What To Look For in a Church

Message by Associate Pastor Josh Smith

Rev. 3:14-19 = church at Laodicea  - neither hot or cold, but lukewarm

Hot = good
Cold = good
Lukewarm = not a good thing

Laodicea - very wealthy city - had BIG problem - terrible water
Nearby Hieropolis - had hot healing springs
            Colosse - had good natural cold springs

Luke warm = good for nothing.

Laodicea had to pipe water from these - by the time it reached them, was warm and dirty
Christ's condemnation - well understood by the Laodiceans.

A church should be:  A)  Purifying, refreshing, cleansing
             as well as    B)  Building up, and edifying

Refreshing Church should be:

1)  Filled with love and grace, forgiveness - John 13:34-35

2)  Has deep appreciation for God's Word and is seeking to apply it to every area of life
      James 1:22

3)  With discernment.  Are a lot of things flying around that really have no place in a Christian church -
     example:  Acts 17:11
     Christ praised the church at Ephesus - hated false teachers
True discernment refreshes the believer.

4)  Builds and grows and encourages strong families.  Obedient children.  Strong families help make a strong church.

5)  Able to endure some hardship and trials.  Church that doesn't flinch in the face of difficulty.

Purifying and Edifying Church should be:

1)  Gracious, kind, hospitable to outsiders.

2)  Reaches and impacts the community.  Acts 2:42-47

3)  Has a heart for reaching children and youth.  Matt. 19:14 -- "let the little children come..."

4)  Send out and support missionaries.  Raise them up and send them out.