God’s Church Health Manual 

There is a great deal of focus these days on church growth and church success. There are many models and methods some of which are very helpful in fulfilling our mandate as church leaders. There is a danger though that our focus can shift from the things Jesus is weighing the most to other peripheral issues. For true church success, it’s imperative we follow Jesus’ revelation of his heart for the church.

Both Jesus and the early Apostles had a genuine burden about the effectiveness of the church…

Colossians 1:28-29

²⁷ To them, God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 4:16

¹⁶ Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

1 Corinthians 5:10-11

¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. ¹¹ Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

¹⁰ According to the grace of God, which was given to me, as a wise master-builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. ¹¹ For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

In Revelation chapters 2 and 3 Jesus shares His heart and plan for the church. These messages to the seven churches represent Jesus’ standards toward the church. In these letters we will learn what he values, rewards, hates and desires in his church. This letter should be valued above all church growth material in existence.

SEVEN PRINCIPLES FOR CHURCH HEALTH FROM REVELATION CHAPTERS 2 & 3

1.    God values __________ more than ____________.

Revelations 2:1-7

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: ² “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; ³ and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. ⁴ Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. ⁶ But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ⁷ “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”

a.     It’s The Greatest Commandment.

Matthew 22:35-38

³⁵ Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”³⁷ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment.

b.     It’s What _______________ is After.

2 Corinthians 11:1-3

² I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. ³ But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. NIV

Matthew 24:12

¹² And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³ But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Matthew 25:1-14

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. ³ Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, ⁴ but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ⁵ But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. ⁶ “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ ⁷ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. ¹¹ “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ ¹² But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’¹³ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

2.    ___________ and _________ is not a sign of failure or lack of success.

Revelations 2:8-11

⁸ “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: ⁹ “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰ Do not fear any of those things, which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. ¹¹ “He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”

a.     Testing through Suffering?

“…That you may be tested…”

James 1:2-3

² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

1 Peter 1:7

⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:27-29

“…²⁸ and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. ²⁹ For to you, it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake.” NKJV

3.    God appreciates ___________ and weighs our _____________. 2:12-17; 2:18-29

Revelations 2:12-17

¹² “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, …¹³ “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. ¹⁴ But I have a few things against you because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. ¹⁵ Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. ¹⁶ Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. ^…”

                   Revelations 2:18-29

¹⁸ “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write…¹⁹ “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. ²⁰ Nevertheless, I have a few things against you because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. ²⁴ “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. ²⁵ But hold fast what you have till I come.

Jude

³ Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. ⁴ For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

a.     Through grace, provision has been made for our future sins to be forgiven but they are not already forgiven. (Col 2:13-14; Luke 11:3-4; Mark 11:25; Heb 10:26-31; James 4:4,8; James 5:14)

b.    Although we are to be righteousness conscience we are not to ignore sin. (Heb 12:1-3

c.      We must confess our sins to God. (1 John 1:7-9; Proverbs 28:13)

1:9 “confess” This is a compound Greek term from “to speak” and “the same.” Believers continue to agree with God that they have violated His holiness (cf. Rom. 3:23). It is PRESENT TENSE, which implies ongoing action. Confession implies (1) a specific naming of sins (v. 9); (2) a public admitting of sins (cf. Matt. 10:32; James 5:16; and (3) a turning from specific sins (cf. Matt. 3:6; Mark 1:5; Acts 19:18; James 5:16). I John uses this term quite often (cf. 1:9; 4:2, 3, 15; II John 7). Jesus’ death is the means of forgiveness, but sinful mankind must respond and continue to respond in faith.

d.    The Holy Spirit does convict us of sin. (Acts 2:36-38; John 16:8; Rev 3:18-20; James 4:7-10)

e.     When you sin you need to repent (2 Cor 7:8-10; 2 Cor 12:21; Rev 2:3-5; Matthew 3:7-8

f.        Although we are born again our life is not always pleasing to God. (1 Thess 4:1; Eph 4:30; Heb 12:5-8; 2 Cor 6:16 – 7:1; Eph 5:8; 2 Cor 13:5; Col 1:9-10)

4.    Reputation must never replace ______________. 3:1-4

Revelations 3:1-4

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. ² Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. ³ Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. ⁴ You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments…

They lived to please others more than God. They were more sensitive to people’s opinions than God’s standard

During the early days of the Salvation Army, William Booth, and his associates were bitterly attacked in the press by religious leaders and government leaders alike. Whenever his son, Bramwell, showed Booth a newspaper attack, the General would reply, "Bramwell, fifty years hence it will matter very little indeed how these people treated us; it will matter a great deal how we dealt with the work of God." 

5.    Ministry is Not about our ___________ __________.

Revelations 3:7-13

⁷ “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ⁸ “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. ⁹ Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. ¹⁰ Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Psalm 127: 1

Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:10

¹⁰ But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Divine Intervention

6.    Your personal perception matters.

Revelations 3:14-22

¹⁴ “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ¹⁵ “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. ¹⁷ Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye-salve, that you may see…²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me…”

7.    ________________ who Jesus is will Keep You out of lots of trouble.

a.     Holds seven stars in His right Hand. (2:1) Authority over the Church.

b.    Walks in the middle of seven candlesticks. (2:1) He is present and near His Church.

c.      The First and the Last (2:8) Source of all and End of All.

d.    He who was Dead and is Alive Again. (2:8) Don’t fear death I already beat it.

e.     He has the sharp sword with two edges (2:12) Can deal with His enemies.

f.       The Son of God (2:18) His Humanity; He Understands.

g.     Eyes like a flame of fire (2:18) Burning Passion; Piercing Gaze.

h.    Feet like fine brass (2:18) Ability to Judge.

i.       He has the Seven Spirits of God. (3:1)

Isaiah 11:2

² The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord.

j.       He is Holy and True. (3:7) Transcendent / Cannot be Contrary.

k.     He has the Key of David to open and no one shuts, shuts and no man opens. (3:7) Superior to all Human Effort.

l.       The AMEN! The Final Word.

m. The Faithful and True Witness. (3:14) What He speaks is reliable.

n.    The Beginning of the Creation of God (3:14) Initiator of all.