Introduction

• Judges 12:5-6

Everything they do comes from love.

• Luke 6:27-32
• We must develop love for everyone.
• Romans 5:6-8

They have excellent behavior.

• I Peter 2:9-12
• Our behavior won’t fit in here because we don’t belong here.
• Titus 1:16
• Titus 2:6-8, 14; 3:8, 14 – We should be zealous for good deeds.

They glorify God instead of themselves.

• Matthew 6:1-6
• Matthew 5:16 – People should glorify God because of us.
• We should reflect the glory of God.

They are morally pure.

• Ephesians 5:1-7, 11
• Romans 1:26-27, 29-32

They keep repenting.

• I John 1:8

They genuinely trust God’s word.

• I Thessalonians 2:13
• Luke 4:16
• II Peter 3:7-11
• Acts 27:21-37 – Paul trusted God in the middle of a storm.

Galatians 4

• Matthew 5:17-20
• Romans 3:21-31 – Our faith should result in works. If it does not, something is wrong with our faith.
• John 1:1-17
• James 2:14-28
• Hebrews 10:19-11:8
• Galatians 4:1-11 – Do we understand what it means to be adopted by God?
• Galatians 4:8-12

Introduction

• II Kings 18:5
• II Kings 20:20

He restored the JOY of worshiping God.

• II Chronicles 28:24-25 – Hezekiah’s father closed the temple.
• II Chronicles 29:2-11, 27-30 – Hezekiah re-opened the temple!
• II Chronicles 30:1, 22-27 – They had joy in their worship!
• Is there joy in my worship?

He tore down idols.

• II Chronicles 31:1
• II Chronicles 30:7 – Don’t be like the idolaters in Israel!
• Ecclesiastes 2:22 – What are the idols in your life?
• Ecclesiastes 5:10 – How many souls have been lost chasing money?

In times of distress, he sought God’s help.

• II Kings 20:1-3
• II Chronicles 32:1-8
• II Chronicles 32:10-18 – Sennacherib tried to scare the Jews.
• II Kings 19:1-3, 14-19, 32-37 – God delivers Judah from Assyria.
• James 1:2
• II Chronicles 31:21

I Corinthians 6

I Corinthians 6:1-8 – Brother goes to law with brother

• The same Greek verb (krino) is translated by a variety of legal terms here.
• This is dealing with disputes between brethren (I Corinthians 6:5-6, 8).
• This passage is not saying that Christians can never use the legal system in reference to another Christian (I Corinthians 6:7-8).
• This is not talking about Christians replacing or having jurisdiction in the civil legal system (I Corinthians 6:5-6; Romans 13:1-7; I Peter 2:13-17).
  • See also Matthew 12:41; Hebrews 11:7 with regard to Christians “judging the world.”
• Compare Galatians 5:15, 26.

I Corinthians 6:9-11 – The unrighteous

• I Corinthians 6:9 – Kingdom of God here is talking about heaven. Homosexuality is clearly prohibited here.

Each member of this congregation should be doing all he or she can to make this a strong church.

We should do this not only for our salvation, but also to glorify God.

Negatively, for a church to be strong:

It does not have to have large numbers. God can do much with a devoted few. God would have saved Sodom if ten righteous could have been found (Genesis 18:32).

To be great a church does not have to have great wealth (Revelation 2:9). Wealthy churches are often worldly in their practice (Revelation 3:17). A poor church can bring much glory to God (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). They first gave themselves to the Lord.

For a church to be great it does not have to work through manmade organizations. God has given a simple structure for the church (Philippians 1:1). “Saints, bishops, and deacons.” Several sets of harness will not strengthen a mule. Just so, several madman structures to do the work assigned to a local church does not strengthen local churches. They always lead into apostasy. As C. R. Nichol used to close his articles “let the church be the church.”

Positively, for a church to be a strong church:

It must have a membership that is taught in the Word. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” It is bad enough that parents are destroyed for lack of knowledge. But most likely they are laying the groundwork for their children to be destroyed. Parents, be sure your children are taught the Word by teaching them and praying with them also. Years ago a preacher I knew said in his church bulletin that a son in the congregation had graduated and was preparing to leave for college. His parents admonished him to be faithful and never neglect the Lord. He asked them “how can I since as long as I can remember you have read the Bible and prayed for me to be strong in the Lorde very night.” With this kind of training, one could forget the Lord, but it is not likely. If so, it would not be because of you, but in spite of you.

It must have a devoted membership.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33).

It must have a working membership.

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” (Galatians 5:6)

It must have a membership with vision.

“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. (John 4:35)

It must have a united membership.

“And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.’” (Matthew 12:25)

It must have an uncompromising membership.

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

Let everyone of us say “I am going to do all that I can to make this a strong church.”

Jesse Jenkins