This document discusses what defines a successful church according to scripture. It examines churches mentioned in Revelation chapters 2-3. The church of Ephesus is praised for its works, patience, and rejection of evil but rebuked for abandoning its first love. The church of Pergamos is commended for clinging to Christ's name and not denying their faith despite living in Satan's throne, but is criticized for tolerating those with the doctrine of Balaam and Nicolaitans. The church of Thyatira receives praise for growing in love but is condemned for tolerating the false prophetess Jezebel.

1. What Is A Successful Church?
A Study Of Local N.T. Churches and
modern application

2. What Is A Successful
Church?
●SUCCESS'FUL, a. Terminating in
accomplishing what is wished or
intended; having the desired effect;
hence, in a good sense, prosperous;
fortunate; happy; as a successful
application of medicine; a successful
experiment in chemistry or in
agriculture; a successful enterprise.
● The English word ‘Success’
appears only ONCE in the KJV but
The Hebrew word that it comes from
Is used 63 times
● What Is A Successful Church?

3. What Is A Successful
Church?
●SUCCESS'FUL, a. Terminating in
accomplishing what is wished or
intended; having the desired effect;
hence, in a good sense, prosperous;
fortunate; happy; as a successful
application of medicine; a successful
experiment in chimistry or in
agriculture; a successful enterprise.
● The English word ‘Success’
appears only ONCE in the KJV but
The Hebrew word that it comes from
Is used 63 times
● What Is A Successful Church?

4. What Identifies A
Church?
● Built upon the truth of the Lordship of
Christ – Matt 16:13-18, I Cor 12:3
● Baptized Believers called out from the
world to be likeminded in matters of
- Faith (truth)
- Fellowship
- Fidelity (practice)
- Furtherance of the Gospel
Acts 2:41-47
● Ballast and Bedrock of Truth
- The Church is to uphold the truth
- The Church is to further the truth
- The Church is to protect the truth
II Tim 4:2-5, Phil 2:16, I Tim 3:15,

5. What Are Some
Indicators Of A
Successful Church?
● A Successful Church is on The Offensive
Matt 16:18 (assaulting)
● A Successful Church Is Prevailing
(making a difference, agitating) Matt
16:18
● A Successful Church Is Obedient To The
Word
- In dealing with personal conduct
- In dealing with personal convictions
- In dealing with personal consecration
Matt 18:15-18, 2 Thess 3, Matt 5:14-16,
1 Peter 1:15-16, Romans 12:1-2, Heb
12:1-3, Gal 5:22-23
● A Successful Church Offers Itself First
And Then Gives Towards The Furtherance
Of The Gospel
2 Cor 8, Acts 4:32-37

6. Indicators Of A Successful
Church
● A Successful Church Offers Sacrifices of
- Prayer – Rev 8:3
- Praise – Heb 13:15
- Person (themselves) Rom 10:14-15, 2
Cor 8:1-5, Isaiah 6
- Pecuniary – Phil 4:18-19, 2 Cor 9:7
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$.03 to your neighbor

7. Indicators Of A Successful
Church
○ A successful church observes the Lord’s
Commands
- Keep my commandments – I John 2:3,
3:22, 5:2-3
These commands are NOT grievous
- Walk in the Spirit – I John 3:24, 4:1-
6,13, Ez 36:27, Rom 8:1-4, 14, Gal 5:
16,22-23,
-Care for the sick and feebleminded- I
Thess 5:8-12
- Love one another – John 13:34-
35, 15:12,17, Rom 12:10,18:8, Gal
5:13, Eph 4:2, I Thess 3:12, I Tim
4:9, Heb 10:24, I Peter 1:22, 3:8, I
John 3:11,223, 4:7,11,12, 2Jn 5.
- Cares for widows and fatherless
James 1:26-27
- Cares for the lost/unsaved – 2 Cor
5:14, Luke 19:10, Rom 1:14-16
- Cares for one another’s needs
James 2:14-16, I John 3:17, Gal 6:2, Matt
7

8. Instructions For A Successful
Church (III.)
I Timothy 4:6-16
A. Hold Fast to Sound Doctrine
B. Nourishment On The Word Of God
C. Abstain From Myths and Generational
Slants of Truth I Tim 1:4, 4:7, 2 Tim 4:4,
Titus 1:14, 2 Pet 1:16
- Unproven stories
- False application due to faulty
understanding/interpretation
- Trying to incorporate Christianity with
Mythology (zeus, medusa, etc)
- Superstitions
- Modern myths/slants which cause us to
err
D. Discipline self to Godliness
E. Labor and Suffer Reproach (suffer- allow)
Heb 13:13, 11:26, Luke 6:22 (reproach) I Cor
15:58, Gal 6:7-9 (labor)
(cont)

