What Does a Healthy Church Look Like?

Summary

Summary prepared by Acts 2:38 Life from the transcript below — the preacher’s words follow in full.

The Acts 2 paradigm — the apostolic experience and message

• The question posed (in the host's frame): it's probably safe to say, that most of the people who listen to this podcast attend a church — at least, we hope they do. Those who listen want a spiritually healthy, growing church. But the question is: how do we know, if a church is healthy? Is it a matter of attendance? Is it conversions? Is it how much is coming into the offering? Or is there some other metric, that we can look at, to determine whether a church is healthy? What should we look for, when trying to determine the health of a church? The answer: well, to answer this question, I would first go in to Acts chapter 2 ('firstSign go in to', as the fused fragment stands in the letters). In Acts 2, we have the birthday of the Christian church. And at the end of the chapter, we have an example — or a paradigm — of what a healthy church should be like. So we find, that 120 receive the Holy Spirit, on the day of Pentecost, initially. And then, after Peter preached, the crowd responded: 3 000 were added, to the church, that day (as the figure stands). And we see, in Acts 2:42: they continued steadfastly, in the apostles Doctrine, and fellowship, breaking a bread, and prayers. So here's — I see some earmarks, of a healthy Apostolic Church. First: there should be the apostolic experience. So what we see, in Acts chapter 2, is: people are filled with the Holy Ghost, with the initial sign of speaking in tongues. They were commanded to repent, to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost: Acts 2:38 (as he cites it). So, first of all: there must be a clear Apostolic message. Now, that not only relates to the Plan of Salvation. But, of course, you have the entire Bible. In — more specifically, the New — so a healthy church should — Testament — teach ('in more specifically the New so a healthy church should Testament teach', as the sentence stands in the letters) what the Bible teaches. And specifically, the doctrine that we find, for the New Testament Church. It should stand for that. So how do we know, what that is? Well, that's a big subject. But in a nutshell: if you look in Acts 2, and you carefully analyze that whole chapter. And you analyze the Apostle Peter's message. And notice that all of the other Apostles stood with him. So this message is endorsed, by all 12 Apostles, at the same place, the same time. Of course, it's recorded by Luke, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, like as the whole Bible is. But if you'll notice: Peter preached, that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Well: he's quoting from Joel. In Joel, the Lord was Yahweh, Jehovah. But then, from that, Peter preached about Jesus Christ. And he applied that prophecy, to Jesus. If you call the name of Jesus, you'll be saved ('if you call the name of Jesus she'll be you'll be saved', as the letters stand). So, without a lengthy discussion of the godhead: Peter is assuming, and proclaiming, that the one God of the Old Testament is revealed as Jesus Christ. The lord of the Old Testament is the lord of the New Testament, who is Jesus. He also preached, that Jesus was a true human, anointed by God, did Miracles ('dear Miracles', as heard) — you should have believed on him. So we find clear teaching, of the deity, and Humanity, of Jesus Christ. Of one God, who pours out his Spirit. Who came in flesh, as Jesus Christ, the son of God, to be the savior of the world. And then he preached — if you carefully analyze his message — that Jesus died. He was buried. He rose again, to provide our Salvation. People were convicted of their sins, and cried out: what shall we do? In other words: how can we be saved? How can we accept your message? How can we believe on Jesus? How can we be forgiven, of our sins of crucifying the Messiah? That's when he gave Acts 2:38 (in its own place, in this section). And so you see: the gospel, or the good news, is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Our response to the gospel, in Acts 2:38 (in its own place): we die to sin, in repentance. We're buried with Jesus Christ, in water baptism. We rise to New Life, through receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost — as they did in Acts 2, with the initial sign of speaking in tongues. It's also interesting: in Acts 2:40, that Peter continued preaching, with many other words. He testified, and exhorted ('he test defied and exhorted', as heard), saying: save yourselves — or preserve, or keep yourselves — from this untoward, or perverse, or crooked, generation. So there is the essence of Holiness. So notice, in Acts chapter 2: we have the preaching of the one God. Jesus Christ: Lord, savior, Messiah, Son of God — actually both human, and Divine. God manifest in the flesh ('God manifests the flesh', as spoken). The gospel, of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus ('the death Beyond resurrection', as heard) — that purchases our Salvation. Our response to the gospel, through the new birth experience. And then, the continued life of Holiness. So now, all that is under my first point here: that a truly Apostolic Church will have the apostolic Doctrine, have the apostolic message. So the early Believers continued steadfastly, in that same message.

