Five More Marks of a Healthy Church (Acts 20)

Welcome back to the podcast! We've previously looked at seven marks of a healthy church in Acts 2:42, and today we'll revisit that topic. We're going to look at five more marks to help you view your own church, or a church you're curious about, through a biblical lens!

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Q. How do I know if a church is healthy? 

• This is a question we get all the time when people are moving to a new area
• What should you look for in a church? How do you know it’s functioning biblically?
• To be sure: there is no perfect church out there
• Today’s message is not intended to be overly critical
• But there are healthy churches and there are unhealthy churches
• And the litmus test is easier than you think
• Note: We answered this the first time back in Acts 2
• The question for that lesson was: How Do You Grow a Church?
• The basic idea was that healthy things grow
• The seven marks of the early church, a healthy, growing church: baptisms, biblical teaching, authentic community, commitment to prayer, financial generosity, friendliness to outsiders, and dependency on Christ. Acts 2:42-47
• Today we’re going to answer the question again
• This time almost 30 years later
• The events in Acts 2 take place around 30 AD, the year of the Ascension. 
• The events in Acts 20 take place during Paul's third missionary journey, which occurred around 53–57 AD.
• Paul is sharing his final thoughts with the elders in Ephesus. We’ll extract 5 marks of a healthy church. 

Acts 20:16-17 (NLT) 16 Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus, for he didn’t want to spend any more time in the province of Asia. He was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if possible, in time for the Festival of Pentecost. 17 But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.

• Didn’t want to be delayed by the church, but sent for elders
• I get it! Hard to get out of church sometimes because of all the relationships!
• So he sent only for the elders
• In a hurry: Probably because he was bringing offering for the believers in Jerusalem
• Paul wrote Romans from Corinth during the timeframe of Acts 20
• Romans 15:25-27 (NLT) 25 But before I come [to Rome], I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there. 26 For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem. 27 They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially.
• Pentecost marked the birth of the church (Acts 2)
• But it probably also brought on hardships for Jewish Christians
• So the Gentile believers wanted to bless them!

Acts 20:18-20 (NLT) 18 When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 19 I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes.”

• V20 gives us the first sign to look for in a healthy church: preaching that is committed to speaking the truth, even when it’s unpopular. 
• 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NLT) 3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
• Many churches these days buy into popular, progressive ideology and take a low view of scripture. Watch out for these signs of progressive (woke) “Christianity”:
• The Bible is treated as a historical document shaped by human biases rather than as the inspired, authoritative Word of God.
• Traditional biblical teachings on sexuality are dismissed as outdated or oppressive.
• Hell, judgment, and exclusivity of Christ are often softened or denied.
• Evangelism is seen as arrogant or colonialist rather than a biblical mandate.
• "Deconstruction" of faith is encouraged, leading many to abandon core Christian beliefs.
• Paul didn’t fall for this, and neither should we.
• Acts 20:26-27 (NLT) 26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.
• At Alpine:
• That’s why we did the “Kingdom Politics” series
• At Alpine we’re committed to speaking the truth, even when it’s unpopular. 
• That’s the first mark of a healthy church

Here’s the second mark: preaching that invites a response to the gospel.

Acts 20:21 (NLT) 21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.

• Look at how simply Paul enumerates the two-part response to the gospel: repent and believe.
• This has been the simple gospel invitation for 2,000 years. 
• Go back through all the sermons we’ve studied in Acts, and you’ll see this repeated:
• Peter’s first sermon (Pentecost): Acts 2:38 “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God….”
• Peter’s second sermon (temple): Acts 3:19 “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.”
• Peter to Cornelius: Acts 10:43 “...everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”
• Paul’s first missionary journey: Acts 13:38-39 (NLT) We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. 39 Everyone who believes in him is made right in God’s sight—something the law of Moses could never do.
• Paul’s second missionary journey (in Athens): Acts 17:30 (NLT) 30 “God… commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.”
• Biblical preaching doesn’t just offer information. It invites transformation through a simple response to the gospel message of Jesus.
• Repentance = right attitude toward God
• “Change of mind” - I want to go his way now
• Many churches avoid this, never call out sin
• Make it a social club
• Change the focus instead to prosperity
• Here’s what’s in it for you…
• Faith = trusting that Jesus is LORD
• Jesus is Messiah – preached to Jewish audiences
• Jesus is Lord – preached to both Jews and Gentiles
• Bold statement to Jews
• He’s more than you thought the Messiah would be!
• (Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Abridged Edition (2 Volumes)) The title “Lord” was also proclaimed christologically in Jewish circles, with evident intent to apply to Jesus all that was said of God in the OT
• Preaching that invites a response to the gospel - that’s the second mark of a healthy church
• If your church never invites people to repent and believe, find another church!

The third mark expands on this: 

Acts 20:24 (NLT) 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

• The third mark is preaching that elevates the power behind the gospel: grace. 
• It’s too easy to get the wrong idea that salvation is to our own credit.
• That we can work for our right standing before God
• Almost every other world religion teaches some form of this
• Ex: In Islam, the concept of scales (Mīzān, ميزان) is central to the belief in divine justice and accountability on the Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Qiyāmah). The scales symbolize the weighing of a person's deeds—both good and bad—to determine their eternal fate.
• Surah Al-Qari’ah (101:6-9) “Then as for him whose scales are heavy [with good deeds], he will be in a pleasant life. But as for him whose scales are light, his refuge will be the Abyss.”
• Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT) 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
• The power behind the good news of the Bible is God’s grace. Pure gift. All credit goes to him. 
• This is what Paul preached increasingly in his ministry! 
• Acts 20:32 (NLT) 32 “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.”
• It’s the essential third mark of a healthy, biblical church.
• If your church doesn’t preach it, find another church.

The first three marks were about preaching. The last two marks are about leadership. 

Acts 20:28-30 (NLT) 28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following.

• The fourth mark is healthy church leadership that is committed to doing their job: shepherding the flock and protecting it from false teachers. Acts 20:28-30
• Legalism on one side: 1 Timothy 4:1-3 (NLT) 1 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 2 These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead. 3 They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods.
• Liberalism on the other: 2 Timothy 3:1-2 (NLT) 1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 
• Health church leadership protects the flock from both extremes.

The final mark of a healthy church has to do with how leaders handle money:

Acts 20:33-34 (NLT) 33 “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. 34 You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me.”

• The fifth mark is church leadership that stewards finances well.
• This doesn’t mean you can’t pay your pastors. 
• 1 Timothy 5:17-18 (NLT) 17 Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!”
• It does mean that your pastors shouldn’t be in it for the money. 
• 1 Timothy 6:9-11 (NLT) 9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 11 But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
• This is a warning to all Christians!

Close

Q. How do I know if a church is healthy? 

• Look for these five marks:
• preaching that is committed to speaking the truth, even when it’s unpopular. 
• preaching that invites a response to the gospel: repentance and faith. 
• preaching that acknowledges the power behind the gospel: grace.
• leadership that is committed to shepherding the flock and protecting it from false teachers.
• leadership that stewards finances well.