9. WHAT IS A
SUCCESSFUL
CHURCH?
Part 4:
Instructions For A Successful Church
I Tim 4:10-end

10. Instructions For A Successful
Church
Follow The Leader – I Timothy 4:10-end
Followship Isn’t BLIND
Followship Isn’t Being Weak Minded
Followship Isn’t Boring

11. Instructions For A Successful
Church: Follow
“He who thinketh he leadeth and hath no
one following him is only taking a walk.”
“The first order of things to be changed is
me, the leader. After I consider how hard
it is to change myself, then I will
understand the challenge of trying to
change others. This is the ultimate test of
leadership.” [John Maxwell]
Leaders have two characteristics: first
they are going somewhere, and second
they are able to persuade other people to
go with them. [John Maxwell]
“If A Shepherd cannot get sheep to follow
is it a reflection of him not being a leader
or the goats not being sheep?” - Delello

12. Instructions For A Successful
Church: Follow
Is Your Pastor “worth
following?”
Does he give you reason to
despise him?
How Is his example in WORD (Doctrine)
How is his example in Conversation
(Behavior)
How is his example in Charity
(affection, benevolence, hospitality)
How is his example in spirit (mental and
emotional disposition, principle)
How is his example in faith (truth of God
put to moral character and practice)

13. Instructions For A Successful
Church: Follow
How is his example in purity
(chaste, cleanliness,)
How is his example in humility?
How is his example in study?
How is his example in authority?
How is his example in Prayer and
Meditation?
How is his example in obedience to the
Word?
How is his example in Obedience to the
Spirit?
How is his example towards those
without (Reputation from community?)

14. 1Co 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
Instructions For A Successful 1Co 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Php 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which
Church: Follow walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Ways to Follow the
Pastor
In Word (doctrine)
In Conversation (behavior)
Charity (affection, benevolence)
Spirit (principle, mental and emotional
disposition)
Faith (conduct and moral character)
Purity (chaste, cleanliness)
Reputation
Study
Authority in Scripture
Prayer and Meditation
Obedience to the Word
Obedience to the Spirit
Hospitality
Humility
Valor
Purity
Integrity

15. Jer 50:6
Instructions For A My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds
Successful Church: have caused them to go astray, they have turned
Follow them away on the mountains: they have gone
from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their
Ways to Follow the restingplace.
Pastor
Authority in Scripture
Prayer and Meditation
Obedience to the Word
Obedience to the Spirit
Hospitality
Humility
Valor
Purity
Integrity

16. WHAT IS A SUCCESSFUL CHURCH
SERIES: PART 5
INSTRUCTIONS AND INDICTMENTS BY
THE HOLY SPIRIT
REVELATION 2-3

17. The Church At
Ephesus
Revelation 2:1-7

18. PRAISE
I KNOW THY WORKS

19. PRAISE
And thy labour

20. And Thy
Patience
PRAISE

21. PRAISE
• and how thou canst not bear them which
are evil:

22. PRAISE
and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and
are not, and hast found them liars

23. PRAISE
AND HAST BORNE

24. PRAISE
AND HAST PATIENCE

25. P R A I S E
a n d fo r my n a m e ' s s a ke h a st l a b o u re d …

26. PRAISE
…and hast not fainted.

27. Correction

28. Correction

29. Adultery?!
• Husband goes to work • Witnesses To Others

30. Adultery?!
• Husband Provides For His • Christian supports those
Family in need

31. Adultery?!
• Husband attends special • Attends church and other
events that the family is events
involved in

32. Adultery?!
• A husband sleeps with his • A Christian has a
wife meaningful prayer time
and bible study once in a
while

33. Adultery?!
• A Husband remembers • A Christian does
flowers on their something at the Spirit’s
anniversary bidding

34. Adultery?!
• A husband tells his wife • A Christian tells the Lord
“I love you” “ I love you”

35. Adultery?!
• A Husband may do all • A Christian may do all
these things but lacks the these things but lacks the
love that he is trying to love that he is trying to
display display

36. Adultery?!
• That Husband lost his • That Christian left his first
first love love

37. Correction

38. Correction

39. What Is A
Successful Church
What The Spirit Sayeth Unto The
Churches

40. Two Churches…
Pergamos
Smyrna

41. Commendations
Smyrna Pergamos
I know thy works Works
Tribulation Offsets
Poverty Cling to His name
Kept the faith

42. Symrna’s Correction:

43. Pergamos’ Correction
Doctrine of Baalam Numbers 25:1-18, 2Peter 2:15-16,Jude 11

44. Doctrine Of The Nicolatians

45. Popish Advancement
Revelation 2:15
God
Pastor
Individual Individual Individual
Members Members Members

46. Pastoral Authority

47. Pastoral Responsibility
Minister – SERVANT
I Peter 5:1-4
1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an
elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of
the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is
among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but
willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being
lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And
when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of
glory that fadeth not away.