Scriptures: Acts 2; Acts 2:42; Acts 2:38; Joel (book-only); Acts 2:40

Fellowship — unity within, and with the larger body

• But you also notice: they continue — continued — steadfastly, in the apostles Doctrine, and fellowship. So that — my second point is: a church that has Fellowship, that has unity. And not internally, but also externally. So: I don't think you have to belong to a particular organization, to be a healthy church. But I do believe you must be connected, to the larger body. And that's what the upci attempts to provide: you're connected locally, in your area, your state. But also nationally, and internationally. I think that's a Biblical concept, that we should strive for: Unity, fellowship. And if you'll notice, a practical application: the breaking of bread — which would include communion, but also Fellowship meals, prayer, and so on. So my second point is: a healthy church will be United, in Fellowship. Both internally, and with other churches, of like Faith. There should be a feeling of interdependence. Not Independence. There should be a desire, to work with the broader Church. To be missions-minded. To be not just focused on internally, on that local church, and what blesses it. But how that church can, in turn, be a blessing to others. And have a sense of accountability, and responsibility, to others. So this second principle — of unity, and fellowship, with the larger body of Believers — I think is crucially important. And if you continue reading, you'll notice: there were such — that feel — such a feeling of unity, that they even were motivated, to sell pieces of property, and houses, and give the proceeds to the apostles, to help the poor. And later, we find, in places like first and second Corinthians: they would collect offerings, for the poor. They would also support the ministry. They would also collect offerings, for Missions — such as to support the Apostle Paul, on his mission trip ('on his mission strip', as heard). So this Unity was expressed, in sacrificial giving. So I'm not putting that as a separate point, but as a manifestation, of this Cooperative effort. So a church should be missions minded. It should be other minded. So that's what you might call horizontal relationship: how is that church — you know, how are the churches — is there good Fellowship? Is there love? Is there accountability? And not only within the church, but with other churches, and with the larger body. And participating in missions. Do we see that level of unity?

Prayer and worship — the vertical relationship; signs and wonders

• The third thing is vertical relationship. Because they continued in prayer. And then, later in the chapter, it says: they went to the temple — which would be a large area Outdoors, where they could all gather together. And from house to house — which would be, in local meetings. And which would later become local churches, or local manifestations of the Church of the city. And so they continued in worship, praising God. So this would be my third point: is a vertical relationship. So there should not only be that sense of unity, and connection, to other Believers, and other churches, in a healthy relationship. But there should be an emphasis, on prayer and worship. There should be an emphasis, on heartfelt intercessory prayer, personal prayer, corporate prayer. A heartfelt, spiritual worship: a demonstrative, sincere. So we should see that vertical relationship. Number four: I see in here that — maybe — maybe let me renumber. Because I started with experience. And then the doctrine, or the message. So that would be number two. The number three, I would say, would be your horizontal relationship: Unity. Number four would be your vertical relationship: prayer and worship. Number five, also in this same chapter: that signs and wonders were done, in their midst. So a genuinely apostolic church ('a genuinely episodic church', as heard — 'apostolic' stands in the letters as 'episodic' at several points) will have healing. Will have the gifts of the Spirit, as mentioned: First Corinthians chapter 12. We'll believe in prayer, and answers to prayer. Will experience signs and wonders. We'll pray for the sick, on a regular basis. So those are five characteristics, that I deem to be essential.

