4 Marks Of A Healthy Church

Yesterday I had the privilege of teaching our rising seniors in Sunday School. This is an annual invitation that I share with our High-School Director. I teach one Sunday on the purpose of the church and then he teaches the following Sunday on the functions of the church. I thought you might find my lesson notes interesting and maybe even helpful. Some of you may even disagree and if so, I hope that you will leave feedback. This lesson is based in large part on my previous study and a sermon by Rev. Bryn MacPhail entitled “What Does The Lord Expect From His Church?”

4 Marks Of A Healthy Church

Acts 2:42-47

Intro: Truth Project Video: What Is Church?

Mark One - A Healthy Church Is A Learning Church (Acts 2:42a)

*Experience is not enough (John 4:23-24)

Illustration - The ‘Psychiatric Hot line’ begins with the following message: ‘Hello, and welcome to the Psychiatric Hot line. If you are obsessive compulsive, please press 1 repeatedly. If you are co-dependent, please ask someone to press 2 for you. If you have multiple personalities, please press 3, 4, 5, & 6. If you suffer from paranoia, don’t press anything–we know who you are and we are tracing this call.’ And finally, ‘If you are an evangelical Christian, please listen carefully and a little voice will tell you which button to press’.

*Innerrancy is not enough - We must believe in the sufficiency of Scripture (2 Tim 3:16-17)

Mark Two - A Healthy Church Is A Fellowshipping Church (Acts 2:42b; 44-46)

*They were generous in helping others but not communistic (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32; 5:11)

*They did almost everything together (Acts 2:44a; 46)

Fellowship for this lost was more than waving at each other on Sunday morning or an occasional potluck. They lived their lives together and were the better for it!

Mark Three - A Healthy Church Is A Worshipping Church (Acts 2:42c)

*The article “the” before “breaking of bread” in verse 42 implies more than a meal. They were regularly celebrating the Lords Supper together. (1 Cor. 11:23-26)

*The article “the” again before “prayers” in verse 42 also implies more than just individuals praying alone. It suggests that these people met for prayer meetings and worship. (Heb. 10:24-25)
- They met for formal worship every day
- They had regular informal worship with others in their homes
- They practiced family worship in their own homes
- They also practiced individual worship when alone

Mark Four - A Healthy Church Is An Evangelizing Church (Acts 2:47)

*It is implied that they shared their faith

*It is obvious that they had a clear testimony of the Gospel (Acts 2:47a)

*It is important that we understand that it is the Lord who builds His church not us. He graciously chooses to use us (Matt. 5:16) but He does the work.

Application Questions: How healthy is your church? Are you making it healthy by how you live your life?