1. Easy to find things wrong with a car – has some age
Especially – if really want a new one
10 years old
Has 150,000 miles
Paint faded
Needs tires
Carpet has stains
A/C has leak
Runs good
Good gas mileage
Paid for
Ample room
Can be fixed for very little
What’s Right
May Outweigh
What’s Wrong
$28,000

2. Same is True With Churches
Especially – if really want to find problems
Not unusual to hear complaint –
“What’s wrong with this church…”
I don’t get the encouragement I need
“People are not friendly…”
People there who are hypocrites
We need more _________

3. Four of the Seven Churches of Asia Had Some Good in Spite of the Bad
Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7)
Pergamos (Rev. 2:12-17)
Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-29)
Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6)
Only one that was so bad – nothing good could be found
Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22)

4. The Church At El Bethel Legitimate Complaints Areas need improvement
People are not what ought to be
Etc.
Things that are good
People – are what should be
The Church At
El Bethel

5. What is Right
With this Church

6. What is Right With this Church
Is Scriptural

7. Is Scriptural
Suppose you are part of a church – friendly & encouraging – but glaringly unscriptural …
This church is Scriptural:
Name (Rom. 16:16)
Organization (Phil. 1:1; Acts 20:28)
Worship (Acts 2:42; Eph. 5:19; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2)
Work (1 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 4:16; 1 Tim. 5:16)
Teaching (1 Pet. 4:11)
Practice (Col.. 3:17; 2 Jno. 9)
Being Scriptural is a huge deal (Col. 3:17)

8. What is Right With this Church
Is Scriptural
Has Caring People

9. Has Caring People Christians should be caring people
Members of same body (1 Cor. 12:25)
Are family (1 John 3:16)
Compassion for one another (1 Pet. 3:8)
Love (Phileo) – caring (Heb. 13:1)
Love (agape) – seek best (1 Jno. 4:11)

10. Has Caring People Christians should be caring people
This church has caring people
There to comfort in time of loss
There with food when you’re sick
Cards when you are down
Come when invited
Call and check on you when not there / sick
Pray for you by name
Offer to help
Very forgiving when one corrects wrong

11. Has Caring People Christians should be caring people
This church has caring people
Not perfect – but it is a caring group
May not always express it as we should
But – not a person I would not call upon if need them

12. What is Right With this Church
Is Scriptural
Has Caring People
Has Giving People

13. Has Giving People Christians should be giving people
Give into treasury as prospered (1 Cor. 16:1-2)
Give liberally (2 Cor. 9:6-7)
Give to those in need (Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 6:18; 1 Jno. 3:17)
Give of our time & talent (Eph. 5:15-16)

14. Has Giving People Christians should be giving people
This church has giving people
Contribution has been good
Been able pay bld. loan down to $35,000 (approx.)
Bld finished $340,000 (borrowed $247,000)
Over $100,000 extra payment since 2003
Able to help support 4 men ($1,950 a month)
When there is a need – this group has given
Thousands – given from individual’s to some need
Some gave who didn’t have a lot to give
Many who give time, food, etc. share with others

15. Has Giving People Christians should be giving people
This church has giving people
There will be some who don’t give as should – can be sure
Don’t give much into treasury
Gladly receive – not much to give
By and large – we are a giving people!

16. What is Right With this Church
Is Scriptural
Has Caring People
Has Giving People
Has Good Teachers

17. Has Good Teachers We ought to develop into teachers
After a time – ought to be able to teach (Heb. 5:12-14)
Should be able to tell others what learn (2 Tim. 2:2)
Great commission given to individuals (Matt. 28:18-20)

18. Has Good Teachers We ought to develop into teachers
This church has hard working teachers
Spend hours preparing / writing lessons
Work for days making visual aids
Put own lessons together without using workbook
Delve into resource material to understand the text
Work hard at improving as teachers

19. What is Right With this Church
Is Scriptural
Has Caring People
Has Giving People
Has Good Teachers
Has Good Young People

20. Has Good Young People
Christianity & spirituality is for young & teenagers
Remember creator in youth (Ecc. 12:1)
Enjoy youth – but remember judgment (Ecc. 11:9-10)
Most young are not spiritual – Timothy was (Phil. 2:19-21)

21. Has Good Young People
Christianity & spirituality is for young & teenagers
Many churches have uninterested teens & losing them
Hardly come – when do pay little attention
Don’t bring a Bible – don’t study
More in common with world than with Christians
Distant from parents
Obvious – little interest in spiritual matters

22. Has Good Young People
Christianity & spirituality is for young & teenagers
Many churches have uninterested teens & losing them
This church has good young people
Have respect for parents
Speak and talk to others with respect
Interested in spiritual matters – open Bibles – take notes
Talk to others about spiritual matters
Live godly lives

23. What is Right With this Church
Is Scriptural
Has Caring People
Has Giving People
Has Good Teachers
Has Good Young People
Has Conservative People

24. Has Conservative People
Conservative mindset comes from the word
Must abide within doctrine of Christ (2 Jno. 9)
Mold our lives to fit the gospel (Phil. 1:27)
When are conservative – others think strange (1 Pet. 4:4)

25. Has Conservative People
Conservative mindset comes from the word
We have a group with conservative mindset
We don’t have to constantly fight – looseness (as some churches do)
Majority – will agree with teaching against worldliness
Majority – agree dancing is wrong (Gal. 5:19-21)
Majority – agree social drinking is wrong (1 Pet. 4:3)
Majority – will dress modestly (1 Tim. 2:9-10)
Majority – understand and support church discipline (1 Cor. 5; 2 Thess. 3)
Majority – support truth on MDR (Matt. 19:9)

26. What is Right With this Church
Is Scriptural
Has Caring People
Has Giving People
Has Good Teachers
Has Good Young People
Has Conservative People
Has Knowledgeable People

27. Has Knowledgeable People
God’s people ought to know the word
Should desire the word & grow (1 Pet. 2:1)
Should learn the text in its context (2 Pet. 3:18)
Should constantly add to our knowledge (2 Pet. 1:5-10)

28. Has Knowledgeable People
God’s people ought to know the word
This church has knowledgeable people
Know their Bibles
Know text in its context
Know Bible periods – timelines
Know each book relates to another
Know their Bible characters
Know truth in contrast to error (how it is refuted)

29. What is Right With this Church
Is Scriptural
Has Caring People
Has Giving People
Has Good Teachers
Has Good Young People
Has Conservative People
Has Knowledgeable People

30. Easy to find things wrong with a car – has some age
Especially – if really want a new one
10 years old
Has 150,000 miles
Paint faded
Needs tires
Carpet has stains
A/C has leak
Runs good
Good gas mileage
Paid for
Ample room
Can be fixed for very little
What’s Right
May Outweigh
What’s Wrong
$28,000

31. Are there areas that need work?
What is Right
With this Church
Is this church perfect?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Is Scriptural
Has Caring People
Has Giving People
Has Good Teachers
Has Good Young People
Has Conservative People
Has Knowledgeable People
Are there areas that need work?
WITHOUT A DOUBT!
So, what does this mean?
OUGHT TO BE THANKFUL!