DISTINCTIONS OF THE HEALTHY CHURCH

We believe that the church serves as God's primary instrument of redemption in the world and has the leading role in its global history.

As we partner with the sending church to plant a church, it is critical to understand what healthy characteristics we are discipling people toward so that we can see the task completed in each people group.

Authority of Scripture

A healthy New Testament church understands the centrality of Scripture in the life of the church community. The church recognizes that all Scripture is the very Word of God and is the sole authority for its life and government. In light of Scripture, the church understands and proclaims the gospel message of grace by faith in Jesus Christ, and protects that gospel message from all heresies. Because a healthy church regards the Bible as the supreme and controlling authority over all it believes and does, it also holds to the inspiration, inerrancy, authority, sufficiency, and clarity of Scripture, interpreting each text of the Bible according to the grammatical and historical context of the text.

(Joshua 1:8, Isaiah 40:8, Ephesians 6:10-17, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21)

Preaching and Teaching

Bible preaching and teaching are central to the church's weekly meetings and worship. Bible preaching and teaching consist of the exposition and application of Scripture to the Christian life. In this way, the entire life of a healthy church is saturated with faithful Bible teaching by godly pastors of the church.

(Romans 10:14-15, Romans 15:15-16, 1 Tim 4:13, 2 Tim 4:2,)

Biblical Conversion

The call to salvation in Jesus Christ is made through the clear proclamation of the gospel of faith and repentance in the Word of God, in the power of the Spirit of God. Along with the call to salvation in Christ is a call to freedom, obedience, holiness, and suffering in Christ. The believer's union with Christ in salvation forms the unshakable foundation of a disciple's primary identity, now and forever.

(John 3:3, Romans 12:1-2, Ephesians 2:4-5, Ephesians 4:22-24, 1 Corinthians 6:20)

Biblically Qualified Elders and Deacons

The New Testament uses the terms pastor, elder, and overseer interchangeably, all referring to those who shepherd the flock of God's people in a local church community. Biblically, elders are a group of men who lead the church in plurality for the purpose of preaching, praying, equipping, and directing the work of the church. They must be men who meet the biblical qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 as mature and faithful disciples of Christ, able to teach, holding firmly to sound doctrine. Biblical deacons are those who faithfully support the work of the elders by serving the church by facilitating and coordinating ministry on behalf of the elders. Deacons must meet the qualifications Paul defines in Acts 6:1-6 and 1 Timothy 3:8-13.

(Ephesians 4:11-12, Phil 2:3-16, 1 Tim 3:1-7, 2 Tim 4:3-4, Titus 1:5-9, Heb 13:17, 1 Peter 5:1-5)

Discipleship

Healthy church members intentionally invest spiritually in the lives of others so that all may grow to maturity in Christ. This discipleship produces transformed lives and the renewing of minds into Christlikeness as believers become living sacrifices as individuals and as a church body to propagate God's character and purposes here on earth.

(Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 6:40, John 13:34, Acts 2:42, Romans 12:1-2, Romans 12:10, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Ephesians 4:32, Philippians 2:3, 2 Timothy 2:2, 1 Peter 4:9)

Corporate Worship and Prayer

Biblically healthy churches gather weekly to offer worship to the triune God because He is worthy of praise and worship. A healthy church is engaged in singing, praying, reading, preaching, and viewing the Word together regularly. Viewing the Word together involves observance of the ordinances of the Lord's Supper and baptism by immersion. During corporate worship, believers gather together so that “the word of Christ may dwell among them richly as they receive teaching and admonish one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in their hearts to God.”

(Acts 2:42, Romans 12:12, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, Colossians 3:14-17, 1 Timothy 2:8)

Evangelism

A healthy church is committed to making the gospel message known to those around it. Members are willing and able to give a reason for the hope they have in Christ in a kind and gentle way. The community of believers recognizes that they are a group called to be ambassadors for Christ and, driven by the love of Christ, they carry the message of hope to those around them.

(Matthew 9:37-38, Romans 1:16, 2 Cor 5:20, 2 Tim 4:5, 1 Peter 3:15-16)

Community

A healthy New Testament church is a community of fellowship. Its members share their lives sacrificially for mutual edification. They open their homes to one another and show hospitality. Within the community context, Spirit-led members make decisions that do not cause division by gossiping or slandering others, but rather agree with one another in the Lord and are united in mind and thought. In this way, they enjoy the Lord's favor and are a witness to unbelievers, marked by the love of Christ and humbly functioning together as one body under Christ as Head for the glory of God.

(Acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:32-34, Romans 12:9-18, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Philippians 2:3-5, 1 Peter 4:8-11)

Church Politics and Membership

Church members hold one another accountable for their corporate obedience to God's Word, and church leaders watch over and equip the flock entrusted to them. Leaders employ appropriate processes to get to know those under their care, actively implementing both formative and corrective church discipline according to the instructions given in Scripture, always praying and working for the restoration of a brother or sister who has committed an offense.

(Matthew 18:15-20; Acts 2:38-42; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 4:1-6; Colossians 2:12; Hebrews 10:24-25)

Commitment to the Great Commission

A healthy New Testament church is concerned with fulfilling the Great Commission and reaching out to those who have not yet come to faith in Jesus Christ, declaring the gospel and making disciples of all nations in the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:46-48, John 20:21-23, Acts 1:8, Revelation 5:9, Revelation 7:9).

Source: Global Serve International