, "What is a healthy church?" and "How can we identify the things that make for a healthy church?" and "How can a church that is ailing make its way to health and vitality?" Is the church ailing? The answer is yes, there are many ailing churches. But before I attempt to give you an analysis of what a healthy church is or is not, let me say that church health does not depend on the size of the church. There are large churches that are healthy and there are large churches that are not healthy. I would suggest that the largest church in America is not a healthy church. Neither does church health depend on the socioeconomic make-up of the church. There are affluent churches that are healthy and there are those that are not. There are churches all around the world were believers meet in homes or rundown buildings or even like the Simmons in Kenya that are healthy and there are those that are not. What are some signs or symptoms that churches may be unhealthy? Did you know that a recent poll of professing Christians revealed that now a majority believe that attending church twice per month is considered regular attendance; that giving as a percentage of income is the lowest that it has been in the history of the church; that the main demographic target of most churches, millennials, demand the most but give the least to the church in return. With any analysis the thing to be avoided is to use a standard of measure that is subjective rather than objective. This morning I want to use what I believe is a definitive passage of Scripture to high light some important truths concerning church health that are based on an objective standard. First and foremost a healthy church is:
I. A Gospel Centric Church
You cannot separate church health from the Gospel.
a. The priority of the Gospel
In this day and age where we have a menu mentality where church and church worship is concerned there is one thing that is irrefutable, God has chosen the "foolishness" of preaching to save men. Nothing else can do it! This is an absolute truth! The trend over the last 25 years is to downplay the importance of the sermon in worship services and to shorten the length of sermons as an accommodation to the notion that to reach the lost you need to stop "preaching" at them. Friends, we don't need less preaching in our worship services, if anything, we need more! But you say the culture has changed and "folks have shorter attention spans and they just won't sit still for a 45 minute sermon." To that I say hum bug, baloney! They have no problem at all "parking" in front of a television, and watching a 3 hour football or baseball telecast. Tuesday evening I sat and watched a 17 inning girls' softball game that lasted for 4 plus hours. I wonder how many professing Christians did the same thing yet they have little patience for a 35-45 minute sermon? They will watch the latest movie for 2 hours with no problem. They will sit and play games on an iPhone or IPad for hours on end or play Xbox or the newest version of Madden or Candy Crush but complain if a sermon more than 30 minutes. The problem is not their attention span or an attention deficit disorder; our churches have a Gospel deficit disorder! Our churches must return to a desire and a hunger for the preaching of the Word of God if they want to be healthy!
b. The points of the Gospel
In a healthy church the focus is on the Gospel, the whole Gospel. Let's look at our text:
In the Gospel we find:
1. The Renowned Savior who confirms His office as Messiah by signs and wonders. v. 22
2. The Rejected Savior who gives His life as a ransom for the sins for the whole world. v. 23
3. The Resurrected Savior who triumphs over death, hell, and the grave. v. 24, 32
4. The Resplendent Savior who sits in the must exalted place in heaven at the right hand of the Father. v. 25, 33, 36
I can also add that the Gospel incudes:
5. The Returning Savior who is coming for His bride at any moment!
Paul states it this way in 1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
c. The power of the Gospel
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
There was a time in the church when men heard the Gospel that they were "...pricked in their hearts..." This phrase means that those who heard the Gospel that Peter preached, were "convicted" of their sins. The word pricked comes from a Greek word that describes and "ox goad" which was sharp stick used to drive and direct oxen down a road on in a field. With a good sharp stick even a small boy could get the ox to do his bidding. It is convicting power that leads men to repent of their sins and it is the Gospel that changes men's lives. Paul declared that "the Gospel was the power of God unto salvation to both Jews and Gentiles." When the Gospel is the centerpiece of our churches we will preach the Gospel, read the Gospel, sing the Gospel, pray the Gospel, fellowship in the Gospel, give to spread the Gospel and share the Gospel.
II. A Growing Church
You cannot separate church health from growth. The question is how do we define growth? What measurement do we use? How do we quantify growth? I want to suggest a new way to measure church growth beyond just how many we had in small groups or worship. It is still a "numbers game" but the numbers we measure is different. I am hoping that this will become the new measure of effectiveness in growing churches even more than attendance.
a. How many people serve in the ministry of the church?
We are literally saved to serve! God shapes us for service, equips and enables us for service and expects us to serve, yet why do church ministries go "begging" for volunteers? Do you have a heart to serve?
ILL - Leadership Magazine carried a story about 4 young men, Bible College students, who were renting a house together. One Saturday morning someone knocked on their door. And when they opened it, there stood this bedraggled-looking old man. His eyes were kind of marbleized, & he had a silvery stub of whiskers on his face. His clothes were ragged & torn. His shoes didn't match. In fact, they were both for the same foot. And he carried a wicker basket full of unappealing vegetables that he was trying to sell. The boys felt sorry for him & bought some of his vegetables just to help him out. Then he went on his way. But from that time on, every Saturday he appeared at their door with his basket of vegetables. As the boys got to know him a little bit better, they began inviting him in to visit a while before continuing on his rounds. They soon discovered that his eyes looked marbleized, not because of drugs or alcohol, but because of cataracts. They learned that he lived just down the street in an old shack. They also found out that he could play the harmonica, & that he loved to play Christian hymns, & that he really loved God. So every Saturday they would invite him in, & he would play his harmonica & they would sing Christian hymns together. They became good friends, & the boys began trying to figure out ways to help him. One Saturday morning, the story says, right in the middle of all their singing & praising, he suddenly said to them, "God is so good!" And they all agreed, "Yes, God is so good." He went on, "You know why he is so good?" They said, "Why?" He said, "Because yesterday, when I got up & opened my door, there were boxes full of clothes & shoes & coats & gloves. Yes, God is so good!" And the boys smiled at each other & chimed in, "Yes, God is so good." He went on, "You know why He is so good?" They answered, "You already told us why. What more?" He said, "Because I found a family who could use those things, & I gave them all away."
b. How many people give to support the ministry of the church?
