1. Expositional Preaching
2. Biblical Theology
3. A Biblical Understanding of the Gospel
4. A Biblical Understanding of Conversion
5. A Biblical Understanding of Evangelism
6. A Biblical Understanding of Church Membership
7. A Biblical Understanding of Church Discipline
8. A Biblical Understanding of Discipline and Growth
9. A Biblical Understanding of Church Leadership
Expositional Preaching - that preaching which takes for the main point of a sermon the point of a particular passage of Scripture. Commitment to discovering the meaning of scripture is important if a church wants to be healthy.
Biblical Theology - To practice biblical theology is to know God himself. What does this do for us? It helps us grow in our reverence for God. It also helps us overcome our ideas that are wrong. Thirdly, it helps introduce the church against doctrinal controversies. Lastly, it is necessary to fulfilling the Great Commission.
A Biblical Understanding of the Gospel - This is the greatest need in the world today. It is not only news for a world that is fallen, but is a message that forms, sustains, and animates the church. The gospel is vital to vibrant, joyous, preserving, hopeful, and healthy Christians and churches.
A Biblical Understanding of Conversion - This includes understanding the fall of man first. Like any doctor would say, in order to find the treatment or cure, you first must know the sickness. Because man is a sinner by nature, he is guilty before God and deserves the punishment God promises. Unless there is a change in his spiritual condition, man is doomed to this judgment. This radical change is what theology calls the conversion. It is turning from the enslaved life to sin, to a life of pursuing and worshipping God.
A Biblical Understanding of Evangelism - This goes along somewhat with conversion. It is relieving to know that when you have a good grasp on conversion, we realize that evangelism does not depend on articulateness. Evangelism doesn't require the correct mood lighting or emotional songs and sales pitches. We simply need to trust in God and the power of the gospel to produce the fruit (Romans 1:17).
A Biblical Understanding of Church Membership - So you might be asking yourself what a committed church member looks like. Here are just a few things related to this idea:
*Attending Church - Being apart of a local church is a very important part of ministry. Being present, known, and active are the only ways to make Christian love possible (Hebrews 10:24-25).
*Edifies Others - Mutual edification is a goal of the church. It is important to build each other up in faith. One should come to serve, not to be served, like Christ (Mark 10:45).
*Reconciliation - Christians are reconciled to God through Christ. It is important to strive to reconcile and repair breaches, even before worshipping.
*Ministry Support - A committed member will gives time, resources, and talents to the furtherance of the gospel in the local church.
A Biblical Understanding of Church Discipline - Discipline has been developed into a negative meaning in today's society, but in reality, it is much more broad than simply punishment. The word comes from disciple in latin and are tied to the idea of education and order. A disciple is a student, and that student is one who is involved in certain discipline. This person learns a profession, or masters a body of thought. It is the same for the church. Discipline in the church is about education and learning, and order and growth. It is discipline for a church member to allow for an atmosphere or growth and development. Here are some of the suggestions noted in the book about how to cultivate discipline within a church:
- Receive the Word of God with meekness.
- Learn to recognize chastisement as evidence of God's love.
- Humbly accept correction from others.
- Take seriously our responsibility to discipline others.
- REJOICE.
A Biblical Understanding of Discipline and Growth - The health and growth of the church depends on the health and the growth of its members. A healthy church member has an extensive concern for his of her own personal growth and the growth of other members of their church. Since a concern for God's glory should be high in our lives as believers, our concern for growth should be extensive. We are to, "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18)
*Abide in Christ (John 15:5-8)
*Ordinary Means of Grace (John 15, Titus 2:11-12)
*Participate (Hebrews 10:25, Eph. 4:11-16)
*Look to Jesus' Coming (Matthew 25, Titus 2:13-14)
A Biblical Understanding of Church Leadership - The health of a church can depend greatly on the membership's response to the church's leadership. There are a few things that help characterize a healthy church member in regards to local church leaders. First is that the member honors the elders. 1 Tim. 5:17 tells us this exactly. It is important that he or she is thankful and respectful towards them. Second is that members show open-hearted love towards the leaders. This can be seen in 2 Cor. 6:11-13. The honor and respect is not that of a soldier to a commanding officer, but rather what is seen in those verses. A healthy church member first gives himself to the Lord, then to the minister of the Lord, knowing that this is God's will (2 Cor. 8:5). Here are some specific actions that a healthy church member will in order to effectively follow leadership:
- Patiently participate in he selection of leaders (1 Tim 5:22a)
- Obey and submit to leaders (Heb. 13:17)
- Follow the leaders' example (1 Tim. 4:12, 1 Peter 5:3)
- Pray for the leaders (Col 4:2-4)
- Support outside ministry and interaction of leaders (2 Cor. 9:13, 10:15-16)
Lastly, and certainly not least, pray. How should we pray? We should pray constantly (1 Thess 5:17), and in the spirit (Rom. 8:26-27). Who should we be praying for? We should be praying for laborers and shepherds (Matt. 9:36-38), for other Christians (Eph. 6:18), for those in authority (1 Tim. 2:1-3), and for those who abuse and persecute believers (Luke 6:28, Matt. 5:46-47).
What Is A Healthy Church Member
Crossway Books
Thabiti M. Anyabwile
©2008
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