A SUCCESSFUL CHURCH

EPHESIANS 5:25-27

          As Christians we live in hope of the day that our savior will return to rapture the church.  Here in these verses Paul describes the church for which Jesus will one day return to get.  He says that it will be a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle; a holy and blameless church.  I want to talk to you this morning about a few of the characteristics of “A Successful Church”.  Let me first mention that these are in no particular order. 

1.     A successful church is Bible believing, gospel preaching church.

          II TIMOTHY 3:16

                   The Church for which Christ will return will understand that all scripture is inspired by God and that God had a purpose in what He left for us as a guide.  Paul says here to Timothy that the scriptures are to give us doctrine.  This means that they are to explain to us what God wants for us and from us.  They are to set the standard by which we live.  Paul says that they are for reproof or to tell us when we are not following the path that God desires for us.  The scriptures are for correction.  God has placed in our manual instructions for what to do when we get off track.  He tells us how to correct our actions and get back on track.  However, oftentimes the correction hurts and we may even resist taking the required steps (Matt.5:23-24 - Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has ought against you; Leave your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.) Finally Paul says that the scriptures are for instruction in righteousness.  They tell us how to continue living in the standard ordained by God.  Of course this is not all the scriptures are useful for.  In the scriptures we find peace, we find joy, we find hope.  But most of all it is in the scriptures that we find and come to understand the grace and mercy of God.  It is in the scriptures that we find the love of God expressed through His plan of salvation.

      ROMANS 1:16-17

                   A successful church must not only believe the word to be true but it must be willing to preach the Gospel to a sin-sick and dieing world.  The gospel is the power that God offers to save the world from its condemned state.  It reveals to the world how righteous and just God is in His dealings with man.  II Tim 3:17 says that God’s purpose in providing us with the scriptures is so that we would mature and be ready to work for Him.

                   Some churches fail because they do not accept the entire Bible as the Word of God, choosing only scriptures that satisfy them.  Some churches fail because they fail to do as Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15, “rightly divide the word of truth” which means apply yourself to understanding and correctly interpreting the scriptures, which requires studying the scriptures.  A successful church in the sight of God is a Christ-centered, Bible teaching, Bible believing and Bible obeying church.

2.     A successful church is a serving church.  JAMES 2:15-18

                   In the beginning of this chapter James rebukes the church for despising the poor and treating them badly while treating the rich with care and respect.  Many churches fail because they are self-centered.  They do not reach out to assist the less fortunate but rather bestow their tithes and offerings upon themselves.  Many times these churches may look successful and maybe by the world’s standard they would be thought of as successful.  But the world is not our judge, God is and he does not judge by the world’s standard.

MATTHEW 5:43-48

                   It is clear here that God expects His children to love, respect and care for even our enemies.  He can expect this of the church because it is the character that He Himself has shown towards His enemies (ROMANS 5:6-8).  We are to bless our enemies and do good unto them.  How do we do good to them? Through service.  I believe that God is pleased with a loving church; one that shows love not only for its own members but also for others outside of its own sphere.  I believe that God is pleased and brings success to churches that show concern for the needy, the suffering, the hurt and the lost.

3.     A successful church is a Spirit Filled, Spirit led church

              EPHESIANS 5:17-18

                       The command given here is for believers to be filled with the Spirit.  It is obvious why this is necessary.  We are inexperienced soldiers in the middle of a spiritual war.  If we as individual are to be successful warriors then we must have allies that are familiar with the terrain in which we must fight, the customs, habits and strategies of our enemy as well as the weapons that our enemy has in his arsenal.  The ally that God has provided for us is the Holy Spirit.  Thus He is charged with helping us successfully fight this battle.  Just as it is important for individual to be filled with and led by the Spirit of God it is important also for the Church, the organization of believers, to give way to the Spirit of God allowing Him to lead and direct every aspect of Church activity and business.

                       It might seem strange to some that Paul would feel the need to tell Christians not to be drunk with wine.  It seems obvious that such behavior is unbecoming of one professing Christ.  Keep in mind that Paul is talking to Gentile Christians.  It was a common practice in the worship of idol gods to celebrate by becoming intoxicated and participating in all manner of sexual perversions.  Once intoxicated the person was free of inhibitions, losing all reasoning ability and surrendering themselves freely to pagan practices.  Paul wants these believers to understand that this behavior is not apart of the Christian practice.  The Christian is not to surrender himself to the intoxicating power of wine but rather the Christian is to surrender himself to the Spirit of God.  God must have first place in our lives and in our church.  The Church, unlike a secular business or organization can not successfully operate at the whims of man, but must be Spirit led and Spirit filled in order to meet the goals set by God for the Church.            

4.     A successful church is a singing church

             EPHESIANS 5:19

           Many people come to church hoping to fill uplifted and energized when they leave and this may be their only reason for coming.  But not all churches are happy churches.  A drab, dull, listless and unfriendly church leaves one with a feeling of dejection and despondency, having no desire to return.  A successful church is a place of rejoicing.  Though the word may cut away the impurities of heart, soul and flesh, the spirit and atmosphere of praise and rejoicing leaves one light-hearted and prepared to go out and face the troubles of the world.  Hebrews 10:35 warns us by saying “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  We are to continue to meet together because we draw strength from one another.  Though I may have little going right in my life and thus feel as though I have nothing to rejoice about, I can rejoice in the testimony of God’s goodness in the lives of my brothers and sisters. (Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice)  I can be encouraged to sing praises to God simply because he is worthy.   Successful churches are alive with joyful singing, friendliness, and happy anticipation.  The person attending such a church leaves with a warm, welcomed feeling.  The love and joy they feel while present plants in them a desire to return.

5.     The successful Church is a soul winning church

          MATTHEW 9:35-38

                 As Jesus traveled about doing ministry to the masses He was moved with compassion when He saw so many who were lost and scattered about like sheep without a shepherd.  Many churches lack a burden and zeal for the unsaved.  The members of these failing churches make little or no effort towards evangelism.  They do not see a sense of urgency associated with evangelizing and witnessing to the lost.  They approach evangelizing with the mindset that the sinner should come to Church to find God.

          MATTHEW 28:19-20

                 Many churches must have Bibles where these verses read sinners if you want to know God you should come to Church, be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and be taught to observe all things that I tell you to do.  Now it is true that sinners can come to Church for all of these reasons, but this was not the command given to them by God.  The command was to us to go and get them. 

          ACTS 1:8

                 What is it that Jesus said these believers would do after receiving the Baptism with the Holy Spirit?  They would be witnesses in their families, among their other countryman and even outside of their own surroundings.  The church today still has this same power.  If we are to be a successful church we must have the zeal to go out and win the lost.

     What constitutes a successful church?  Applying God’s standards, I believe that successful church will be a scriptural church, a serving church, a Spirit led church, a singing and a soul-winning church.  Let us continue to endeavor to be a successful church.