THREE MARKS OF A THREE MARKS OF A GREAT CHURCHGREAT CHURCH1 Thessalonians 1:1-101 Thessalonians 1:1-10

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Three Marks of A Great Three Marks of A Great ChurchChurch

1.1.The Determination to Do God’s The Determination to Do God’s WillWill

2.2.A Genuine Concern for the LostA Genuine Concern for the Lost

3.3.A Strong Stand for the TruthA Strong Stand for the Truth Paul took a strong stand for truth Paul took a strong stand for truth

against the Judaizers in Galatia.against the Judaizers in Galatia.

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Galatians 6:12-16Galatians 6:12-16

1212 As many as desire to make a As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. Christ. 1313 For not even those who For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. that they may boast in your flesh.

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Galatians 6:12-16Galatians 6:12-16

1414 But God forbid that I should But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. and I to the world. 1515 For in Christ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. but a new creation. 1616 And as And as many as walk according to this many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. them, and upon the Israel of God.

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Galatians 4:21-31Galatians 4:21-31

2121 Tell me, you who desire to be Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear under the law, do you not hear the law? the law? 2222 For it is written that For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. freewoman.

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Galatians 4:21-31Galatians 4:21-31

2323 But he who was of the But he who was of the bondwoman was born according bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. which things are symbolic.

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Galatians 4:21-31Galatians 4:21-31

2424 For these are the two covenants: For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar-- Hagar-- 2525 for this Hagar is Mount for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children-- bondage with her children-- 2626 but but the Jerusalem above is free, which the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. is the mother of us all.

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Galatians 4:21-31Galatians 4:21-31

2727 For it is written: For it is written: "Rejoice, O "Rejoice, O barren,barren, You who do not bear!You who do not bear! Break forth and shout,Break forth and shout, You who You who are not in labor!are not in labor! For the desolate For the desolate has many more childrenhas many more children Than she Than she who has a husband."who has a husband." 2828 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was Now we, brethren, as Isaac was,, are children of promise. are children of promise.

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Galatians 4:21-31Galatians 4:21-31

2929 But, as he who was born But, as he who was born according to the flesh then according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it according to the Spirit, even so it is now. is now. 3030 Nevertheless what does the Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? Scripture say? "Cast out the "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the be heir with the son of the freewoman."freewoman." 3131 So then, brethren, we are not So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of children of the bondwoman but of the free. the free.

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Three Marks of A Great Three Marks of A Great ChurchChurch

1.1.The Determination to Do God’s The Determination to Do God’s WillWill

2.2.A Genuine Concern for the LostA Genuine Concern for the Lost

3.3.A Strong Stand for the TruthA Strong Stand for the Truth Paul took a strong stand for truth Paul took a strong stand for truth

against the Judaizers in Galatia.against the Judaizers in Galatia. John took a strong stand for truth John took a strong stand for truth

against the Gnostics – those who against the Gnostics – those who boasted of superior knowledge.boasted of superior knowledge.

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1 John 1:1-31 John 1:1-3

11 That which was from the That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--concerning the Word of life--

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1 John 1:1-31 John 1:1-3

22 the life was manifested, and we the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and which was with the Father and was manifested to us--was manifested to us--

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1 John 1:1-31 John 1:1-3

33 that which we have seen and that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.Christ.

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1 John 4:1-31 John 4:1-3

11 Beloved, do not believe every Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone many false prophets have gone out into the world. out into the world.

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1 John 4:1-31 John 4:1-3

22 By this you know the Spirit of God: By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, of God, 33 and every spirit that does and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.and is now already in the world.

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Three Marks of A Great Three Marks of A Great ChurchChurch

1.1. The Determination to Do God’s The Determination to Do God’s WillWill

2.2. A Genuine Concern for the LostA Genuine Concern for the Lost

3.3. A Strong Stand for the TruthA Strong Stand for the Truth Paul took a strong stand for Paul took a strong stand for

truth against the Judaizers in truth against the Judaizers in Galatia.Galatia.

John took a strong stand for John took a strong stand for truth against the Gnostics – truth against the Gnostics – those who boasted of superior those who boasted of superior knowledge.knowledge.

The church in Jerusalem took a The church in Jerusalem took a strong stand for truth early in its strong stand for truth early in its history.history.

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Acts 2:41-47Acts 2:41-47

4141 Then those who gladly received Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls day about three thousand souls were added to them. were added to them. 4242 And they And they continued steadfastlycontinued steadfastly in the in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. prayers.

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Acts 2:41-47Acts 2:41-47

4343 Then fear came upon every Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the signs were done through the apostles. apostles. 4444 Now all who believed Now all who believed were together, and had all things were together, and had all things in common, in common, 4545 and sold their and sold their possessions and goods, and possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as divided them among all, as anyone had need. anyone had need.

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Acts 2:41-47Acts 2:41-47

4646 So continuing daily with one So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, gladness and simplicity of heart, 4747 praising God and having favor praising God and having favor with all the people. with all the people. And the Lord And the Lord added to the church daily those added to the church daily those who were being savedwho were being saved. .

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Acts 5:14Acts 5:14

1414 And believers were increasingly And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and womenboth men and women

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Acts 5:24-26Acts 5:24-26

2424 Now when the high priest, the Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome they wondered what the outcome would be. would be.

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Acts 5:24-26Acts 5:24-26

2525 So one came and told them, So one came and told them, saying, "Look, the men whom you saying, "Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!"temple and teaching the people!"

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Acts 5:24-26Acts 5:24-26

2626 Then the captain went with the Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be people, lest they should be stoned. stoned.

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Three Marks of A Great Three Marks of A Great ChurchChurch

1.1. The Determination to Do God’s The Determination to Do God’s WillWill

2.2. A Genuine Concern for the LostA Genuine Concern for the Lost

3.3. A Strong Stand for the TruthA Strong Stand for the Truth Paul wrote to encourage Timothy Paul wrote to encourage Timothy

to take a strong stand for the to take a strong stand for the truth.truth.

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2 Timothy 1:82 Timothy 1:8

88 Therefore do not be ashamed of Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but me His prisoner, but share with share with meme in the sufferings for the in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of gospel according to the power of God, God,

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2 Timothy 2:3-42 Timothy 2:3-4

33 You therefore You therefore must endure must endure hardshiphardship as a good soldier of as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. 44 No one engaged in No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a please him who enlisted him as a soldier.soldier.

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Three Marks of A Great Three Marks of A Great ChurchChurch

Do we, as a congregation, have Do we, as a congregation, have these three characteristics? these three characteristics?

We all need to ask ourselves, We all need to ask ourselves, periodically, "Am I contributing to periodically, "Am I contributing to the greatness of this the greatness of this congregation or am I keeping it congregation or am I keeping it from being great?"from being great?"