CHARACTERISTICS OF A 
HEALTHY CHURCH
Part 2

2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2:42-47

A. Devotion

continued stedfastly.....breaking of bread Acts 2:42c

1. It is interesting that communion of the saints (fellowship) is followed with communion with God!

a. It was John in his first epistle that linked the vertical with the horizontal!

b. One cannot have fellowship with God that does not have fellowship with his fellow believers, and vice versa!

2. Because God's Word is alive, doctrine has to flow somewhere through us, towards God and towards one another!

3. Being "devoted" to doctrine, fellowship, and now COMMUNION reflects an effort, a constant striving towards something, in this case worship or communion with God!

2. Discipleship

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Acts 2:46

1. This third area of devotion of this healthy Church is "COMMUNION" which represented "worship" of God.

a. As true disciples, we are to be a worshipping community!

b. The early Church was characterized by its fervent worship & prayer!

c. The Apostle Paul severely criticized the Corinthians for their improper communion services because they had become nothing more than just a meal, and even at this they didn't take any consideration for one another in their eating with each other!

(1. The poorer members sat there with little to eat, and their richer brothers and sisters in Christ did not even share with them their own abundant meal!

(2. They had lost the sense of worship in communion, and in the Church!

2. Their devotion to worship (represented here by communion) was to be fervent and real & directed to Christ as the symbol of the communion elements.

a. Too often today worship has become a formality or ritual!

b. Worship is not just an act or a programmed list, it is to reflect the passion of our hearts, and show a devotion so strong that we cannot be sidetracked by other things when Christ is being focused on!

ILLUS: A missionary tells of a woman in India holding in her arms a weak, whining infant, while at her side stood a beautiful, healthy child. The man of God saw her walk to the banks of the Ganges River and throw the robust youngster to the crocodiles as an offering, and then turn toward home again still clutching the sickly child to her bosom. Tears were running down her cheeks when he stopped to question her concerning her shocking actions; however, she proudly replied in defense of her conduct, "O sir, we always give our gods the best!"

3. Unsaved people will not be turned off by a passionate worship service, the world has had enough of empty rituals and meaningless dogma, it is hungry to know that there is a real God worshipped by real passionate disciples!

4. COMMITMENT TO COMMUNICATING

continued stedfastly....prayers Acts 2:42d

1. Their devotion is equal in all directions, hence the reason why these four characteristics are compounded together with the same word of devotion!

2. The Church cannot pick and choose what characteristics they will be devoted to, we are simply to be devoted to them all!

2. Declaration

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2:47

1. The fourth thing this healthy Church was devoted to is communicating the joy of salvation!

a. Evangelism flowed out of their devotion!

b. Their devotion was so powerful that they enjoyed the "having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

2. This fourth area really has two directions of communicating:

a. "praising God" - prayer

b. "adding to the Church those who were being saved" - evangelism

3. This last item reflects the Church's passion to speak to God and the world!

a. No doubt these are connected like fellowship - if it doesn't happen vertically, it is not likely to happen horizontally!

(1. A praying Church is an evangelizing Church!

(2. An evangelizing Church is a praying Church!

b. The early Church was a praying Church, this fueled their evangelism!

c. The Church or Christian that has learned to speak to God will have no problem learning to speak to men!

ILLUS: I'd rather be able to pray than to be a great preacher; Jesus Christ never taught his disciples how to preach, but only how to pray.

-- D. L. Moody, Leadership, Vol. 1, no. 1.

4. A healthy Church evangelizes because it is in contact both with God and with people!

a. It can't help but share what it is all about!

b. As others witness the devotion and life of a healthy Church they are attracted to the Gospel and the Church!

5. The best form of evangelism is to be a healthy Church and to be healthy Christians!

a. We would need far fewer seminars on Church growth if we would heal the Church internally rather than just expend energy on external things!

b. If the early Church could be healthy without money, without buildings, without Gospel Publishing House, without Church growth experts, it can be healthy today to!

6. The four characteristics of a healthy Church are always within reach to those who are devoted to living them!

7. The healthy Church is a GLORIOUS CHURCH!

8. LET US BE A GLORIOUS CHURCH!!!

The early Church was healthy because it was full of love for God and His Word and love for one another. The Church today can be healthy too if we are willing to allow God's Spirit to do a similar work in us and be devoted to doctrine, fellowship, worship and evangelism!