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The Persevering Church

Healthy churches persevere; they don't die.

Healthy, Growing Churches (5)

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3.10

Commentary on the Apocalypse 3.10
Tyconius (330-390)
“Although the church is constantly put to the test by both internal and external conflict, and either individuals partially or the whole generally are attacked by various temptations, yet the hour of temptation may also refer to the time of the antichrist who will come in the future. From this hour Christ the Lord promises that he will free every church that remains firm in his [commandments], so that the temptation to ruin might be recognized to be a deception.’”

Recently, a lovely church building in our town was purchased by an insurance company. It still looks like a church, but it hasn’t been one for years. I recall a church in rural Maryland, where we used to live, that had been made over into a private dwelling. I can’t help but wonder, when I see such things, What happened that those churches didn’t continue as churches? Churches persevere when they embrace Paul’s model for building Christ’s church, so that faithful shepherds equip the saints for works of ministry, and the church grows in unity and maturity as a result. Healthy churches discern when things are not going as they should, and they take stock, renew themselves in the things of Christ (v. 11), and refocus all their efforts on being the Kingdom signs and outposts the Lord intends them to be. Churches that do this persevere in their mission. They don’t end up as offices for insurers or chic dwellings for the nouveau riche.

How does your church assess the state of its health and perseverance?

T. M. Moore

Healthy, Growing Churches
Our assessment tool, Twelve Questions that Could Change Your Church, can help you discover the extent to which you are building the Lord’s church as He intends. Use this tool with your church leaders to discern the health of your church, then to plan the next phase of your growth as the Body of Christ. You can download Twelve Questions for free by clicking here.

The Fellowship of Ailbe is supported through the generous and faithful gifts of those who benefit from and believe in our work. Does the Lord want to use you in this way? Please look to Him in prayer over this question. You can contribute to The Fellowship of Ailbe by using the Contribute button at our website, or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452. Thank you.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Quotations from Church Fathers are from the
Ancient Christian Commentary Series, published by InterVarsity Press.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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