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The
Nine Marks Of
A
Healthy
Church
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What
is the purpose of the New Testament Church? The answer
is simple! God has intended to display through His
church the glory of His perfection and love. Imagine
what this would look like in our local congregations:
God’s name being exalted in song and sermon.
Christ’s sacrifice being displayed in lives of sinful,
but repentant people. Relationships held together by
love and service to their Lord and Saviour. Marriage and
families built for endurance, and countless other
benefits and blessings.
Isn't this what our human hearts should truly
desire?
God
in His goodness and love has not called us to be
Christians living to ourselves. Though we individually
sin, and are called out of the world individually, we
are also commanded to come together in a local
congregation to worship and serve our Lord Jesus Christ
and others. This assembly of believers is called in the
New Testament church, or the Body of Christ.
However,
today the doctrines of man permeate the grand majority
of many churches. Speakers on the circuit and numerous book
stores are flooded with volumes asserting the best
styles of worship, character building, philosophy,
seminars, ministry aids, educational programs, spiritual
encounters, styles of music, sound systems, visual
displays, building and parking lot designs, and an
unending list of methods for building a great church.
Who is right? How can we tell if our church is
really healthy and in compliance with the God of Holy
Scripture, and His eternal and unchangeable Word?
The
Apostle Paul stated to the Ephesians elders, “I have
not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all
the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you
overseers, to feed the
church
of
God
, which He hath purchased with His own blood.”
Acts 20:27-28. “For
the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears” 2 Tim. 4:3
.
Church
leaders do not need another innovative method or
engaging metaphor for growing their churches. They need
to embrace the Biblical Theology and priorities that God
Himself designed for cultivating a healthy and holy
local congregation. The Scriptures actually teach church
leaders how to build churches to display God’s glory.
How? God commands us to rely only on His Holy
Scriptures for all faith and practice! When the
Word is faithfully proclaimed, it is the work of the
Holy Spirit to convert the lives of the hearers; then
build them up in the faith, and to lead them to practice
holy living daily.
“So then neither is he that planteth any thing,
neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the
increase.” 1
Cor. 3:7. “But
grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for
ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18.
Therefore,
this series of messages on the “Nine Marks of a
Healthy
Church” has been developed for your edification, and
growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ. We believe that there is no better
evangelistic tool, mission’s strategy, or counseling
program than the image of God displayed through His
gathering of unperfected but transformed people.
As
we learn more about God’s Word, we will learn that, “we
are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God hath before ordained that we should
walk in them”. Eph 2:10. "Gather the
people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders,
gather the children” Joel 2:16.
Listen
to each of these great massages and learn what our Lord
wants each local congregation to believe and how to
practice their faith in sincerity and truth.
So take your Bible in hand and follow along as we
explore what the scriptures tells us. God still seeks
those to worship Him!
All the following sermons can
be
obtained on CD's
on request from:
TrinityReformedBaptist@cox.net
Hosting space prevents the linking
of all.
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Part
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Title/Subject
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Reference
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Chapter One: Expositional
Preaching |
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C01 |
Introduction
to the Series: Definition of “The Church”
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Eph.
3:20-21. - I Tim. 3:15
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C02 |
Expositional
Preaching - Why the need? - Part 1
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Nehemiah
8
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C03 |
Expositional
Preaching - The Authority of Scripture - Part 2
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C04 |
Expositional
Preaching - The Salvation of Sinners - Part 3
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Ezekiel
37:1-14
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C05 |
Expositional
Preaching - The Growth of Saints - Part 4
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I
Peter 2:2
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Chapter
Two: Biblical Theology |
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C06 |
Biblical
Theology - Part 1
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Jer.
23:21-23
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C07 |
Biblical
Theology - Part 2
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Jude
1:1-4
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C08 |
Biblical
Theology - Part 3
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Chapter
Three: A Biblical Understanding of the Good News |
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C09 |
The
Gospel - Biblical Introduction
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Rom.
