2013 GLCC 17 th ANNIVERSARY SERIES INTRO I. INTRO II. WHAT EVERY CHURCH SHOULD ASPIRE TO BE: HEALTHY III. THE BIBLICAL SIGNS 1. THE CLEAR UNCOMPROMISING EXPOSITIONAL PREACHING OF GOD’S WORD

2. SOUND BIBLICAL THEOLOGY  Our churches should not only be concerned with how we are taught, but also with what we are taught. Soundness  Soundness is an old-fashioned word. ~ It means “reliable,” “accurate,” or “faithful.” ~ At root, it is an image from the medical world meaning “whole” or “healthy”.

~ BIBLICALLY SOUND THEOLOGY, THEN, IS THEOLOGY THAT IS FAITHFUL TO THE TEACHING OF THE ENTIRE BIBLE. ~ It reliably and accurately interprets the parts in terms of the whole.  1Tim 1:10-11, NIV ~ 1Tim 6:3, NIV ~ 2Tim 1:13, NIV ~ 2Tim 4:3, NIV ~ Titus 1:9, NIV

~ Titus 1:13, NIV ~ Titus 2:1, NIV  Pastors should teach sound doctrine – doctrine that is reliable, accurate, and faithful to the Bible. ~ At the same time, churches are responsible for keeping their pastors accountable to sound doctrine.

Unity, Diversity, and CharityUnity, Diversity, and Charity  In practice, every church decides where it requires complete agreement, where it permits limited disagreement, and where it allows complete liberty.  The closer we get to the heart of our faith, the more we expect unity in our understanding of the faith – in sound biblical doctrine.

~ The early church put it this way: in essentials, unity; in nonessentials, diversity; in all things, charity. Complex or Controversial DoctrinesComplex or Controversial Doctrines  A church that is committed to sound teaching will commit to teaching the biblical doctrines churches too often neglect. ~ If we want churches that are guided by sound doctrine from the Bible, we must come to terms with the entire Bible.

 If we want churches that display God’s character, don’t we want to know everything He has revealed about Himself in the Bible?  Our understanding of what the Bible teaches about God is crucial. ~ A healthy church must be especially careful to pray that its leaders would have a biblical and an experiential grasp of who God is.

3. A BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOOD NEWS  It is particularly important for our churches to have sound biblical theology in one special area – in our understanding of the good news of Jesus Christ, the gospel. ~ The gospel is the heart of Christianity, and so it should be at the heart of our churches.

~ More than anything else in the church’s life, the members of a healthy church pray and long to know this gospel more deeply.  Why? ~ 2Cor 4:4-6~ 2Cor 4:4-6 ~ 1Cor 13:8~ 1Cor 13:8 ~ 1Jn 3:2~ 1Jn 3:2

 Sometimes, it’s tempting to present some of the very real benefits of the gospel as the gospel itself. ~ Yet presenting them as the gospel is presenting a partial truth.  Fundamentally, we don’t need just joy or peace or purpose. ~ WE NEED GOD HIMSELF.~ WE NEED GOD HIMSELF.

Gospel OverflowGospel Overflow  When a church is healthy, and its members know and cherish the gospel above everything else, they will increasingly want to share it with the world.  George W. Truett: “ T HE SUPREME INDICTMENT THAT YOU CAN BRING AGAINST A CHURCH … IS THAT SUCH A CHURCH LACKS IN PASSION AND COMPASSION FOR HUMAN SOULS.  George W. Truett: “T HE SUPREME INDICTMENT THAT YOU CAN BRING AGAINST A CHURCH … IS THAT SUCH A CHURCH LACKS IN PASSION AND COMPASSION FOR HUMAN SOULS. A CHURCH IS NOTHING

BETTER THAN AN ETHICAL CLUB IF ITS SYMPATHIES FOR LOST SOULS DO NOT OVERFLOW, AND IF IT DOES NOT GO OUT TO SEEK TO POINT LOST SOULS TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF J ESUS C HRIST.”  Evangelism is not something we mainly do by inviting someone to church. ~ A healthy church knows the gospel, and a healthy church shares it.