48. Pastoral Responsibility
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou
shouldest set in order the things that are
wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I
had appointed thee: Titus 1:5

49. WHAT IS A SUCCESSFUL CHURCH
REVELATION 2:18-25
The Successful Church of Thyatira

50. Tale of Two Churches
Ephesus Thyatira
Diminished their first love over Deepened Their love over time
time
Re 2:19
Re 2:4 I know thy works, and charity,
Nevertheless I have somewhat and service, and faith, and thy
against thee, because thou hast patience, and thy works; and
left thy first love the last to be more than the
first.

51. Jezebel
1. Queen of Israel I Kings 16
2. Daughter Of Ethbaal, king and priest of baal
worshipping Sidonians.
3. Introduced the nation to worshipping Ashtoroth
4. Ahab’s wife

52. Spirit Of Jezebel
Speaks Through Manipulation

53. Spirit Of Jezebel
Hates Authority

54. Spirit Of Jezebel
Uses Emotional Pressure

55. Spirit of Jezebel
Witchcraft

56. Spirit Of Jezebel
Obsessive Sensuality

57. Spirit Of Jezebel
Pursuit Of Power

58. Spirit Of Jezebel
Subtle Persuasion

59. Spirit Of Jezebel
“Without Habitation”

60. WHAT IS A SUCCESSFUL CHURCH

61. Sardis: The Zombie Church
Revelation 3:1-6

62. Characteristics Of
A Zombie:
 They are lifeless – John
3:3-7

63. CHARACTERISTICS OF A ZOMBIE
They have no conscience:
Romans 1

64. CHARACTERISTICS OF A ZOMBIE
CHURCH
They Want Your Brain (Mind)
Proverbs 1, II Peter 2, Matt 23

65. CHARACTERISTICS OF A ZOMBIE CHURCH
They don’t believe they are
dead
John 3:18-36, I Jn 1:8,10

66. CHARACTERISTICS OF A ZOMBIE CHURCH
They have one goal –
Render you lifeless
II Kings 13, II Peter
2, Proverbs (scorner)

67. Characteristics Of A Zombie CHURCH
They repopulate by making
their victim a zombie
Matt 23, II Peter 2

68. CHARACTERISTICS OF A ZOMBIE CHURCH
Incoherent communication:
EPH 4:29, I Tim 6:20, II Tim
2:16, I Cor 14:8

69. CHARACTERISTICS OF A ZOMBIE CHURCH
Popularity Is Essential
-they never work alone
- Where one is the others
will appear
- Prov 1:14, Acts 20:29

70. Characteristics Of A Zombie Church
They Fight Amongst
Themselves
James 4:1, Prov 6:19

71. Characteristics Of A Zombie Church
They Don’t have the
capability to think on their
own
- Under a “spell”
- Blind
- 2 Cor 4:4

