Attributes of a Faithful Church

Preface
Attributes of a Faithful Church

The Holy Bible instills truth, plants a seed of faith that grows and bears fruit, and serves as a guiding light that brings glory to God for all who submit to and follow its teachings. This essay will use scripture to help you find a faithful church that will nourish and strengthen your relationship with Christ Jesus.

Table of Contents

This essay will present eight positions, plus a Conclusion, arranged in a progressive order, to address the question of the attributes of a faithful church.

1. Sound Doctrine
2. Accountability and Discipline
3. Clear Vision and Mission
4. Fellowship and Connection
5. Worship and Spiritual Growth
6. Observant of Ordinances, not Sacraments
7. Stewardship – Passion to Serve & give
8. Caring for the Needy
9. Conclusion

1.  Sound Doctrine

A faithful church is constructed on a foundation of solid theology and unwavering biblical truths. It underscores the vital importance of diligently teaching and sincerely adhering to the entirety of Scripture, embracing the Holy Bible as the divinely inspired and infallible Word of God. This theological viewpoint appreciates the Holy Bible not merely as a collection of profound writings that either contain or express God’s will for humanity, but as a sacred, inerrant compendium that conveys the very essence of God’s truth and His divine will. Each word and passage resonates with timeless relevance, guiding believers in faith and action.

2Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Ephesians 4:11-14 “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming.”

Titus 1:9 “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”

2.  Accountability and Discipline

A faithful church practices accountability among its members.

It maintains discipline to uphold biblical standards and promote spiritual health.

This includes addressing issues of sin and encouraging repentance and restoration.

Matthew 18:15-17 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”

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

3.  Clear Vision and Mission

A faithful church has a clear understanding of its purpose and mission, which guides its activities and outreach efforts. This vision should align with biblical teachings and the Great Commission, with assembly members being encouraged and taught by example to share God’s Good News of Grace.

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Mark 16:15 “And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

John 20:21 “So Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

4.  Fellowship and Connection

A faithful church fosters a sense of community among its members, encouraging relationships through small groups,” Bible Studies,” “Prayer Meetings,” and fellowship events, allowing opportunities for members to share their lives and support one another.

Home Bible Studies

Hebrews 4:12  “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Psalms 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”

Prayer Meetings

Act 1:14 “These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”

James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

Fellowship

Hebrews 10:24-25  “let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

Acts 2:42 “They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in the fellowship, and sharing in the fellowship meals and the prayers.”

5.  Worship and Spiritual Growth

Faithful Church worship is an authentic and passionate expression of reverence for God. Worship services need to create an environment where the Holy Spirit can move freely, without being confined by rigid schedules. It’s essential to prioritize genuine connection over strict structure, ensuring that every moment of worship uplifts and honors the divine by being a collective experience that exalts God and encourages active participation from the congregation. The focus should be on glorifying God, rather than merely performing for an audience.

John 4:24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Hebrews 13:15 “Through Him, then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.”

Psalms 95:6 “Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.”

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

6.  Observant of Ordinances, not Sacraments

A faithful church rejects the notion that sacraments confer salvation; salvation is based on Grace through Faith.

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

However, faithful churches recognize two Ordinances, neither of which is required for salvation.

Baptism

Matthew 28:18-19  “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

Communion – the Lord’s Supper

Luke 22:14-20  “When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. And He said to them, I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.  And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes. And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me. And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”

7. Stewardship – Passion to Serve & give

Faithful church stewardship fundamentally begins with the recognition that God is the rightful owner of everything. All that we have belongs to Him, and we are responsible for managing His resources wisely and faithfully for His divine purposes by having accountability for all proceeds received and spent.

1Chronicles 29:14 “But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You.”

A faithful church’s pastors and leaders should lead by example, modeling faithful stewardship to inspire and guide their congregation.

1Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”

A faithful church leader teaches that Tithing should not be convenient or comfortable, but generous and passionate, with the understanding that all members need to contribute as much as they can, either monetarily or by volunteering if physically able.

2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Proverbs 11:25 “Be generous, and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped.”

1Peter 4:10 “Each one, as a good manager of God’s different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God.”

8.  Caring for the Needy

A faithful church upholds and teaches the principle of “let Go, let God.” One of those means is to encourage its congregation to emulate Christ Jesus and follow His instructions to care for those who are hungry and in need. Rather than referring individuals in need to government agencies, a faithful church demonstrates grace by providing a food pantry or kitchen, offering direct support to the hungry and poor. Most importantly, it allows sharing of the Good News, which is ultimately the only means of transforming lives.

Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;  naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.  Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?  And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?  When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?  The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”

Luke 3:11 “And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.”

Isaiah 58:10 “And if you give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness, And your gloom will become like midday.”

9.  Conclusion

In summary, a faithful church is a purpose-driven assembly dedicated to honoring and worshipping Christ Jesus by word and deed, by adhering to biblical principles, engaging with the community, and fostering a loving and supportive environment for its members. These characteristics contribute to a thriving church that effectively serves both its congregation and community, and, most importantly, honors Christ Jesus by fulfilling its mission.

Matthew 23:11-12 “The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”