2. God’s Desire is for Each Local Congregation to be Strong
Acts 15:32 - Church at Antioch
Acts 16:5 - Churches of Iconium, Lystra, etc.
Eph. 3:16 - Church at Ephesus
Col. 1:11 - Church at Colosse
If these seven churches (four in Acts 16) were to be strong then all churches were to be strong.
If God wanted these to be strong - then he wants the church here to be strong.
Since the Bible speaks of churches being strong -- that implies that it is possible for a church to be weak.

3. God’s Desire is for Each Local Congregation to be Strong
If these seven churches (four in Acts 16) were to be strong then all churches were to be strong
If God wanted these to be strong - then he wants the church here to be strong
Since the Bible speaks of churches being strong -- that implies that it is possible for a church to be weak
If these seven churches (four in Acts 16) were to be strong then all churches were to be strong.
If God wanted these to be strong - then he wants the church here to be strong.
Since the Bible speaks of churches being strong -- that implies that it is possible for a church to be weak.

4. Churches Weak Strong Doctrine Leadership Separation From World
Varying Degrees
Doctrine
Leadership
Separation
From World

5. ? ? Questions That Must Be Answered What is a strong church?
Why is a strong church so important?
What difference does it make where I attend? ?

6. Clarifying What We Are Discussing
Are Not
Talking About
Denominations
Liberal /
Institutional
Churches of Christ
Are
Talking About
Non-Institutional
Churches of Christ

7. I. The Need for a Strong Church

8. The Need Concerns Pleasing God / “of Christ”
Purpose of the church - give glory to God (Eph. 3:21)
When a church is complete - well pleasing (Heb. 13:21)
Of God & of Christ = belongs to him (1 Cor. 1:2; Rom. 16:16)
Shows possession
Following God / Christ
The Need
A. Concerns pleasing God / “of Christ”
1. Purpose of the church - give glory to God (Eph. 3:21)
2. When a church is complete - well pleasing (Heb. 13:21)
3. Of God & of Christ = belongs to him (1 Cor. 1:2; Rom. 16:16)
a. Shows possession
b. Following God / Christ
B. Effects individual Strength / Weakness
1. Weakness at Corinth caused brother to continue in sin & effect other (1 Cor. 5:1-6)
2. Paul warned = weakness in doctrine leads astray (Acts 20)
3. How affects us:
a. Preaching says little - faith weaker
b. See what others in congregation do & think okay
c. Grow up never hearing anything about denom/ issues/ D&R/ worldliness
d. Emphasis on social, etc.
4. Stay with one of these churches for a while, just short time - weaker

9. The Need Concerns Pleasing God / “of Christ”
Effects Individual Strength / Weakness
Weakness at Corinth caused brother to continue in sin & effect others (1 Cor. 5:1-6)
Paul warned weakness in doctrine leads astray (Acts 20:29-30)
How affects us:
Preaching says little - faith weaker in time
See what others in congregation do & think it is okay (cf. 1 Cor. 5:6)
Grow up never hearing anything about denom. / issues / D&R / worldliness
Emphasis on social, etc.
Stay with one of these churches for a while, just short time - weaker
The Need
A. Concerns pleasing God / “of Christ”
1. Purpose of the church - give glory to God (Eph. 3:21)
2. When a church is complete - well pleasing (Heb. 13:21)
3. Of God & of Christ = belongs to him (1 Cor. 1:2; Rom. 16:16)
a. Shows possession
b. Following God / Christ
B. Effects individual Strength / Weakness
1. Weakness at Corinth caused brother to continue in sin & effect other (1 Cor. 5:1-6)
2. Paul warned = weakness in doctrine leads astray (Acts 20)
3. How affects us:
a. Preaching says little - faith weaker
b. See what others in congregation do & think okay
c. Grow up never hearing anything about denom/ issues/ D&R/ worldliness
d. Emphasis on social, etc.
4. Stay with one of these churches for a while, just short time - weaker