1:16
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C10 |
The
Gospel - Biblical Introduction concluded
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I
Cor. 1:17-18
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C11 |
The
Gospel - The Truth Proclaimed To All
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I
Cor. 15:1-4
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C12 |
The
Gospel - Right View of God - Part 1
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Gal.
1:1-9
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C13 |
The
Gospel - Right View of God - Part 2
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Gal.
1:6-9
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C14 |
The
Gospel - Right View of God - Part 3
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II
Tim. 2:8-10
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C15 |
The
Gospel - Right View of Man - Part 1
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Gen.
1:26-31
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C16 |
The
Gospel - Right View of Man - Part 2
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Acts
20:24
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C17 |
The
Gospel - Christ was and is Fully Man - Part 1
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Mark
1:1-3
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C18 |
The
Gospel - Christ was and is Fully God - Part 2
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Mark
8:27-29
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C19 |
The
Gospel - Christ - The Suffering Servant of Jehovah -
Part 3
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I
Tim. 3:16
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C20 |
The
Gospel - Right Response - Repentance and Faith
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Luke
13:1-5
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C21 |
The
Gospel - Right Response - Fruits and Works Following
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Eph.
2:8-10
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Chapter
Four: A Biblical Understanding of Conversion |
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C22 |
Conversion
- Biblical Regeneration
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Psalm
19:7
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C23 |
Conversion
- Biblical Justification - Part 1
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Gal.
2:16
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C24 |
Conversion
- Biblical Justification - Part 2
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Rom
3:20-26
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C25 |
Conversion
- Biblical Sanctification - Part 1
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John
17:14-17
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C26 |
Conversion
- Biblical Sanctification - Part 2
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Gen.
2:3
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C27 |
Conversion
- Practical Sanctification - Part 1
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John
17; I Thes. 4
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C28 |
Conversion
- Practical Sanctification - Part 2
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John
17:15-19. - Roman 8:5-9
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C29 |
Conversion
- Practical Sanctification - Part 3
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Titus
2:11-15
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C30 |
Conversion
- Practical Sanctification - Part 4
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Titus
2:11-15
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C31 |
Conversion
- Practical Sanctification - Part 5
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Titus
2:11-15
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C32 |
Conversion
- Practical Sanctification - Part 6
[See Note below.]
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Titus
2:11-15
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(Note: For a continuation
of this series (C33--C77) in the "Nine Marks of a Healthy Church"
please see our Sermons entitled "The Christian's Job
Description" which gives an expanded explanation of
conversion and what it entails.) |
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C78 |
Cumulative Review--1 |
II Peter 1:12-21 |
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C79 |
Cumulative Review--2 |
Jer. 23:1-4 |
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Chapter Five: A Biblical
Understanding of Evangelism |
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C80 |
Evangelism--Who Should Do It?--1 |
Acts 8:1-4 |
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C81 |
Evangelism--Who Should Do It?--2 |
Isa. 40:1-8 |
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C82 |
Evangelism--How Do We Do It?--1
Honestly |
I Cor. 2:1-5 |
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C83 |
Evangelism--How Do We Do It?--2
Accurately |
II Cor. 2:14-17 |
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C84 |
Evangelism--How Do We Do It?--3
Urgently |
Job 15:14-16 |
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C85 |
Evangelism--How Do We Do It?--4
Joyfully |
Phil. 3:1-11 |
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C86 |
Evangelism--How Do We Do It?--5
Scripturally |
Romans 10:11-17 |
