Church Health

All churches inevitably have problems that need to be dealt with. While reading in Revelation today I read of the seven churches and their strong points as well as their weak points. We too can take from these strengths and weaknesses and try our best to glean from them as churches today. A few things we should take from these churches are:

-Hold to strong scriptural doctrine
-Endure spiritual persecution
-Put full trust in the name of Jesus
-Grow in love & service
-Stay pure and loyal
-Keep God's word front and center

These are the essentials for a church body and also the things that Jesus commended the seven churches for. There are also rebukes to these churches that we should learn from as to not fall into them today. They are as follows:

-The loss of our first love Jesus
-Any false teaching
-Poor discernment
-Tolerating heresy and wickedness
-Dead works
-Being spiritually blind
-Being lukewarm

As we strive for healthy churches in todays world we would do well to look at the very things that Jesus commended & rebuked these churches for. These are the same things that sadly get into churches today and cause all kinds of strife and dissention. Let's hold fast to the very things that Jesus looks at in all of us. Look at these churches and let's repent of anything we have allowed in that have caused us to be less than effective. The church has the power to change the world for Jesus if we strive to be healthy and focus on these very things.
Be blessed today!

Sharing in the ministry

Paul writes to the Philippian church in verses 3-14 to tell them how great it is for him to have them sharing in the ministry. He loves them and wants to let them know just what they mean to him. Too often we don't do the same. We push and push to have others sign up for things or to help out with things but never allow them to see just how much we appreciate them and their service. I love many in my life and am making a decision today to let them know more often just how thankful I am to them. Today, if you read this and share in the ministry with me, know that I appreciate you and am thankful for all you do. Be blessed today and continue to share the work and spread the Good News like the Philippians and Paul did together.

~Pastor Clint