Summary
Highlights
A fruitful church demonstrates a growing love, desire for obedience, and conformity to Jesus' image, recognizing His supreme value. This can be assessed through the sermon's content, the reverence in worship music, and the focus on Jesus in other church departments, prayers, and Sunday school.
A healthy church fosters a spirit of repentance, resolving conflicts and addressing sin directly, rather than minimizing it as mere 'mistakes'. The pulpit's role is crucial in thundering against sin and emphasizing its dangers, leading to genuine repentance.
Fruitful churches prioritize in-depth Bible studies that are 'meaty' and delivered by those earnest about God's Word, indicating a deep love and commitment to scriptural understanding.
Similar to devotion to the Word, a fruitful church shows a genuine interest in theology and doctrine. These are not seen as academic subjects for seminary professors, but as foundational truths that shape faith and practice.
The final mark is a clear demonstration of love for God, fellow church members, and the wider community. This love manifests in active care, prayer, practical support for those in need, and a noticeable positive impact on the surrounding community. A self-assessment question posed is whether the community would notice if the church disappeared.