1. All desire that the local church be strong!
What are the indicators of a congregation being strong, versus being weak?
Are there things we can gauge to measure the strength of a local church?

2. Some Indicators of Strength for the Local Church
A big, well-kept building?
Large number of members?
Large number of “programs”?
Pleasant singing to our ears?
Some Indicators of Strength for the Local Church

3. Some Indicators of Strength for the Local Church
(What to REALLY Strive After)

4. What to REALLY Strive In…
As a Kingdom, Submit
Col. 1:13, 3:17; Rev. 1:9; Acts 2:36
What to REALLY Strive In…

5. What to REALLY Strive In…
As a Kingdom, Submit
As a Family, Love
1 Tim. 3:15, 5:1-2; Matt. 12:46-50; Gen. 14:1-16
What to REALLY Strive In…

6. What to REALLY Strive In…
As a Kingdom, Submit
As a Family, Love
As A Priesthood, Serve Within the Temple
1 Cor. 3:16-17; 1 Pet. 2:5, 9-10; Heb. 3:15- 16; Rom. 12:1-2, cf. Mal. 1:6-8
What to REALLY Strive In…

7. What to REALLY Strive In…
As a Kingdom, Submit
As a Family, Love
As A Priesthood, Serve Within the Temple
As A Bride, Make Ready
2 Cor. 11:1-2; Eph. 5:25-29; Rev. 19:6-9; Acts 2:38, 22:16; 1Jn. 1:9; Jas. 2:24-26; Eph. 5:3-5
What to REALLY Strive In…

8. What to REALLY Strive In…
As a Kingdom, Submit
As a Family, Love
As A Priesthood, Serve Within the Temple
As A Bride, Make Ready
As Part of The Body, Do Your Share
1 Cor. 12:14-22, 27; Co. 1:18; Rom. 12:3-8; Eph. 4:15-16
What to REALLY Strive In…

9. What to REALLY Strive In…
How each person does his/her part will influence the strengths & weaknesses of THIS local church.
We may have the best organization, and all the outwards signs of a strong congregation; but we may be just like the church at Sardis, "...you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead." (Rev. 3:1).
What to REALLY Strive In…

10. Some Indicators of Strength for the Local Church
Are ALL OF US doing what we can (what we must) to make THIS church strong in the eyes of the Lord?
Let us all be encouraged to do OUR part in making ready, serving as priests, loving like a family, and submitting whole-heartedly to our King!
Some Indicators of Strength for the Local Church

11. Some Indicators of Strength for the Local Church
(What to REALLY Strive After)