This document discusses what defines a successful church according to scripture. It examines churches mentioned in Revelation chapters 2-3. The church of Ephesus is praised for its works, patience, and rejection of evil but rebuked for abandoning its first love. The church of Pergamos is commended for clinging to Christ's name and not denying their faith despite living in Satan's throne, but is criticized for tolerating those with the doctrine of Balaam and Nicolaitans. The church of Thyatira receives praise for growing in love but is condemned for tolerating the false prophetess Jezebel.
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What is a successful church complete series
1. What Is A Successful Church?
A Study Of Local N.T. Churches and
modern application
2. What Is A Successful
Church?
●SUCCESS'FUL, a. Terminating in
accomplishing what is wished or
intended; having the desired effect;
hence, in a good sense, prosperous;
fortunate; happy; as a successful
application of medicine; a successful
experiment in chemistry or in
agriculture; a successful enterprise.
● The English word ‘Success’
appears only ONCE in the KJV but
The Hebrew word that it comes from
Is used 63 times
● What Is A Successful Church?
3. What Is A Successful
Church?
●SUCCESS'FUL, a. Terminating in
accomplishing what is wished or
intended; having the desired effect;
hence, in a good sense, prosperous;
fortunate; happy; as a successful
application of medicine; a successful
experiment in chimistry or in
agriculture; a successful enterprise.
● The English word ‘Success’
appears only ONCE in the KJV but
The Hebrew word that it comes from
Is used 63 times
● What Is A Successful Church?
4. What Identifies A
Church?
● Built upon the truth of the Lordship of
Christ – Matt 16:13-18, I Cor 12:3
● Baptized Believers called out from the
world to be likeminded in matters of
- Faith (truth)
- Fellowship
- Fidelity (practice)
- Furtherance of the Gospel
Acts 2:41-47
● Ballast and Bedrock of Truth
- The Church is to uphold the truth
- The Church is to further the truth
- The Church is to protect the truth
II Tim 4:2-5, Phil 2:16, I Tim 3:15,
5. What Are Some
Indicators Of A
Successful Church?
● A Successful Church is on The Offensive
Matt 16:18 (assaulting)
● A Successful Church Is Prevailing
(making a difference, agitating) Matt
16:18
● A Successful Church Is Obedient To The
Word
- In dealing with personal conduct
- In dealing with personal convictions
- In dealing with personal consecration
Matt 18:15-18, 2 Thess 3, Matt 5:14-16,
1 Peter 1:15-16, Romans 12:1-2, Heb
12:1-3, Gal 5:22-23
● A Successful Church Offers Itself First
And Then Gives Towards The Furtherance
Of The Gospel
2 Cor 8, Acts 4:32-37
6. Indicators Of A Successful
Church
● A Successful Church Offers Sacrifices of
- Prayer – Rev 8:3
- Praise – Heb 13:15
- Person (themselves) Rom 10:14-15, 2
Cor 8:1-5, Isaiah 6
- Pecuniary – Phil 4:18-19, 2 Cor 9:7
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7. Indicators Of A Successful
Church
○ A successful church observes the Lord’s
Commands
- Keep my commandments – I John 2:3,
3:22, 5:2-3
These commands are NOT grievous
- Walk in the Spirit – I John 3:24, 4:1-
6,13, Ez 36:27, Rom 8:1-4, 14, Gal 5:
16,22-23,
-Care for the sick and feebleminded- I
Thess 5:8-12
- Love one another – John 13:34-
35, 15:12,17, Rom 12:10,18:8, Gal
5:13, Eph 4:2, I Thess 3:12, I Tim
4:9, Heb 10:24, I Peter 1:22, 3:8, I
John 3:11,223, 4:7,11,12, 2Jn 5.
- Cares for widows and fatherless
James 1:26-27
- Cares for the lost/unsaved – 2 Cor
5:14, Luke 19:10, Rom 1:14-16
- Cares for one another’s needs
James 2:14-16, I John 3:17, Gal 6:2, Matt
7
8. Instructions For A Successful
Church (III.)
