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Importance of a Strong Local Congregation

This text emphasizes the importance of each local congregation being strong, based on examples from the Bible. It examines the need for strong churches, the impact of weak churches, and the marks of a strong church, including distinctive preaching, strong leadership, faithful members, and discipline practiced against sin and worldliness.

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Importance of a Strong Local Congregation

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  1. God’s Desire is for Each Local Congregation to be Strong • Acts 15:32 - Church at Antioch • Acts 16:5 - Churches of Iconium, Lystra, etc. • Eph. 3:16 - Church at Ephesus • Col. 1:11 - Church at Colosse

  2. God’s Desire is for Each Local Congregation to be Strong • If these seven churches (four in Acts 16) were to be strong then all churches were to be strong • If God wanted these to be strong - then he wants the church here to be strong • Since the Bible speaks of churches being strong -- that implies that it is possible for a church to be weak

  3. Churches Varying Degrees Varying Degrees Weak Strong Doctrine Leadership Separation From World

  4. ? Questions That Must Be Answered • What is a strong church? • Why is a strong church so important? • What difference does it make where I attend? ?

  5. Clarifying What We Are Discussing Are Not Talking About Denominations Liberal / Institutional Churches of Christ Are Talking About Non-Institutional Churches of Christ

  6. A Strong Church I. The Need for a Strong Church

  7. Concerns Pleasing God / “of Christ” • Purpose of the church - give glory to God (Eph. 3:21) • When a church is complete - well pleasing (Heb. 13:21) • Of God & of Christ = belongs to him (1 Cor. 1:2; Rom. 16:16) • Shows possession • Following God / Christ The Need

  8. Concerns Pleasing God / “of Christ” • Effects Individual Strength / Weakness • Weakness at Corinth caused brother to continue in sin & effect others (1 Cor. 5:1-6) • Paul warned weakness in doctrine leads astray (Acts 20:29-30) • How affects us: • Preaching says little - faith weaker in time • See what others in congregation do & think it is okay (cf. 1 Cor. 5:6) • Grow up never hearing anything about denom. / issues / D&R / worldliness • Emphasis on social, etc. • Stay with one of these churches for a while, just short time - weaker The Need

  9. Concerns Pleasing God / “of Christ” • Effects Individual Strength / Weakness • Weak Churches – Breeding Ground for Error • Acts 20:30 - Paul warned about it • Lack of knowledge – makes it easy to lead astray (2 Pet. 3:16-17_ • Knowledge strengthens and prevents apostasy (2 Pet. 3:18) • Elders watch and refute error (Titus 1:9) • Tolerant Spirit - error will spread The Need

  10. Concerns Pleasing God / “of Christ” • Effects Individual Strength / Weakness • Weak Churches – Breeding Ground for Error • Weak Churches – Fertile Soil for Worldliness • Strength - separate from world (2 Cor. 6:14, 17) • Soft on worldliness - more of it (1 Cor. 5:6) • Going to have more - prom, immodestly, unfit movies, drinking, etc. The Need

  11. Concerns Pleasing God / “of Christ” Effects Individual Strength / Weakness Weak Churches – Breeding Ground for Error Weak Churches – Fertile Soil for Worldliness Weak Churches are “Problems” Waiting To Happen The Need

  12. “Problems” • Corinth was (1 Cor. 5) going further than they wanted • Creates soft setting / tolerance by softer preaching, lack of discipline & weak leadership • End result: problems don’t want: • Made up of weaker members - accept anyone • Uprising when strong preaching is done • Teaching will be done - don’t want (even shocking) • Sin see that can’t do much about

  13. A Strong Church I. The Need for a Strong Church II. The Marks of a Strong Church

  14. Distinctive Preaching • Preach word & all of it • 1 Pet. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:2; Tit. 2:8 • Acts 20:27 • Address the needs as 1 Corinthians does • Soft preaching - hard to identify: • Not what one says that makes him soft • It is what he is NOT saying • Kind of preaching a church has (tolerates) says a lot about elders & members The Marks

  15. Distinctive Preaching • Strong Leadership / Elders • Tit. 1:5-9, 13 - Guarding sound faith • Heb. 13:17 - Watch for souls • Acts 20 - See dangers coming • Eph. 4:11 - Pastors for the maturing of the church • Strong: Demand truth be taught & followed • Stand behind the truth preached • Act upon it • Leaders - not stick finger to wind. The Marks

  16. Distinctive Preaching • Strong Leadership / Elders • Faithful, Committed & Godly Members • Tell a lot about a church by looking at its members - those “somewhat” • Those regarded as members & used: • Faithful (Rev. 2:10) • Dedicated (Rom. 12:1-3) • Godly (1 Tim. 2:10) • Family relationship (Eph. 5-6) The Marks

  17. Distinctive Preaching • Strong Leadership / Elders • Faithful, Committed & Godly Members • Discipline is Practiced • Corinthian Problem (1 Cor. 5:1-13) • Thessalonian Problem (2 Thess. 3:6-15; 1 Thess. 5:17) • When not - asking for problems (1 Cor. 5:6). The Marks

  18. Distinctive Preaching • Strong Leadership / Elders • Faithful, Committed & Godly Members • Discipline is Practiced • Stand Against Sin & Worldliness • Stand: position on it & deal with it • Worldliness: • Modesty (1 Tim. 2:9-10) • Dance - prom (Gal. 5 - lasciviousness) • Social drink (1 Pet. 4:3) The Marks

  19. Distinctive Preaching • Strong Leadership / Elders • Faithful, Committed & Godly Members • Discipline is Practiced • Stand Against Sin & Worldliness • Stand on Current Issues • Imagine - church at Antioch, Colosse, Corinth using men taught error on Circumcision or soft on dealing with teachers of error • Today brethren use preachers / see no danger • More bothered by those who don’t know or don’t care The Marks

  20. A Strong Church I. The Need for a Strong Church II. The Marks of a Strong Church III. Looking for a Strong Church

  21. Wrong Approach • Close (location) • People there you know or like • People are friendly Wise Approach Looking For... • Is this a strong church? • Do they deal with sin and error? • Do they practice discipline? • Do they accept anyone - w/o Q? • Will I be weaker or stronger?

  22. A Strong Church I. The Need for a Strong Church II. The Marks of a Strong Church III. Looking for a Strong Church

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