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C87 |
Evangelism--How Do We Do It?--6
Consistent Living |
Col. 3:1-14 |
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C88 |
Evangelism--How Do We Do It?--7
Prayerfully |
Col. 4:2-6 |
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C89 |
Evangelism--What It's Not |
Rev. 14:6-7 |
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C90 |
Evangelism--What It IS |
Luke 2:8-20; Rom. 1:15 |
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C91 |
Why We Should Evangelize--1
Universal Call |
Is. 55:1-7 |
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C92 |
Why We Should Evangelize--2 Our
Commander and Leader |
Is. 55:1-7 |
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C93 |
Why We Should Evangelize--3
Inclusion of the Gentiles |
Is. 55:1-7 |
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C94 |
Why We Should Evangelize--4 Seek
Ye the Lord |
Is. 60:1-7 |
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C95 |
Why We Should Evangelize--5 God
Commands It & Sinners Need It |
I Cor. 1:17-21; Acts 26:16-18 |
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C96 |
Why We Should Evangelize--6
Because of Man's Awful State--1 |
Rev. 22:10-17 |
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C97 |
Why We Should Evangelize--7
Because of Man's Awful State--2 |
Eph. 2:2-3; 4:17-20 |
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C98 |
Why We Should Evangelize--8
Because of Man's Awful State--3 |
Is. 1:1-8 |
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C99 |
Why We Should Evangelize--9
Conclusion |
Gen. 6:5 & 8:21 |
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Chapter Six: A Biblical
Understanding of Church Membership |
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C100 |
A Call to Worship--1 |
II Chron. 29:34--30:5 |
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C101 |
A Call to Worship--2 |
John 4:19-26 |
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C102 |
A Call to Worship--3 |
John 4:19-26 |
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C103 |
Preparation for Worship--1 |
Ex. 19:7-13 |
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C104 |
Preparation for Worship--2 |
II Kings 4:1-7 |
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C105 |
What is the Church--1 Introduction |
Matt. 16:13-20 |
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C106 |
What is the Church--2 Three Terms
Explained |
Acts 28:20-31 |
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C107 |
What is the Church--3 Different
Concepts |
Eph. 3:13-21 |
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C108 |
What is the Church--4 A Biblical
Definition |
Matt. 16:18 |
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C109 |
The Nature of the Church--1 A
Divine Body |
I Timothy 3:14-15 |
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C110 |
The Nature of the Church--2 A
Spiritual Body |
Eph. 2:11-22 |
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C111 |
The Nature of the Church--3 A
Spirit-Empowered Body |
Zech. 4:1-10 |
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C112 |
The Nature of the Church--4 A
Spirit-Guided Body |
Ex. 13:20-22 |
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C113 |
The Nature of the Church--5 A
Mission-Minded Body |
Rom 15:14-26 |
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C114 |
The Nature of the Church--6 An
Authoritative Body (Binding and Losing) |
Matt. 16:16-20 |
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C115 |
The Nature of the Church--7 A
Judicial Body--1 |
I Cor. 6:1-8 |
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C116 |
The Nature of the Church--8 A
Judicial Body--2 |
Gal. 5:22--6:2 |
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C117 |
The Nature of the Church--9 A
Judicial Body--3 |
Phil. 4:1-3 |
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C118 |
The Nature of the Church--10 A
Judicial Body--4 |
Rom. 15:1-3 |
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C119 |
The Nature of the Church--11 A
Democratic Body--1 |
Matt. 20:20-28 |
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C120 |
The Nature of the Church--12 A
Democratic Body--2 |
Matt. 20:20-28 |
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C121 |
The Nature of the Church--13 A
Democratic Body--3 |
Acts 13:1-4 |
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C122 |
The Nature of the Church--14 A
Missionary-minded Body--1 |
Rom. 15:14-26 |
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C123 |
The Nature of the Church--15 A
Missionary-minded Body--2 |
Phil. 4:15-19 |
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C124 |
The Nature of the Church--16 A
Militant Body |
Matt. 10:16-40 |
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C125 |
The Nature of the Church--17 A
Stewardship--1 |
Luke 19:11-27 |
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C126 |
The Nature of the Church--18 A
Stewardship--2 |
Luke 19:11-27 |
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C127 |
A Regenerate Membership |
Acts 14:21-23 |
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C128 |
The Role of Baptism--1 |
Acts 8:34-40 |
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C129 |
The Role of Baptism--2 |
Rom. 6:1-6 |
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C130 |
The Role of Baptism--3 |
Acts 2:37-42 |
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