I Timothy 4:6-16
A. Hold Fast to Sound Doctrine
B. Nourishment On The Word Of God
C. Abstain From Myths and Generational
Slants of Truth I Tim 1:4, 4:7, 2 Tim 4:4,
Titus 1:14, 2 Pet 1:16
- Unproven stories
- False application due to faulty
understanding/interpretation
- Trying to incorporate Christianity with
Mythology (zeus, medusa, etc)
- Superstitions
- Modern myths/slants which cause us to
err
D. Discipline self to Godliness
E. Labor and Suffer Reproach (suffer- allow)
Heb 13:13, 11:26, Luke 6:22 (reproach) I Cor
15:58, Gal 6:7-9 (labor)
(cont)
9. WHAT IS A
SUCCESSFUL
CHURCH?
Part 4:
Instructions For A Successful Church
I Tim 4:10-end
10. Instructions For A Successful
Church
Follow The Leader – I Timothy 4:10-end
Followship Isn’t BLIND
Followship Isn’t Being Weak Minded
Followship Isn’t Boring
11. Instructions For A Successful
Church: Follow
“He who thinketh he leadeth and hath no
one following him is only taking a walk.”
“The first order of things to be changed is
me, the leader. After I consider how hard
it is to change myself, then I will
understand the challenge of trying to
change others. This is the ultimate test of
leadership.” [John Maxwell]
Leaders have two characteristics: first
they are going somewhere, and second
they are able to persuade other people to
go with them. [John Maxwell]
“If A Shepherd cannot get sheep to follow
is it a reflection of him not being a leader
or the goats not being sheep?” - Delello
12. Instructions For A Successful
Church: Follow
Is Your Pastor “worth
following?”
Does he give you reason to
despise him?
How Is his example in WORD (Doctrine)
How is his example in Conversation
(Behavior)
How is his example in Charity
(affection, benevolence, hospitality)
How is his example in spirit (mental and
emotional disposition, principle)
How is his example in faith (truth of God
put to moral character and practice)
13. Instructions For A Successful
Church: Follow
How is his example in purity
(chaste, cleanliness,)
How is his example in humility?
How is his example in study?
How is his example in authority?
How is his example in Prayer and
Meditation?
How is his example in obedience to the
Word?
How is his example in Obedience to the
Spirit?
How is his example towards those
without (Reputation from community?)
14. 1Co 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
Instructions For A Successful 1Co 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Php 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which
Church: Follow walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Ways to Follow the
Pastor
In Word (doctrine)
In Conversation (behavior)
Charity (affection, benevolence)
Spirit (principle, mental and emotional
disposition)
Faith (conduct and moral character)
Purity (chaste, cleanliness)
Reputation
Study
Authority in Scripture
Prayer and Meditation
Obedience to the Word
Obedience to the Spirit
Hospitality
Humility
Valor
Purity
Integrity
15. Jer 50:6
Instructions For A My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds
Successful Church: have caused them to go astray, they have turned
Follow them away on the mountains: they have gone
from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their
Ways to Follow the restingplace.
Pastor
Authority in Scripture
Prayer and Meditation
Obedience to the Word
Obedience to the Spirit
Hospitality
Humility
Valor
Purity
Integrity
16. WHAT IS A SUCCESSFUL CHURCH
SERIES: PART 5
INSTRUCTIONS AND INDICTMENTS BY
THE HOLY SPIRIT
REVELATION 2-3
32. Adultery?!
• A husband sleeps with his • A Christian has a
wife meaningful prayer time
and bible study once in a
while
33. Adultery?!
• A Husband remembers • A Christian does
flowers on their something at the Spirit’s
anniversary bidding
34. Adultery?!
• A husband tells his wife • A Christian tells the Lord
“I love you” “ I love you”
35. Adultery?!
• A Husband may do all • A Christian may do all
these things but lacks the these things but lacks the
love that he is trying to love that he is trying to
display display
47. Pastoral Responsibility
Minister – SERVANT
I Peter 5:1-4
1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an
elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of
the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is
among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but
willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being
lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And
when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of
glory that fadeth not away.