10. The Need Concerns Pleasing God / “of Christ”
Effects Individual Strength / Weakness
Weak Churches – Breeding Ground for Error
Acts 20:30 - Paul warned about it
Lack of knowledge – makes it easy to lead astray (2 Pet. 3:16-17_
Knowledge strengthens and prevents apostasy (2 Pet. 3:18)
Elders watch and refute error (Titus 1:9)
Tolerant Spirit - error will spread
The Need
A. Concerns pleasing God / “of Christ”
1. Purpose of the church - give glory to God (Eph. 3:21)
2. When a church is complete - well pleasing (Heb. 13:21)
3. Of God & of Christ = belongs to him (1 Cor. 1:2; Rom. 16:16)
a. Shows possession
b. Following God / Christ
B. Effects individual Strength / Weakness
1. Weakness at Corinth caused brother to continue in sin & effect other (1 Cor. 5:1-6)
2. Paul warned = weakness in doctrine leads astray (Acts 20)
3. How affects us:
a. Preaching says little - faith weaker
b. See what others in congregation do & think okay
c. Grow up never hearing anything about denom/ issues/ D&R/ worldliness
d. Emphasis on social, etc.
4. Stay with one of these churches for a while, just short time - weaker

11. The Need Concerns Pleasing God / “of Christ”
Effects Individual Strength / Weakness
Weak Churches – Breeding Ground for Error
Weak Churches – Fertile Soil for Worldliness
Strength - separate from world (2 Cor. 6:14, 17)
Soft on worldliness - more of it (1 Cor. 5:6)
Going to have more - prom, immodestly, unfit movies, drinking, etc.
The Need
A. Concerns pleasing God / “of Christ”
1. Purpose of the church - give glory to God (Eph. 3:21)
2. When a church is complete - well pleasing (Heb. 13:21)
3. Of God & of Christ = belongs to him (1 Cor. 1:2; Rom. 16:16)
a. Shows possession
b. Following God / Christ
B. Effects individual Strength / Weakness
1. Weakness at Corinth caused brother to continue in sin & effect other (1 Cor. 5:1-6)
2. Paul warned = weakness in doctrine leads astray (Acts 20)
3. How affects us:
a. Preaching says little - faith weaker
b. See what others in congregation do & think okay
c. Grow up never hearing anything about denom/ issues/ D&R/ worldliness
d. Emphasis on social, etc.
4. Stay with one of these churches for a while, just short time - weaker

12. The Need Concerns Pleasing God / “of Christ”
Effects Individual Strength / Weakness
Weak Churches – Breeding Ground for Error
Weak Churches – Fertile Soil for Worldliness
Weak Churches are “Problems” Waiting To Happen
The Need
A. Concerns pleasing God / “of Christ”
1. Purpose of the church - give glory to God (Eph. 3:21)
2. When a church is complete - well pleasing (Heb. 13:21)
3. Of God & of Christ = belongs to him (1 Cor. 1:2; Rom. 16:16)
a. Shows possession
b. Following God / Christ
B. Effects individual Strength / Weakness
1. Weakness at Corinth caused brother to continue in sin & effect other (1 Cor. 5:1-6)
2. Paul warned = weakness in doctrine leads astray (Acts 20)
3. How affects us:
a. Preaching says little - faith weaker
b. See what others in congregation do & think okay
c. Grow up never hearing anything about denom/ issues/ D&R/ worldliness
d. Emphasis on social, etc.
4. Stay with one of these churches for a while, just short time - weaker

13. “Problems” Corinth was (1 Cor. 5) going further than they wanted
Creates soft setting / tolerance by softer preaching, lack of discipline & weak leadership
End result: problems don’t want:
Made up of weaker members - accept anyone
Uprising when strong preaching is done
Teaching will be done - don’t want (even shocking)
Sin see that can’t do much about

