Marks of a Truly Christian Church - Zac Poonen
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Summary
The speaker argues that true Christian churches are characterized by a commitment to the whole counsel of God, exemplified by the early believers in Ephesus. He warns that churches tend to backslide over time by lowering standards, such as regarding divorce, and that the true remnant will always be the small group dedicated to the full truth, much like the early believers who left the fading, large congregations. Standing for the complete truth, even when unpopular, is essential for a church's survival.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
The warning to Ephesus and the pattern of leavingIn Revelation, the Lord warned the church in Ephesus that He would remove their lampstand if they did not repent of losing their first love. When most of the church refuses to repent, a small remnant often has to leave to follow the Lord.
Declaring the whole purpose of GodPaul told the Ephesian elders that he did not shrink from declaring the whole purpose of God, likened to all seven colors needed to make pure white. Churches backslide when they selectively ignore hard truths like God's standard on divorce in order to be more compassionate than God.Acts 20:27
Historical examples of renewal through outcastsThroughout 2,000 years of church history, reformers like Martin Luther, John Wesley, and William Booth were eventually pushed out of backslidden institutions for standing on truth, leading God to raise up new movements like the Methodists and the Salvation Army.
How Christian Fellowship Centre started in BangaloreSimilarly, the speaker and another brother were asked to leave a Baptist church because they preached the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which led directly to the birth of CFC without any human ambition to start a church.
Rejecting man-made segregation in the churchChurches throughout history have often split or segregated based on race, language, or social class. While fellowship groups formed around these preferences may exist, they should not be called the Church of Jesus Christ.
No distinctions in the new manColossians explains that in the new man, there are no distinctions between Greek, Jew, uncircumcised, barbarian, uncultured people, slaves, or free men. Christ is everything to every true believer.
Preaching the gospel to the poorFollowing Jesus' first sermon in Nazareth and His message to John the Baptist, believers must care for the poor and marginalized rather than focusing only on the rich and prestigious.Luke 4:16
Understanding John the Baptist's doubtsJohn the Baptist had doubts while in prison because he did not have the Holy Spirit inside him, illustrating why the least believer in the new covenant is greater than John.
The unity of the breaking of breadWhen believers partake of the one bread and one cup, they proclaim their unity in the same body, recognizing their mutual need for one another.
Valuing the weaker and unpresentable membersPaul teaches in 1 Corinthians 12 that the weaker and less honorable members of the body are actually the most necessary and require more abundant honor.1 Corinthians 12:21–23
Learning gentleness and humility from JesusThe greatest need in every church is to follow Jesus by being gentle and humble in heart, respecting church authority, and avoiding a conceited spirit.Matthew 11:29
Scrubbing the dirt from our own heartsBelievers must approach the Lord's table with a spirit of self-judgment, scrubbing the dirt from their own lives rather than finding fault with others, so the church never loses its lampstand.
