Listen to Nancy’s answer recorded live on Moody radio, here:


 

A healthy church is a group of people connected through their love of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. Members are students of His Word, whose mission is to represent, teach, and disciple others as to who Christ is and how to love and serve others well. The idea and foundation of a church came from Jesus Himself.

“Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in Heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:15-18).

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God (Ephesians 4:11-13)

The church’s primary function is to teach the members sound doctrine “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Ephesians 4:14).

A Christ-centered church will pray and care for one another. We are called to honor and to show compassion to one another, no matter who it is.  

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 1:27).

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (1 John 3:11).

One of the church’s main problems today is the temptation to conform to the culture rather than to stay faithful to God’s calling on our lives. The temptation to go back to our old way of living is always present. Being critical of others, jealous of those who have an easier life than you do, and focused on self rather than God and others are signs of the flesh. 

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12).

We, as a church, worship a relational God, who created us to establish healthy relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to seek out accountability of one another. We all need to give and receive love and encouragement to help us be the people that God has called and equipped us to be. 

At the same time, we also need to be about what God has called us to do both individually and corporately, to take the gospel to the world. There is no greater honor or purpose than introducing and mentoring others into a life-changing relationship with Jesus. God does not promise us that it will be easy or convenient, but the joy that awaits us in Heaven for our obedience makes this journey on earth worth it all. “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).