A Church At Its Best

Introduction

Several years ago, a religious research group conducted a survey asking "Baby-boomers" what they expected to see in a church. The top answers included high quality preaching, good music, and social groups. Other answers included big meeting rooms, a quality kitchen, childcare, ample parking, and clean rest rooms.

While all the things listed in that survey are good things for churches to have, they are by no means the measurement standards of a good church.

The health and vitality of a church cannot be measured by the grandeur of her facilities, the number of her ministries, or the entertainment value of her services.

It takes much more than a pretty building, a polished preacher, and peppy music for a congregation to become a strong and healthy body of believers.

So what makes a good church? When is a church at its best? One thing is for certain, the answer to that question is not found in the strategies of some of the so-called church-growth experts. Nor is it found in following the models of the Scripturally-compromising, new age churches that now dot the landscape of our nation.

No, the principles that build a strong, healthy, Christ-honoring church can only be found in the Word  of God. It is when we examine the Bible that we find how a church can be its best, and reach its God-given potential.

In Acts chapter 11, we read the account of a church that was started in the city of Antioch, in Syria. Antioch was one of the largest and busiest cities of its day.

In that cosmopolitan and metropolitan city, God raised up one of the greatest churches in history. The story of the Church at Antioch is the story of a church built the right way. It was a church at its best.

As we study the work that God did in and through that first century church, I believe we can learn some lessons that will help us as a part of the twenty-first century church.

When we observe the record of this church in chapter 11, we see three things that reveal a church at its best. What are they, and how do they apply to us today? Look with me at these three things. Notice first of all, that a church is at its best:

I. When It Is Gathered

Notice with me again in our text, verse 26. It says that after Barnabas had brought Saul back to Antioch that, "...it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church..."

Notice that word "assembled". It is translated from a word that means to come together. The idea is of a group of people that gather together in a specific place for a specific purpose.

Just as we have done today, the early church came together for the purpose of worship. One of the sources of their strength was the simple fact that they regularly and consistently came together in an assembly.

As we observe the gathering of this first century church, we are reminded that one of the most critical aspects of a healthy church is its gathering. A church is never stronger than when it is assembled for worship.

I want us to look at a couple of important aspects of this gathering. Notice first of all:

A. How Frequently They Assembled

While there is no specific information in our text regarding how often the church at Antioch met together, earlier in the book of Acts, we are given a pretty good clue as to the frequency of their gatherings.

Acts 5 and verse 42 says of the early church that "...daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

Did you catch that? Luke tells us that "daily", or every day of the week, the early believers were meeting either in the temple, or in someone's house.

More than once, I have had someone ask me, "Where in the Bible does it say that we have to go to church three times a week?" The simple answer is that the Bible doesn't say that. What it does say is that our ancestors in the faith met together every day; not just three times a week. Perhaps those people who resent coming to three services a week should quit complaining.

Unfortunately, we live in a day in which it has become common and even fashionable for churches to cancel services that have been traditionally held.

More and more we hear about churches that only offer a Sunday morning service. Convenience is usually the reason given, but I think apathy and spiritual coldness would be a better explanation.

The reality is that the more we gather, the stronger we will be. The more often we can pray together, sing together, and worship together, the better for our congregation and our world.

If anything is needed in our day, it is certainly not less church, though the statistics show that is exactly where many churches are headed. An organization called Ellison Research reported that almost half of the protestant churches in America do not even offer a Sunday evening worship service.

As we observe the early church, it is clear that part of their strength came from how often they met together for worship.

Notice something else about their gathering. Notice not only how frequently they assembled, but notice also further:

B. How Faithfully They Assembled

Our text in verse 26, says that for a "whole year" Barnabas and Paul assembled with the church at Antioch. The indication is that these men, as well as the members of the church were faithful to attend the gatherings of their church.

It is one thing for a church to no longer offer multiple worship services, but it is another thing when the people of the church simply choose not to attend the services that are offered.

The people in the early church not only gathered frequently, but they also were faithful to those frequent assemblies.

In 2005, the Barna Research group reported that 47% of Americans say that they attend church on a typical weekend.iii

When you compare that statistic with the some 75% of Americans that identify themselves as Christians, a sad truth comes to light.

That truth is this, while millions may have attended church this Sunday, there are millions more that should have been there.

The sad truth in our day is far too many of God's people are choosing the pillow over the pew on Sunday morning, the couch over communion on Sunday night, and pleasures over prayer meeting on Wednesday night.

When we look at the church in Acts, the truth we are confronted with is that not only does the church itself need to assemble frequently, but all of us need to be faithful to those assemblies.

Strong churches are made up of strong Christians, and strong Christians are built in no small part through faithfulness to God's house. A church is at its best when it is gathered together.

May God help us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but let us assemble even more as we see the day approaching.

Notice something else we see about this church at its best. We learn not only that a church is at its best when it is gathered, but we see also secondly that a church is at its best:

II. When It Is Growing

Look again at our text in verse 26. It says, "...that [for] a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people..."

Notice that phrase "taught much people." Here we have indication of the growth that was taking place within the church at Antioch. There was both spiritual and numerical growth.

There is no such thing as a static church. If a church is not progressing, then it is regressing. If a church does not move forward it will inevitably move backwards.

The church at Antioch reminds us of the importance of being a growing church. Notice a couple of things about their growth and how it applies to the church today. Notice first of all:

A. They Were Being Enlarged

There is a recurring theme in chapter 11. Look back at verse 21. It says, "And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord."