48. Pastoral Responsibility
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou
shouldest set in order the things that are
wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I
had appointed thee: Titus 1:5
49. WHAT IS A SUCCESSFUL CHURCH
REVELATION 2:18-25
The Successful Church of Thyatira
50. Tale of Two Churches
Ephesus Thyatira
Diminished their first love over Deepened Their love over time
time
Re 2:19
Re 2:4 I know thy works, and charity,
Nevertheless I have somewhat and service, and faith, and thy
against thee, because thou hast patience, and thy works; and
left thy first love the last to be more than the
first.
51. Jezebel
1. Queen of Israel I Kings 16
2. Daughter Of Ethbaal, king and priest of baal
worshipping Sidonians.
3. Introduced the nation to worshipping Ashtoroth
4. Ahab’s wife
104. LAODICEA
• The city is located in the Lycus River Valley together with
Hierapolis and Colossae. This valley is a natural route of
travel from east to west.
• The city was founded by the Seleucid king Antiochus II
and named for his wife Laodice about 260 B.C.
105. "And unto the angel of the church of the
Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen,
the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the
creation of God; 15I know thy works, that thou art
neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or
hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and
neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my
mouth" (Rev 3:14-16)
106. Problem:
1. Change in temperature indicated a cooling off
2. Was heated but then lost its source
3. Not cold – not hot
4. Lukewarm water induces vomit
5. Better if it was never heated
107. Hey, look! A lion! just pretend its
not there…
Boy, this is going to be a breeze…
110. Complacency
Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and
increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and naked:
111. Self Deception
Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and
increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and naked:
112. Substituted Wants As Needs
Revelation 3:17-18 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and
increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and naked:
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that
thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest
be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not
appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou
mayest see.
113. Perspective
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be
zealous therefore, and repent.
114. HOPE
Re 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man
hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him,
and will sup with him, and he with me.
116. Following Biblical Patterns
• Jerusalem
• Acts 2:41-47
Steadfast Unity
Spirit Filled Preaching Boldness
Known by Focused On
Structured
community Word of God
Public
Prayerful Priorities
Testimony
117. Following Biblical Patterns
• Jerusalem – Acts 2:41-47
Persecution poverty Incomplete Bible
Dictatorship multicultural Captive/enslaved
problems within diversified No “rights”
Enemies
Divers religion No property
without
118. Following Biblical Patterns
church of Jerusalem
• Preachers/Missionaries Sent Out Of Jerusalem
– Peter
– James (persecuted)
– John
– James (became pastor)
– Paul
– Stephen (deacon-martyred)
– Phillip (deacon –turned evangelist)
– Barnabas
123. What Made The Church At
Jerusalem Effective?
Mandatory Jewish Feast Days
Roman Empire (Roads and Commerce)
Mediterranean Accessibility
Heritage
Impact Of Christ’s Ministry
124. What To Glean From
This Church
Nothing Can Be Done
Without God’s Holy
Spirit – Acts 2
125. What To Glean From This
Church (Jerusalem)
Nothing Can Prevent God’s Work From
Advancing – Acts 5:38-39
126. What To Glean From This
Church (Jerusalem)
Persecution works opposite for a church
127. What Is A Successful Church
Series Part 12
Following
Biblical
Patterns:
The Church
of
Antioch, Sy
ria
128. Its Formation
Acts 11:19-26
Discipleship
Effective Preaching
Cross Cultural
135. Its Favor
Acts: The “home church” should be a place
13:1-3,
14:26, 1.of respite (rest)
15:30-
41, 18:22-23 2.of report
3.of ‘rescue’(in case of emergency)
4.of recuperation (healing)
5.of resource
6.of rejoicing
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136. The Antioch Church
Local Church
Authority
Independent
Constituted on Word
of God
Governed By The Holy
Spirit
137. The Antioch Church
Evangelistic (local)
Missional (World Wide)
Earthly Bound (relevant)
Heavenly Focused
(purpose)
Disciplined (inwardly)
Demonstrating
(outwardly)
138. Antioch was a local church with
global vision
Are we doing all we can do
locally?
Are we doing all we can do globally?