72. CHARACTERISTICS OF A ZOMBIE CHURCH
They don’t bathe
Psalms 119:9, Ps 51:7, I
John 1:9

73. Characteristics Of A Zombie Church
They have no evidence of
the Fruit Of The Spirit
Gal 5:17-21

74. CHARACTERISTICS OF A ZOMBIE CHURCH
They are in it for themselves
Galatians 6:1-4

76. HOW TO SURVIVE AGAINST ZOMBIES
F. AITHFULNESS
I. NSTRUCTION
R. EPENTANCE
E. EXHORTATION

77. What Is A Successful Church
A Series Looking At How Does God Define
A Successful Church (Part 9)
Revelation 3

78. The Church Of Philadelphia

79. No Correction Needed
God Gave
Them An
Open
Door…

80. What Was
This Open
Door?

81. 3 Fold
Meaning…

82. 1. God Had
Given Them A
Way To Endure
Persecution

83. 2. God Had
Given Them
An Open
Avenue To Talk
With God

84. 3. God Had
Given Them A
Great
Opportunity To
Spread The
Gospel

85. 3 Reasons Why
The Church Of
Philadelphia
Was Given This
Open Door

86. 1. Had Little
Strength

87. 2. Had Kept
His Word

88. 3. Had Not
Denied His
Name

89. What Can We
Deduct From
This Church?

90. 1. Its Faith Was
Sincere

91. 2. Its Faith Was
Subject to Testing

92. 3. Its Faith Was
Known

93. We Have An
Open Door…

94. God Has Given
Every Church In EVERY
Generation The Same
Opportunity

95. God Has Given
Every Church In EVERY
Generation The Same
Opportunity

96. God Has Given Every
Church In Every
Generation The Same
Command…

97. God Has Given Every
Church In Every
Generation The Same
Resource…

98. GO YE INTO ALL THE
WORLD….PREACH THE
GOSPEL….BAPTIZE THE
CONVERTS….
DESCIPLE THEM…

99. TECHNOLOGY

100. POLITICAL
LIBERTY

101. RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM

102. FINANCIALLY
BLESSED

103. WHAT IS A SUCCESSFUL
CHURCH: The Zealously

104. LAODICEA
• The city is located in the Lycus River Valley together with
Hierapolis and Colossae. This valley is a natural route of
travel from east to west.
• The city was founded by the Seleucid king Antiochus II
and named for his wife Laodice about 260 B.C.

105. "And unto the angel of the church of the
Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen,
the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the
creation of God; 15I know thy works, that thou art
neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or
hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and
neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my
mouth" (Rev 3:14-16)

106. Problem:
1. Change in temperature indicated a cooling off
2. Was heated but then lost its source
3. Not cold – not hot
4. Lukewarm water induces vomit
5. Better if it was never heated

107. Hey, look! A lion! just pretend its
not there…
Boy, this is going to be a breeze…

108. At least I am on the
right track

109. 39 degrees mold will begin

110. Complacency
Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and
increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and naked:

111. Self Deception
Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and
increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and naked:

112. Substituted Wants As Needs
Revelation 3:17-18 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and
increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and naked:
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that
thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest
be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not
appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou
mayest see.

113. Perspective
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be
zealous therefore, and repent.

114. HOPE
Re 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man
hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him,
and will sup with him, and he with me.

115. What Is A Successful Church
Part 11

116. Following Biblical Patterns
• Jerusalem
• Acts 2:41-47
Steadfast Unity
Spirit Filled Preaching Boldness
Known by Focused On
Structured
community Word of God
Public
Prayerful Priorities
Testimony

117. Following Biblical Patterns
• Jerusalem – Acts 2:41-47
Persecution poverty Incomplete Bible
Dictatorship multicultural Captive/enslaved
problems within diversified No “rights”
Enemies
Divers religion No property
without

118. Following Biblical Patterns
church of Jerusalem
• Preachers/Missionaries Sent Out Of Jerusalem
– Peter
– James (persecuted)
– John
– James (became pastor)
– Paul
– Stephen (deacon-martyred)
– Phillip (deacon –turned evangelist)
– Barnabas

119. Persecution Or Motivation?
Before Persecution During/After Persecution
Jerusalem Jerusalem
Judea
Samaria
Global

120. Fulfillment of Prophesy

121. PERSECUTIONS ADVANCED THE
GOSPEL

122. Jerusalem Became A Church With A
Global Emphasis

123. What Made The Church At
Jerusalem Effective?
 Mandatory Jewish Feast Days
 Roman Empire (Roads and Commerce)
 Mediterranean Accessibility
 Heritage
 Impact Of Christ’s Ministry

124. What To Glean From
This Church
Nothing Can Be Done
Without God’s Holy
Spirit – Acts 2

125. What To Glean From This
Church (Jerusalem)
Nothing Can Prevent God’s Work From
Advancing – Acts 5:38-39

126. What To Glean From This
Church (Jerusalem)
Persecution works opposite for a church

127. What Is A Successful Church
Series Part 12
Following
Biblical
Patterns:
The Church
of
Antioch, Sy
ria

128. Its Formation
Acts 11:19-26
Discipleship
Effective Preaching
Cross Cultural

129. Its Faith
Acts 11:26- 30
Faith Giving
Faith Living
Faith Sending
Faith Dependency

130. Its Function
Acts 13:1-3
GO

131. Its Function
Acts 13:1-3
Baptize

132. Its Function
Acts 13:1-3
Teach

133. Its Function
Acts 13:1-3
Churches
Begin
Churches

134. Its Follow Through
Acts 13:1-3
14:26,15:30-41
Convert
Confirm
Commission

135. Its Favor
Acts: The “home church” should be a place
13:1-3,
14:26, 1.of respite (rest)
15:30-
41, 18:22-23 2.of report
3.of ‘rescue’(in case of emergency)
4.of recuperation (healing)
5.of resource
6.of rejoicing
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136. The Antioch Church
Local Church
Authority
Independent
Constituted on Word
of God
Governed By The Holy
Spirit

137. The Antioch Church
Evangelistic (local)
Missional (World Wide)
Earthly Bound (relevant)
Heavenly Focused
(purpose)
Disciplined (inwardly)
Demonstrating
(outwardly)

138. Antioch was a local church with
global vision
Are we doing all we can do
locally?
Are we doing all we can do globally?