'THIS IS THE LIFE'

Pastor Richard Barnes
3 John: 1-5

Have you ever wonder yourself on finding a PERFECT Church?
There's NO Perfect Church, because we humans are IMPERFECT
A pastor: A church is like a Hospital

4 Marks of a Great Church:

•Love 爱 [v1, v6, v14]
IT IS the love of Jesus Christ - Sacrificial Love [eg. Fellowship with one another]
IT IS NOT the self-centered, romantic type of love

•Truth 真理 [v1, v3, v4, v8, v12]
Truth ALWAYS go with Love
Truth IS NOT all those kind of philosophy, statement, etc
Truth IS a person - Jesus Christ [John 14:6]
Christianity IS NOT a religion
Christianity IS a relationship - w/ God
'Jesus Christ' - a name which consist of Power.. when you hear it, you have to make a decision - you either Accept Him.. or you Repel Him..
A true believer will NEVER ask.. if I embrace myself into this path, what will happen to me?
A true believer will say.. God, lead me and give me the strength to go o n as I know You plan this for me

•Joy 喜乐 [v3, v14, v15]
REAL Joy - leading someone to Christ
Joy IS Relational [Joy of sharing n talking over the phone is NOT THE SAME as Joy of sharing face to face]
JESUS IS JOY [Luke 15] - when we see someone repent and accept Christ

•Service 服侍 [v5, v8, v11]
带着喜乐服侍SERVE WITH JOY -- Gal 6:9-10 [Let us not become weary in DOING GOOD... to ALL PEOPLE]
We can't seperate Love n Trust, we CAN'T seperate Joy n Service neither
'J.O.Y' - Jesus FIRST, Others SECOND, Yourself THIRD (;

So, out of the 4 marks.. how do you scale your church in these?