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TEN VITAL SIGNS OF A HEALTHY CHURCH -Part Three 

Illustration= George Washington Bled By Doctors Led To Death… A Healthy Church Family Member:

1. FEELS FOR ONE ANOTHER: Philippians 2:1; Hebrews 4:15-16 2. LONGS TO SEE EACH OTHER:Romans 1:11-12; Philippians 2:25-26 3. GIVES SACRIFICIALLY TO MINISTER TO THE FAMILY:2 Corinthians 8:1-5; Philippians 4:15-16 4. PRAYS WITH UNDERSTANDING FOR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS: 2 Corinthians 11:28; Colossians 1:9-12 5. GATHERS WHEN THE FAMILY MEETS: Acts 4:23 And being let go, they went to their own [companions] and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. (NKJV); Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (KJV) 6. ENCOURAGES OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS: [This presupposes that all of the members of christ’s family are already talking to one another. It is hardly possible to love with the holy love of god shed abroad in our hearts without atleast being able to get along.] Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as [is] the manner of some, but exhorting [one another,] and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (NKJV)

7. EATS FELLOWSHIP MEALS WITH THE CHURCH FAMILY: Acts 2:46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, (NKJV); 1 Corinthians 11:29-33 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. (NIV) 8. CLAIMS THE SAME FATHER IN HEAVEN: A. A.THUS CAN THERE NEVER BE RACISM, PREJUDICE OR CLASS STRATIFICATION. Galatians 3:26-29 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave
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nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (NIV) B. WE ARE IN A NEW FAMILY Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (NIV); Ephesians 3:15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (NKJV) C. GOD UNASHAMEDLY TAKES OWNERSHIP OF EACH OF US! Hebrews 2:11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. (NIV) D. WE WHO ARE SAVED ARE NOW THE HOUSE OF GOD! 1 Peter 4:17 For the time [has come] for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if [it begins] with us first, what will [be] the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? (NKJV)

E. WE ARE TO FOLLOW THE DIVINELY GIVEN LEADERS OF OUR LOCAL CHURCH. Hebrews 13:1,7-8,17 Keep on loving each other as brothers. 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. (NIV) 3. CALLS OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS BROTHER AND SISTER: Hebrews 2:11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. (NIV); Acts 11:26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (NIV) LOVES ALL THE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS: [QUOTE ON EARLY CHURCH’S LOVE] 1 John 4:7-21 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love.
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But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. (NIV)