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 12

Healthy leadership — servant-hearted, accountable, loving

• But then — and there's an assumption here — that the leadership is healthy. They had respect for the apostles. And the apostles therefore were able to pray for people, and see many miracles done. Because there was that healthy respect, for leadership. So I would also say: it's very important, for a healthy Church, to have healthy leadership. Now, that's a big subject. And I've — in other podcasts, I've talked about what good leadership is like. I've also talked about spiritual abuse. But I would just make a few comments there. Healthy leadership will be accountable. Healthy leaders will be humble. There's a genuine Spiritual Authority, but it's exercised in love. So healthy leadership will be servant leadership: Matthew chapter 20, verse 25-28 (as he cites the span). Another passage, that's very good in this regard, is: First Peter 5, 1-4 (as he cites the span). Healthy leadership will be — lead by example. Not as a dictator. Not manipulative. Not authoritarian. With true Spiritual Authority, but not an authoritarian approach. Understanding: The Authority is not ours personally. But it's based on the word of God. So the leadership should lead, and draw their Authority, for what they say, from scripture. And the power should not be personal manipulation, or psychological techniques. But it should be based on the spirit of God. And the underlying motive, for everything — the only acceptable motive, according to First Corinthians 13, is love. There should be also — connected to that — should be respect, for people. The golden rule, of Matthew 7:12 (as he cites it): do unto others, as you'd have them do unto you. So, under this category, that I'm talking about, of healthy leadership, you look for: servanthood. You look for leadership servanthood. Leadership by example. Leadership that respects people. Leadership — is — motivated by love. Leadership that draws its Authority, on the word of God. And it works, in the power of the spirit. That's a very brief summary, on that subject. I've written a book, called spiritual leadership in the 21st century (as titled in the answer), that will go into greater detail.

Scriptures: Matthew 20:25-28; 1 Peter 5:1-4; 1 Corinthians 13; Matthew 7:12

Growth — evangelism and discipleship; no church is perfect

• So when you put it all together: I'll go back to Acts 2, the very end of the chapter, verse 47. It says: the Lord added, to the church, daily, such as should be saved. So a healthy church will be a growing church. So yes: you should look for a church, that's what we call Revival. That's having a continual move of God. A church that's Evangelistic, that's reaching out for Souls. That doesn't mean it has to be a large Church. It doesn't have to mean, that all the time, there will necessarily be growing numerically. There are many reasons why a good, and healthy Church, may not always grow, all the time. But there certainly should be an emphasis, and a desire, and a pathway, to growth. Which should be both qualitative, and quantitative. That means: qualitative — growing in Grace, growing in knowledge, growing in discipleship, growing in maturity. And numerical growth: yes, we want to see new people coming to the church, new people being baptized, receiving the spirit, and being discipled, and assimilated. So: if there's no activity — you know, there are no visitors, and no one receiving the Holy Spirit — while there can be temporary reasons and causes, not all churches are going to grow — literally. And, you know, absolutely: sometimes there's a plateau. Sometimes there's a decline. Sometimes you go through — even as an individual goes through a trial, or a Wilderness — that can happen, in a local church. So I don't think we can say: Well, it has to have a nice building. It has to have a big crowd. It has to be constantly growing. It has to be fulfilling certain, you know, goals — that's not what I'm talking about. But the attitude, of Desiring to grow, spiritually and numerically. Designed — desiring — to win souls, and disciple Souls ('designed to win souls and disciple Souls', as the letters stand). Yes: there should be a healthy plan, and participation, in both evangelism and discipleship. That's the mission of the church. And sometimes we look strictly at: well, how many new people are coming? Or: are they breaking their records? Or: how many receive the Holy Ghost? But that should be balanced with: our people — are our people being led to maturity? Are they being disciple — discipled? Are they being assimilated, Incorporated, to — into — the church? Which goes back to the unity, that I mentioned earlier. So, in summary, I would draw my basic criteria, from Acts chapter 2, of: number one, an Apostolic experience. Number two, apostolic Doctrine, or message ('episodic Doctrine or message', as his recap stands in the letters). Number three, Unity, connectedness, interdependence, Fellowship, accountability. Number four, relationship with God: prayer, worship. Number five, healthy spiritual leadership: qualified, and accountable. Servanthood leadership. Leadership by example, that love — loves — and respects people. And then finally, I would look for an attitude of growth, both with evangelism, and discipleship. And no church is perfect. So these are ideals. Churches may have strengths and weaknesses, very — in — various areas. But maybe you've heard the old saying: if you ever find a perfect Church, please don't join it. Because then, by you coming there, it will become less than perfect. So leave it alone, and let it enjoy its Perfection. But all of us are in a growth process. And we certainly do need a healthy, loving Church, in which to grow.

Scriptures: Acts 2:47

Scripture index: Acts 2; Acts 2:42; Acts 2:38; Joel (book-only); Acts 2:40; 1 Corinthians 12; Matthew 20:25-28; 1 Peter 5:1-4; 1 Corinthians 13; Matthew 7:12; Acts 2:47.