9 Marks of a Healthy Church What is

9 Marks of a Healthy Church • What is God saying to you in this preaching series? • There is a challenge to the leadership! • What are WE going to do about it?

9 Marks of a Healthy Church • • • Expositional Preaching Biblical Theology The Gospel A Biblical understanding of conversion Evangelise

9 Marks of a Healthy Church A Biblical Understanding of Church Membership! #6

Hebrews 10: 19 -25

1. What is a church? • A body of people who profess and give evidence that they have been saved by God’s grace alone, for His glory alone, through faith alone. • A local collection of people committed to Jesus Christ, to gathering together on a regular basis, to hear God’s Word preached and obeyed. • A local, living and loving collection of people who are committed to Jesus and to one another.

2. Why join a church? • • Joining a church will not save us Can we live a Christian life alone? Does it include other people? The Christian life can only be fully realised in relationship to others.

2. Why join a church? • • • To assure ourselves To evangelise the world To expose false gospels To edify the church To glorify God!

3. What does church membership entail? • • A life of repentance and belief. It involves action. And commitment. Membership classes

3. What does church membership entail? • • • Actively attend worship services Belonging to a small group Committing to ministry Disciples Prayer, Care & Share

Biblical Church Membership • High expectations • More attractive • People will see the Gospel in us, Jesus will be lifted up and God will be glorified in and through us. • This commitment must be real or else it is dangerous. • Membership is the church’s corporate endorsement of a person’s salvation.

Biblical Church Membership • Joining a local church is an outward reflection of an inward love. • Link arms with other Christians. • Non-Christians will hear and see the Gospel. • Weak or new Christians will be cared for, • Strong Christians can channel their energies in a good way, • Church leaders will be encouraged and helped, • God will be glorified.

Biblical Church Membership • God’s church is God’s great tool for evangelism, discipleship, missions and more. • Through our love for one another, may God’s love for the world again become visible.