14. I. The Need for a Strong Church II. The Marks of a Strong Church

15. The Marks Distinctive Preaching Preach word & all of it
1 Pet. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:2; Tit. 2:8
Acts 20:27
Address the needs as 1 Corinthians does
Soft preaching - hard to identify:
Not what one says that makes him soft
It is what he is NOT saying
Kind of preaching a church has (tolerates) says a lot about elders & members
The Marks
A. Distinctive Preaching
1. Preach word & all of it
a. 1 Pet. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:2; Tit. 2:8
b. Acts 20:27
2. Address the needs as 1 Cor. Letter does
3. Soft preaching - hard to identify - not what one says that makes him soft, it is what he is NOT saying.
4. Kind of preaching a church has says a lot about elders & members.
B. Strong Leadership (Elders)
1. Tit. 1:5-9, 13 - Guarding sound faith
2. Heb. 13:17 - Watch for souls
3. Acts 20 - See dangers coming
4. Eph. 4:11 - Pastors for the maturing of the church
5. Strong: Demand truth be preached
Stand behind the truth preached
Acts upon it
Leaders - not stick finger to wind.
C. Faithful, Committed & Godly members
1. Tell a lot about a church by look at its members - those “somewhat”
2. Those regarded as members & used:
a. Faithful (Rev. 2:10); b. Dedicated (Rom. 12:1-3) c. Godly (1 Tim. 2:10) d. Family relationship (Eph. 5-6)

16. The Marks Distinctive Preaching Strong Leadership / Elders
Tit. 1:5-9, 13 - Guarding sound faith
Heb. 13:17 - Watch for souls
Acts 20 - See dangers coming
Eph. 4:11 - Pastors for the maturing of the church
Strong: Demand truth be taught & followed
Stand behind the truth preached
Act upon it
Leaders - not stick finger to wind.
The Marks
A. Distinctive Preaching
1. Preach word & all of it
a. 1 Pet. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:2; Tit. 2:8
b. Acts 20:27
2. Address the needs as 1 Cor. Letter does
3. Soft preaching - hard to identify - not what one says that makes him soft, it is what he is NOT saying.
4. Kind of preaching a church has says a lot about elders & members.
B. Strong Leadership (Elders)
1. Tit. 1:5-9, 13 - Guarding sound faith
2. Heb. 13:17 - Watch for souls
3. Acts 20 - See dangers coming
4. Eph. 4:11 - Pastors for the maturing of the church
5. Strong: Demand truth be preached
Stand behind the truth preached
Acts upon it
Leaders - not stick finger to wind.
C. Faithful, Committed & Godly members
1. Tell a lot about a church by look at its members - those “somewhat”
2. Those regarded as members & used:
a. Faithful (Rev. 2:10); b. Dedicated (Rom. 12:1-3) c. Godly (1 Tim. 2:10) d. Family relationship (Eph. 5-6)

17. The Marks Distinctive Preaching Strong Leadership / Elders
Faithful, Committed & Godly Members
Tell a lot about a church by looking at its members - those “somewhat”
Those regarded as members & used:
Faithful (Rev. 2:10)
Dedicated (Rom. 12:1-3)
Godly (1 Tim. 2:10)
Family relationship (Eph. 5-6)
The Marks
A. Distinctive Preaching
1. Preach word & all of it
a. 1 Pet. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:2; Tit. 2:8
b. Acts 20:27
2. Address the needs as 1 Cor. Letter does
3. Soft preaching - hard to identify - not what one says that makes him soft, it is what he is NOT saying.
4. Kind of preaching a church has says a lot about elders & members.
B. Strong Leadership (Elders)
1. Tit. 1:5-9, 13 - Guarding sound faith
2. Heb. 13:17 - Watch for souls
3. Acts 20 - See dangers coming
4. Eph. 4:11 - Pastors for the maturing of the church
5. Strong: Demand truth be preached
Stand behind the truth preached
Acts upon it
Leaders - not stick finger to wind.
C. Faithful, Committed & Godly members
1. Tell a lot about a church by look at its members - those “somewhat”
2. Those regarded as members & used:
a. Faithful (Rev. 2:10); b. Dedicated (Rom. 12:1-3) c. Godly (1 Tim. 2:10) d. Family relationship (Eph. 5-6)