Now look at the close of verse 24. It says, "...and much people [were] added unto the Lord." Do you get the picture? This was a church that was growing numerically. They were continually enlarging.

While numbers are not everything, they are an evidence of something. Numbers represent lives. We count people because people count.

A church that never adds to its attendance and membership is a church that is failing somewhere. If we are to reach people with the gospel, and yet no one new ever comes, we are failing as a church.

A church at its best is a church that adds people to its body! As someone has well said, "The church is the only cooperative body that exists for the benefit of its non-members."

The church at Antioch reminds us that it is not only critical that we come to church, but it is also critical that we bring others with us.

I remember hearing Pastor Johnny Hunt tell of how when First Baptist of Woodstock needed to relocate in order to enlarge their facilities, a lady in the congregation protested saying, "We are big enough, we have enough people." Pastor Hunt bluntly but accurately told the lady, "Well, if that is the case, then we need to change our slogan. It needs to be, 'We're full. Go to Hell'."

Regardless of how large a church may be, as long as there is still room at the cross then there is  still room in the church. A church at its best is a church that is enlarging, and growing numerically.

Notice something else about the growth of this church. Notice not only that they were being enlarged, but notice also further that:

B. They Were Being Enlightened

Look again at the words of verse 26. It says that Barnabas and Saul "taught much people." Notice it doesn't say that they entertained much people.

When I read that I am reminded that there is a vast difference in a crowd and a congregation. A crowd gathers to be entertained. A congregation gathers to be enlightened.

A church at its best is a church where the people of God are taught the Word of God by the Spirit of God through the man of God.

While numerical growth is important, it is irrelevant if there is no spiritual growth. A healthy church is a school where the people of God can be taught and matured in their faith.

Too many churches serve as nothing more than nurseries for a multitude of spiritual babies when they ought to be universities for growing Christians.

A church at its best not only enlarges the body, but it enlightens it as well. The reality is that this responsibility rests as much at the feet of the members as it does the ministers.

Granted, there are plenty of preachers who serve only milk. But in their defense, milk is the only thing babies can eat.

A church that enlightens people must be filled with people who want to learn. We must come to church eager to learn, rather than eager to leave.

May God help us to be catalysts for the growth of our church! Notice the third thing we learn from this church at its best. Not only is a church at its best when it is gathered, and when it is growing, but notice also finally that a church is at its best:

III. When It Is Godly

There is an important historical statement at the close of verse 26. Look at it with me. It says, "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."

The title that we now claim for ourselves originated with the church at Antioch. They were the first to be called Christians.

Matthew Henry says that they gave themselves this title. Others have suggested that this is what the people in Antioch called the believers.

Regardless of where the name "Christian" originated, the reality is that it is a beautiful and descriptive name. It indicates someone who follows and favors the Christ.

I submit to you that a church at its best is a godly church that reflects their Savior. Notice a couple of things about this godly church. Notice first of all:

A. What The Society Recognized

If the name Christian came from the people living around the believers in Antioch, then it tells us something about the believers in Antioch.

If the lost and pagan society in Antioch came up with the name "Christians", then it indicates that what they saw in the church of Antioch was Christ.

All they ever heard those disciples talking about was Jesus. Everything they did had something to do with Jesus of Nazareth, and their claims that He was God.

Christ was what the society saw when they looked at the church of Antioch. I wonder, what does our society see when they look at the church of today?

Unfortunately, too often all today's society sees from the church is scandal, division, bickering, and worldliness. All too often, the Christian church today is anything but Christian.

One observer of the church once said, "A Christian is a man who feels guilty on Sunday for what he did on Saturday and will do again on Monday."

That would be funny if weren't so true. We live in a society that no longer reverences and respects the church because they see very little that is respectable coming from the church.

What the society in Antioch recognized about the first century believers was their undeniable connection to Christ. Would to God that were true in our day as well!

Notice something else about this godly church. Notice not only what the society recognized, but notice also further:

B. What The Saints Revealed

For a moment, let's agree with Saintly Matthew Henry, and assume that it was the believers in Antioch that came up with this title of "Christians". If that is the case, what does it tell us about this church?

It tells us what they wanted to portray to the world. It indicates the message they wanted to send to the lost society around them. They wanted to display Christ! Their message was Christ!

In I Corinthians 2:2, Paul would later say, "For I am determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."

The strategy of this church at its best was to know nothing among their world except Christ. He was all they had to offer the world around them.

Today, many churches are trying to reinvent themselves in an effort to be culturally relevant. They are changing their standards, streamlining their services, and softening their preaching, all in an effort to portray themselves in a new way to the world around them.

I would say to you, what the church needs today is not a reinvention; it is a revival. We need a revival that brings us back to holiness, and reminds us of who and what we represent.

We are called Christians because of Christ! He is our one message to this world. He is what we want to reveal to our society.

We are not here to pat sinners on the back. We are here to point them to the cross. Our mission is not to entertain the worldly. Our mission is to produce the godly!

A church at its best lives up to its name! It exists for the glory and honor of its Head - the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is a privilege to be a part of a local church. Each local church has both positives and negatives. Each church has something that makes it good.

The reality is that a good church is simply not enough. We need to be the best we can be. As someone has well said, "The world at its worst, needs the church at its best.

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i Focus on the Family; July, 1989; p. 11

ii http://www.ellisonresearch.com/ERPS%20II/release%208%20Worship.htm;    accessed    5/27/2007

iii www.barna.org; accessed 5/27/2007