1. 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 3. A BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOOD NEWS

2. 4. IMPACTING BIBLICAL WORSHIP4. IMPACTING BIBLICAL WORSHIP  Ps 138:1-4  Our usual first response to the truths of the revelations in God’s word, of biblical theology, and of God’s glorious gospel is worship.  “Impacting”: NOT STYLE BUT THE SUBSTANCE BEHIND IT. ~ The style & instruments are not the key; it is the heart & passion behind it & the focus & object of worship who alone must be God.

3.  THE MAIN FOCUS IS TO BE OUR LOVE AND PASSION FOR CHRIST AS OUR LORD – HIS PERSON AND WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US AS REVEALED IN HIS WORD.  WE WORSHIP NOT PRIMARILY FOR OUR PLEASURE BUT GOD’S!  Worship is also not just music. ~ Worship also consists of reading Scripture, prayer, preaching and even the ordinances.

4.  Worship is about who God is and what He has done for us! ~ We must desire and develop biblical and doctrinal worship – worship that is centered on God’s revelation of Himself. ~ We, therefore, need to see to it that even the songs that we use in worship are biblically accurate and theologically true in their lyrics.

5.  At the same time, our worshipping must be in the Spirit. ~ By this I mean not in the flesh but led by the Spirit as guided by biblical truth. ~ Eph 5:19-20 ~ We cannot live the Christian faith let alone worship our Lord without the Spirit’s power.

6. 5. FERVENT HEARTFELT PRAYER LIFE  Jn 15:4-5 ~ 1Thes 5:17  Andrew Murray: Christ meant prayer to be the great power by which his church should do its work, and that the neglect of prayer is the great reason the church lacks greater power over the masses in Christian and heathen countries. The power of the church to  Andrew Murray: “Christ meant prayer to be the great power by which his church should do its work, and that the neglect of prayer is the great reason the church lacks greater power over the masses in Christian and heathen countries. The power of the church to

7. bless rests on intercession – asking and receiving heavenly gifts to carry to men. It is through intercession that we bring down power from heaven to do the work of God on earth. When due to lack of teaching or spiritual insight, we trust in our own diligence and effort to influence the world and the flesh, and work more than we pray, the presence and power of God are not seen in our work as we would wish.”

8.  Prayer must penetrate every aspect of our church. ~ The bottom line is if you have a church that does not pray or only gives lip service to it, you will not grow as a church.  True growth is not in numbers. ~ It is seen in the deepening of devotion and love for Christ, in the deepening of commitment to His service and obedience to His will.

9. ~ It is seen in becoming more and more conformed to His likeness. ~ Then numbers usually follow. ~ Prayer is like a catalyst in producing all this.