Author: James Poitras Global Center for Christian Development Developing Christians Everywhere!

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development The church is a living organism. The church is a living body established in Acts 2. The term “Pentecostal” is not just another denomination, it is a way of life!

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development Church The Word church comes from the Greek word, “ecclesia’. “Ecclesia” means “called out ones.” The Church is People!

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development Only God can cause the church to grow. Every living thing is designed to grow. Growth is a normal result of life. If living things do not grow, they are not healthy.

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development Emphasis must be on the salvation experience. The Lord wants spiritual babies. This happens when the church puts emphasis on the salvation of souls. In order for there to be growth there must be the planting of the seed. AActs 2:37-38 AActs 20:20-21

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Global Center for Christian Development Acts 2:37-38

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development Commitment to the Word of God as the final authority in doctrine and life. AActs 2:42 AActs 6:4 AActs 15:13-16

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” Act 6:4 Global Center for Christian Development

When the word of God is preached the natural response is growth. Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development “and the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:7

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development Regular study and reading of God’s Word. If a child wants to grow he/she must eat. We too must eat the Bread of Life which is the Word of God (which is Jesus Christ Himself- “I am that bread of life.” John 6:48). We must regularly study in order to grow. AActs 2:42 22 Timothy 2:15 22 Timothy 3:16-17

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a work-man that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development

Effective spiritual leadership. Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” AActs 4:13

Practical Holiness. Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development 11 Thessalonians 2:12-13 11 Thessalonians 4:7-8 11 Timothy 2:8-10 “And the Lord make you to increase and aboundin love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” 1 Thessalonians 2:12-13

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development Mobilized membership for evangelism. Growth requires movement! Once we have digested the Word of God into our hearts and minds, then we need to exercise the Kingdom Power! AActs 1:8 AActs 8:4 AActs 11:19-21

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Acts 8:4

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development Fellowship, love, unity, and sharing among members. AActs 2:42-45 AActs 4:34-35

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.” Acts 4:34-35

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development Prayer. In Acts 12, Peter was in prison and the church prayed. A praying church is a powerful church. AActs 2:42 AActs 4:24 AActs 4:31 AActs 12:5-11

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:31

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:31-33

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development Infilling of the Holy Spirit, power for service. AActs 4:31-33

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development Endurance in persecution. AActs 4:27-31, 41, 42 AActs 14:21-23 JJames 1:12 22 Timothy 2:3 MMatthew 24:13

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12

Lesson 9- Signs of a Healthy Church Global Center for Christian Development Everything that grows changes. A growing church goes through changes. As a leader we must identify these changes and grow with them.

1. Locate the Scripture that says, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.” James 1:12

2. What is meant by “ecclesia?” “Called out ones”

3. What is the natural response when the Word of God is preached and obeyed? Growth

4. In order to produce spiritual babies our emphasis in the church must be on what? The Salvation of Souls

5. The term “Pentecostal” does not only refer to a denomination but what? A way of life; an experience

6. A praying church is a ________church. powerful

7. List the “Signs of a Healthy Church.” 1.Emphasis must be on the salvation experience. 2.Commitment to the Word of God as the final authority in doctrine and life. 3.Regular study and reading of God’s Word. 4.Effective spiritual leadership. 5.Practical Holiness. 6.Mobilized membership for evangelism. 7.Fellowship, love, unity, and sharing among members. 8.Prayer. 9.Infilling of the Holy Spirit, and power for service. 10.Endurance in persecution.