A Sound Church

TEXT:  2 Cor. 13:5

INTRODUCTION:

A.      WHAT IS A "SOUND" CHURCH?

          1        Used in the N.T.( 2 Tim. 4:3;  1:13;  4:3;  Titus 1:9 ).

          2.       hugiano, "healthy or sound."

          3.       "Stable, safe, secure, whole, firm, healthy."

B.      MISUSED - APPLIED ONLY TO THOSE WHO OPPOSE INSTITUTIONS.

          1.       Goes farther than that.  Many we think of as sound are not.

          2.       What is a "sound" church?

I.      A CHURCH IS NOT SOUND JUST BECAUSE:

A.      IT IS FAMOUS OR HAS A NAME.

          1.       Example of Sardis( Rev. 3:1 ).

          2.       Laodiciea( Rev. 3:15-17 ).

B.      IT IS RIGHT IN DOCTRINE.

          1.       Ephesus.

                   a.       Had benefit of Paul's preaching 3 years( Acts 12:20-31 ).

                   b.       Later sent Timothy( 1 Tim. 1:3 ).

                   c.       The result?  A doctinally sound church( Rev. 2:2 ).

                   d.       Yet, they were not a sound church( Rev. 2:3-5 ).

          2.       Corinth.

                   a.       Paul taught there 1 1/2 years( Acts 18:8, 11 ).

                   b.       Apollos was there( Acts 19:1 ).

                   c.       They were enriched and behind in no gift( 1 Cor. 1:5-7 ).

                   d.       They stood in the gospel( 1 Cor. 15:1 ).

                   e.       Yet, they were unsound( 1 Cor. 3:1-3;  5:1-11;  11:17-34 ).

II.     WHAT ELSE GOES INTO MAKING A SOUND CHURCH?

A.      IT MUST HAVE PROPER LEADERSHIP.

          1.       The elder has a duty( 1 Pet. 5:1;  Titus 1:9 ).

          2.       We have a duty toward the elders( Heb. 13:17;  1 Tim. 5:17 ).

          3.       They must be qualified.

B.      EACH MEMBER FUNCTIONS AS A PART OF THE WHOLE.

          1.       Working together( Eph. 4:15-16 ).

          2.       Having the same care( Rom. 12:3-5, 9-10, 15 ).

          3.       Having a high regard for the other( Rom. 12:3;  1 Cor. 12:20-22;

                   James 4:11-12;  5:8-9 )

C.      ONE THAT WILL TAKE A STAND( Prov. 23:23 ).

          1.       Paul warns of the opposite( 2 Tim. 4:1-4 ).

          2.       Paul stood for the truth( Phil. 1:16, 27 ).

D.      ONE THAT IS NOT CONTENT.

          1.       Philippi praised( 1:3-5 ), but exhorted( 3:13-16 ).

          2.       Colossae commended( 1:3-6 ), but exhorted( 1:9-12 ).

          3.       Thessalonica appreciated( 1:2-8 ), but exhorted( 4:1, 10 ).

          4.       A church cannot afford to rest on its Laurels!

CONCLUSION:

A.      ARE WE A SOUND CHURCH?

B.      ARE YOU CONTRIBUTING OR DETRACTING FROM OUR

          SOUNDNESS?

C.      ARE YOU A MEMBER?