2013 GLCC 17th ANNIVERSARY SERIES
I. INTRO
II. WHAT EVERY CHURCH SHOULD
ASPIRE TO BE: HEALTHY
III. THE BIBLICAL SIGNS
1. THE CLEAR UNCOMPROMISING
EXPOSITIONAL PREACHING OF
GOD’S WORD
2. SOUND BIBLICAL THEOLOGY
3. A BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF
THE GOOD NEWS
4. IMPACTING BIBLICAL WORSHIP
5. FERVENT HEARTFELT PRAYER LIFE
 Jn 15:4-5
~ 1Thes 5:17
 Andrew Murray: “Christ meant prayer
to be the great power by which his
church should do its work, and that the
neglect of prayer is the great reason the
church lacks greater power over the
masses in Christian and heathen
countries. The power of the church to
bless rests on intercession – asking and
receiving heavenly gifts to carry to men. It
is through intercession that we bring down
power from heaven to do the work of God
on earth. When due to lack of teaching or
spiritual insight, we trust in our own
diligence and effort to influence the world
and the flesh, and work more than we
pray, the presence and power of God are
not seen in our work as we would wish.”
 Prayer must penetrate every aspect
of our church.
~ The bottom line is if you have a
church that does not pray or only
gives lip service to it, you will not
grow as a church.
 True growth is not in numbers.
~ It is seen in the deepening of
devotion and love for Christ, in the
deepening of commitment to His
service and obedience to His will.
~ It is seen in becoming more and
more conformed to His likeness.
~ Then numbers usually follow.
~ Prayer is like a catalyst in producing
all this.
6. PASSION FOR THE LORD
 If there is anyone in Scripture who was
passionate for Christ, it has to be Paul.
~ Phil 3:7-11
 Think about it: how many passionate
Christians do you know?
~ We have become compliant and
settled in the church at large.
~ WE MUST HAVE HEARTS THAT
CRY OUT FOR CLOSENESS AND
AT THE SAME TIME “FEAR” OUR
LORD AND SAVIOR.
 There is a difference between just being
spiritual and being passionate.
~ Being spiritual is the acknowledgement of who we are before a Holy
God – this is fundamental.
~ Being passionate is taking that
spirituality and being joyful with it.
 Yes, suffering and bad things will
happen, but the theme for our
emotions and worship and
interactions with others must be a
clear sense of who we are in Christ,
and then allowing that “sense” to
flow.
 WE MUST BE WILLING AS A
CHURCH TO NOT ONLY
ACKNOWLEDGE OUR FAITH BUT
LIVE IT WITH ENTHUSIASM.
 THIS PASSION FOR THE LORD
MUST ALSO BE SEEN IN OUR
PASSION FOR HIS WORD AND
TRUTH – PASSION TO LEARN IT, TO
SHARE IT, TO LIVE IT AND TO
PROTECT IT.