What Makes a Healthy Church?

When we believe in Christ, we are joining a family of faith called God's Church. Paul is explaining what a healthy church looks like, which is reproducing healthy believers.

Ephesians 4:11-16 (NKJV)

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 

Healthy Churches have spiritual healthy members. It should have both new believers and mature believers.  

A Church is not an audience. An audience is a crowd, but a Church is family.  Healthy churches have good inviters.

12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 

13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God (intimacy), to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 

Paul is talking about people who are on a similar journey going to the same place which is where Jesus is.  

There are 3 indicators.

A. Unity is centered upon our faith in Christ.  Unity is built on sound doctrine.  

B. Intimacy goes beyond information.  It is actually a close relationship with Jesus Christ.  We want to be ushered into the presence of Jesus Christ more than before.

The more that we have intimacy with Christ.  We will have more intimacy with each other. 

C. Maturity must be based upon your time and efforts with Jesus. Don't let your spiritual maturity be based upon another person. We have to be careful not to put others on pedestals.  There is one to look to and that is Christ.      

14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 

We are warned about being immature which is the opposite of being mature.  Immature people have a difficult time making up their minds.  Healthy Christians grow in spiritual maturity with spiritual productivity.  

15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 

16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Paul is talking about becoming more like Jesus Christ and reproducing that life in others.  If that's not true about the Church, that Church will eventually die. 

1 Corinthians 13:11 (NKJV)

11 When I was a child, I spoke 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 14:20 (NKJV)

20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

1 Peter 2:2-3  (NKJV)

2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

1. Growth must be grounded in truth. We are to look at Jesus.  Jesus is the living Word, and the Bible is the written Word.  If you go to the written Word, you'll know what the living Word is like.  To grow up, you must be grounded in the truth.  Just attending a class does not help you to grow up. You must be engaged in personal obedience to truth. 

2. Growth must be grounded in love. We aren't about winning arguments.  We know that people apart from Jesus have no hope and that drives us.  

3. Our goal is to reproduce people who grow up to be more like Jesus. Growth must be destined for Christ likeness.  We are incomplete if we are not adequately connected with other Christians. 

4. Growth must be supported in unity.  Don't be focused on minor things, but be focused on reproducing Christ likeness in others. 

A. You are essential to your Church's spirit health.  

B. Your spiritual health requires the Church.   

Please ask the Lord. What are you saying to me through these words?

Notes taken from Darryl Craft, Whitesburg Baptist Church.   

http://www.whitesburgbaptist.org/sermons/sunday-november-4-2018/