Text - 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

INTRODUCTION

THE TITLE OF THIS SERMON IS "WHAT IS A H.E.A.L.T.H.Y. CHURCH?” AND OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN 1 THESSALONIANS 1:1-10.

I AM NOT GOING TO BE PREACHING FROM THESE VERSES, BUT I SIMPLY WANT US TO LOOK AT AN EXAMPLE OF A HEALTHY CHURCH WITHIN THE BIBLE.

AS WE LOOK AT THESE DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS OF A HEALTHY CHURCH, I WOULD LIKE US TO REMEMBER THAT A CHURCH IS NOT A BUILDING.

BUT RATHER IT IS MADE UP OF INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE AND THAT THESE CHARACTERISTICS MUST FIRST BE FOUND IN US AS INDIVIDUALS BEFORE THEY WILL BE SEEN IN OUR CHURCH AS A WHOLE.

WITHIN THE BIBLE THE LORD'S CHURCH IS REFERRED TO MANY TIMES AS A BODY, AND AS A BODY THERE ARE BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL SIGNS OR CHARACTERISTICS THAT WE CAN SEE AND LOOK FOR IN ORDER TO TELL IF IT IS HEALTHY OR NOT.

IF OUR PHYSICAL BODIES ARE NOT HEALTHY THERE MIGHT BE SOME INTERNAL SIGNS SUCH AS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OR A RAPID PULSE RATE THAT WOULD TELL US THAT WE ARE NOT HEALTHY.

AND LIKEWISE THERE WOULD ALSO BE SOME EXTERNAL SIGNS SUCH AS SWEATING OR BAD FACIAL COLOR THAT WOULD TELL US THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH US.

THIS MORNING I AM GOING TO USE THE WORD “HEALTHY” TO GIVE US SEVEN CHARACTERISTICS OF A HEALTHY CHURCH, I.E. HEALTHY CHRISTIANS.

IF YOU ARE A HEALTHY CHRISTIAN YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THESE IN YOUR LIFE.