The qualities of a GOOD Church

Today’s blog post comes from Acts 20 and 21. While doing my studies this morning about the way Paul and others behaved themselves in the early Church, I noticed many wonderful qualities. Qualities of a loving Pastor, a faithful community of believers, and behaviors characteristic of both. I want to share these with you. If you find yourself searching for a good Church, I assure you these things: a good Church isn’t defined by how beautiful the building is. The goodness of a Church is not found in the music or programs, though these can be a blessing! And a “good” Church isn’t problem/conflict free. Let’s take a look:

A good Church goes through seasons together.

And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

Acts 20:18-19

Notice Paul tells these Christians “I have been with you at all seasons…with humility…with many tears, and temptations…” . It is NORMAL for a Church to go through ups and downs. This is life. The Church is not a building. It is a family, a group of believers who have been saved by grace. Bought with a price. Joined by God, with a purpose to serve Him and share the gospel with others. If you are part of a Church that never sheds tears together, something is wrong. If nobody in your Church ever faces temptation, somebody is lying to you!! Find a Church home where you can be yourself. Where people are real, and your brothers and sisters in Christ will link arms with you and walk through the fires of life together.

The preaching doesn’t just tickle the ears.

For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Acts 20:27-28

Church is a place where we go to find rest for our souls, and relief from the carnality of this world. But it is also a place where we should be reminded that hell is hot, heaven is real, and our behavior matters! If your preacher only preaches the ‘happy’ sections of scripture, love and joy, he is not preaching the whole counsel of God. Verse 28 here tells us to take heed unto yourselves, which means to be cautious, or to be warned of. Much of the preaching that goes on in our Churches today should be a warning. How we live as God’s children here on earth matters. Not that our actions determine our eternal home, for once we are saved that is established forever. But to point others to Christ, we must practice what we preach.

People pray together.

And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

Acts 20:38

It should be a regular thing to pray for one another. But more than that, pray WITH each other. There is nothing that makes me happier than seeing fellow Church members at the altar after a service, arms around one another, bearing one another’s burdens to the cross of Calvary. We all have problems. Doesn’t it make you feel loved to know that someone else set aside their time praying for their own problems in order to talk to God on your behalf? Perhaps this is why the very next verse talks about them weeping and embracing one another. Praying together brings us closer to God, and to one another.

The whole family serves together.

And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.

Acts 21:5

Families serving God together. Making friends with other families in the Church. The women and children are not treated as “inferiors”, or unimportant. A good Church does things TOGETHER with a prayerful spirit.

I am thankful for my good Church. Friends who go through trials with me. People who pray for one another. A Pastor who preaches the whole counsel of God, whether we like it or not. Music that stirs the spirit. It’s not the size of the congregation. It’s not the beauty of a building. It is only about the heart and spirit of the family of God.