What is a Strong Church?

Our family has been looking for a church for quite some time. 

We have been watching Charles Stanley on TV and love it. He is such a solid preacher. Still we need a church. Below are the points we were given today. After listening to the sermon we examined the churches we have attended the past month or so and in the past attended. While you will never find a perfect church you should look for a strong church.

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Matthew 16:15-20:

¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

²⁰ Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

These were the points Charles Stanley bought out in his sermon as being what to look for in a Strong Church:

Leadership - Spirit Filled - Living and moving in the Holy Spirit (Gal 5) 

Solid Biblical Teaching - doctrinally sound that meets needs of people, we must read, listen and know the Word.

Uncompromising In Your Convictions - What you watch on TV, How you spend on money, Drinking

Strong Emphasis on Faith and Prayer pray and read God's Word daily, having your own personal relationship

Worship Service - Focus our attention upon God, His Word, Allowing God to speak to our heart, to lift our spirit in prayer, singing and sermon

Faithful Giving - if you obey God you will give motivated by the Spirit of God, to learn to Worship Him in our tithes and offerings

Strategically Organized - to reach goals and meet needs, organization to be reliable and meet needs, beneath service

People Serving with their Spiritual Gifts - Romans 12:6-8, most efficient and happiest

United in Spirit - Oneness, helping each other, meeting needs

Genuine Love for One Another - built church on us loving Him and one another

Vision for the Lost World - getting the message of the church to the world, so everyone who wants to hear the truth can hear it.

Questions we are asked to consider: What are you doing to strengthen your church? If others in the church follow your pattern will the church be strong and fruitful for the Kingdom of God?

Pray for my family that we might find a strong church, and that we may be a strong part of it.