When you make Jesus Lord of your life it will cost you something; if it doesn't cost you anything then He is not Lord of your life!
THE CENTER OF HISTORY
"I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history." H.G. Wells
If Jesus is Lord of your life then all that you have belongs to Him and is under His control.
"There is not one square inch of the entire creation about which Jesus Christ does not cry out, "This is mine! This belongs to me!"
Richard J. Mouw, Uncommon Decency, pp. 146-147.
Real church health is measured by giving units. How many families actually support the church financially is a critical issue.
c. How many invite their unchurched friends?
How many folks in the church are taking the Great Commission seriously.
d. How many move into their community beyond Sunday?
III. A Giving Church
You cannot separate church health from giving. In a prominent study done it was learned that professing Christians in America gave 2.3% of their income to the church.
That sounds low, but how low is it? Well, for some perspective, consider this: during the Great Depression, Christians were putting 3.3% of their (assuredly meager) incomes into the offering plate. Even more troubling is this figure: 33% -- 50% of church members report that they give nothing at all to the church. The willingness of these early believers to give was a sign of the health of the church. Paul describes this "willingness" in:
2 Corinthians 8:1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
a. Our giving should be prioritized
Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
b. Our giving is to proportionate
Two passages come to mind immediately. First is:
Malachi 3:10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. ESV
Second:
1 Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
c. Our giving is to be praiseworthy
2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
For God loveth a cheerful giver (hilaron gar dote¯n agapa¯i ho theos). Our word "hilarious" comes from hilaron which is from hilaos (propitious), an old and common adjective, only here in N.T. Robertson's Word Pictures
IV. A Going Church
You cannot separate church health from going. A friend of mine, Mark Harris said, "When the local church becomes more of a "place of gathering" rather than a "people of going"...it ceases to be a part of the New Testament church." A healthy church is far more than just a place to gather and fellowship. Don't get me wrong it should be a place to gather but gathering for the right reasons.
In a recent (2016) report the largest protestant denomination declines in membership, baptisms, weekly attendance and giving. The decline in baptisms is particularly concerning as it marks a trend for the last several years. The report says, "It is clear that evangelism and discipleship is waning. I don't believe it is the lack of opportunities, though. Instead, there is a lack of engagement." Thom Ranier writes, "...while most church goers believe it's their personal responsibility to share their faith, most never do." The Gospel formula for going is very simple:
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
a. We are to make disciples
There's a story told - and I take it to be a parable because I hope it's not true - of a country church which had a creeper - perhaps an ivy plant - growing up by the porch doorway. Over the doorway was a text carved in stone, "We preach Christ crucified". Over the years the plant grew steadily and a branch gradually spread over the doorway. The first word of the text covered by the leaves of the plant was "crucified" which reduced the text to "We preach Christ". Well, we might think, that's unfortunate but the essential part of our faith is still there. As time went on the branch spread further and covered over the word "Christ". Now, this was serious, but no-one seemed to notice, and the message of the church to the world outside was reduced to "We preach" - it had no message; the church was merely a talking shop. Owen Bourgaize
b. We are to mark disciples
Baptism Is A Sign of Submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ
When the early Christians declared their faith in baptism, they would shout out, "Jesus is Lord!" Baptism has always been a sign of submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. William Barker tells of a machinist at Ford Motor Company in Detroit many years ago who became a Christian and was baptized. Shortly after he got saved, the Holy Spirit convicted him of his need to make restitution for some car parts and tools he had stolen from the company before he had become a Christian. The next morning he brought everything back to his employer, explaining how he had just been baptized and wanted to make things right. His boss was dumbfounded so he sent a cable to Mr. Ford, who was out of the country, asking him how he should handle the situation. Mr. Ford sent an immediate reply: "Make a dam in the Detroit River, and baptize the entire city!"
From a sermon by Brian Bill, Taking the Plunge, 10/25/2009
c. We are mature disciples
There are no short cuts to maturity. It takes years for us to grow to adulthood, and it takes a full season for fruit to mature and ripen. The same is true for the fruit of the Spirit. The development of Christlike character cannot be rushed. Spiritual growth, like physical growth, takes time.
When you try to ripen fruit quickly, it loses its flavor. In America, tomatoes are usually picked unripened so they won't bruise during shipping to the stores. Then, before they are sold, these green tomatoes are sprayed with CO2 gas to turn them red instantly. Gassed tomatoes are edible, but they are no match to the flavor of a vine-ripened tomato that is allowed to mature slowly.
Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), 217.
Conclusion: What makes a healthy church? Healthy Christians make a healthy church. Christians who are Gospel centric, who are growing, who are giving and who are going, make a healthy church. Let me ask you one last question: "If all the members of this church were just like you, what kind of church would we have?
