THREE MARKS OF A GREAT CHURCH 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

2 Three Marks of A Great Church  The Determination to Do God’s Will  A Genuine Concern for the Lost  A Strong Stand for the Truth  Paul took a strong stand for truth against the Judaizers in Galatia.

3 Galatians 6: As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

4 Galatians 6: But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

5 Galatians 4: Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.

6 Galatians 4: But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic.

7 Galatians 4: For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar-- 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children-- 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

8 Galatians 4: For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband." 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.

9 Galatians 4: But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

10 Three Marks of A Great Church  The Determination to Do God’s Will  A Genuine Concern for the Lost  A Strong Stand for the Truth  Paul took a strong stand for truth against the Judaizers in Galatia.  John took a strong stand for truth against the Gnostics – those who boasted of superior knowledge.

11 1 John 1:1-3 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--

12 1 John 1:1-3 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--

13 1 John 1:1-3 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

14 1 John 4:1-3 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

15 1 John 4:1-3 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

16 Three Marks of A Great Church  The Determination to Do God’s Will  A Genuine Concern for the Lost  A Strong Stand for the Truth  Paul took a strong stand for truth against the Judaizers in Galatia.  John took a strong stand for truth against the Gnostics – those who boasted of superior knowledge.  The church in Jerusalem took a strong stand for truth early in its history.

17 Acts 2: Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

18 Acts 2: Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

19 Acts 2: So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

20 Acts 5:14 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women

21 Acts 5: Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be.

22 Acts 5: So one came and told them, saying, "Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!"

23 Acts 5: Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.

24 Three Marks of A Great Church  The Determination to Do God’s Will  A Genuine Concern for the Lost  A Strong Stand for the Truth  Paul wrote to encourage Timothy to take a strong stand for the truth.

25 2 Timothy 1:8 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,

26 2 Timothy 2:3-4 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

27 Three Marks of A Great Church Do we, as a congregation, have these three characteristics? We all need to ask ourselves, periodically, "Am I contributing to the greatness of this congregation or am I keeping it from being great?"