18. The Marks Distinctive Preaching Strong Leadership / Elders
Faithful, Committed & Godly Members
Discipline is Practiced
Corinthian Problem (1 Cor. 5:1-13)
Thessalonian Problem (2 Thess. 3:6-15; 1 Thess. 5:17)
When not - asking for problems (1 Cor. 5:6).
The Marks
A. Distinctive Preaching
1. Preach word & all of it
a. 1 Pet. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:2; Tit. 2:8
b. Acts 20:27
2. Address the needs as 1 Cor. Letter does
3. Soft preaching - hard to identify - not what one says that makes him soft, it is what he is NOT saying.
4. Kind of preaching a church has says a lot about elders & members.
B. Strong Leadership (Elders)
1. Tit. 1:5-9, 13 - Guarding sound faith
2. Heb. 13:17 - Watch for souls
3. Acts 20 - See dangers coming
4. Eph. 4:11 - Pastors for the maturing of the church
5. Strong: Demand truth be preached
Stand behind the truth preached
Acts upon it
Leaders - not stick finger to wind.
C. Faithful, Committed & Godly members
1. Tell a lot about a church by look at its members - those “somewhat”
2. Those regarded as members & used:
a. Faithful (Rev. 2:10); b. Dedicated (Rom. 12:1-3) c. Godly (1 Tim. 2:10) d. Family relationship (Eph. 5-6)

19. The Marks Distinctive Preaching Strong Leadership / Elders
Faithful, Committed & Godly Members
Discipline is Practiced
Stand Against Sin & Worldliness
Stand: position on it & deal with it
Worldliness:
Modesty (1 Tim. 2:9-10)
Dance - prom (Gal. 5 - lasciviousness)
Social drink (1 Pet. 4:3)
The Marks
A. Distinctive Preaching
1. Preach word & all of it
a. 1 Pet. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:2; Tit. 2:8
b. Acts 20:27
2. Address the needs as 1 Cor. Letter does
3. Soft preaching - hard to identify - not what one says that makes him soft, it is what he is NOT saying.
4. Kind of preaching a church has says a lot about elders & members.
B. Strong Leadership (Elders)
1. Tit. 1:5-9, 13 - Guarding sound faith
2. Heb. 13:17 - Watch for souls
3. Acts 20 - See dangers coming
4. Eph. 4:11 - Pastors for the maturing of the church
5. Strong: Demand truth be preached
Stand behind the truth preached
Acts upon it
Leaders - not stick finger to wind.
C. Faithful, Committed & Godly members
1. Tell a lot about a church by look at its members - those “somewhat”
2. Those regarded as members & used:
a. Faithful (Rev. 2:10); b. Dedicated (Rom. 12:1-3) c. Godly (1 Tim. 2:10) d. Family relationship (Eph. 5-6)

20. The Marks Distinctive Preaching Strong Leadership / Elders
Faithful, Committed & Godly Members
Discipline is Practiced
Stand Against Sin & Worldliness
Stand on Current Issues
Imagine - church at Antioch, Colosse, Corinth using men taught error on Circumcision or soft on dealing with teachers of error
Today brethren use preachers / see no danger
More bothered by those who don’t know or don’t care
The Marks
A. Distinctive Preaching
1. Preach word & all of it
a. 1 Pet. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:2; Tit. 2:8
b. Acts 20:27
2. Address the needs as 1 Cor. Letter does
3. Soft preaching - hard to identify - not what one says that makes him soft, it is what he is NOT saying.
4. Kind of preaching a church has says a lot about elders & members.
B. Strong Leadership (Elders)
1. Tit. 1:5-9, 13 - Guarding sound faith
2. Heb. 13:17 - Watch for souls
3. Acts 20 - See dangers coming
4. Eph. 4:11 - Pastors for the maturing of the church
5. Strong: Demand truth be preached
Stand behind the truth preached
Acts upon it
Leaders - not stick finger to wind.
C. Faithful, Committed & Godly members
1. Tell a lot about a church by look at its members - those “somewhat”
2. Those regarded as members & used:
a. Faithful (Rev. 2:10); b. Dedicated (Rom. 12:1-3) c. Godly (1 Tim. 2:10) d. Family relationship (Eph. 5-6)

21. A Strong Church I. The Need for a Strong Church
II. The Marks of a Strong Church
III. Looking for a Strong Church

22. Looking For... Close (location) People there you know or like
Wrong Approach
Close (location)
People there you know or like
People are friendly
Wise Approach
Looking For...
Is this a strong church?
Do they deal with sin and error?
Do they practice discipline?
Do they accept anyone - w/o Q?
Will I be weaker or stronger?

23. A Strong Church I. The Need for a Strong Church
II. The Marks of a Strong Church
III. Looking for a Strong Church