I Want to Tell You About a Good Church

The people, not the building.

The West Hobbs Street Church of Christ meeting place.

Paul described the church as being the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23). The church was bought at a high price - it was purchased with Jesus Christ’s own blood (Acts 20:28).

Individual Christians are valuable members of the body - the church - of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

Every Christian is a part of the “brotherhood” or “family of believers” (1 Peter 2:17). Qualified Christian men (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9) are to serve as shepherds over each local congregation of the Lord’s church (1 Peter 5:1-4; Acts 20:28).

I want to tell you about one of these “local churches” in this article. It’s the church where I’m blessed to be able to serve through preaching God’s word each week.

I haven’t talked much about this local church because at first, most of you who read this are also members of the same church as me. But as more people have started reading these articles - many of you I don’t know as well as I would like - I realized that you probably have little to no idea about the West Hobbs Street Church of Christ.

As my family and I celebrate three years as members of this good church, I thought it would be good to give the rest of you a glimpse into what I’ve come to know about a church that loves the Lord and each other and loves opportunities to serve.

A Good Church Has Good Shepherds Who Lead the Church After Jesus.

The importance of godly, qualified Christian men who serve as the shepherds of the local church cannot be over-emphasized.

Local congregations (or flocks) of the Lord’s people must have shepherds guiding them through this life. Paul sent Titus to the island of Cypress to establish order among the churches there, and the first step to doing that was for him to “appoint elders" (Titus 1:5). These men would protect the church from the devastating error of false teachers (Titus 1:10-16).

Peter reminded us that elders are shepherds who lead the flock under the authority of the Chief Shepherd - Jesus Himself. Peter said that Jesus will reward shepherds who lovingly tend to His flock (1 Peter 5:1-4).

The West Hobbs Street Church of Christ has four godly elders who guide the flock after the Lord. They ensure the church is properly fed from God’s word, protected from false teaching, and that the weak, young, or struggling are built up and strengthened.

Our shepherds.

I am convinced that the Chief Shepherd has blessed the church at West Hobbs Street mainly because of the godly leadership of our current elders (as well as previous elders).

A Good Church Clings Tightly to God’s Word.

Paul told Timothy that it was the Holy Scriptures that were able to make him “wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). These same Scriptures were what make Christians “complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Because of the importance of God’s word in every Christian’s life, Paul gave Timothy - a teacher and preacher - a solemn charge.

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. (2 Timothy 4:1-2)

Those who preach and teach have a serious service to fulfill. God’s word must be proclaimed on every biblical subject - not the philosophy or traditions of men, not the opinions or “hobbies” of the preacher, and certainly not that which is false.

The truth has been exalted as God’s word and proclaimed as such for many years among the West Hobbs Street Church of Christ. The consistent diet of God’s word has caused the church to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (1 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Peter 3:18).

A Good Church is Christ-Centered.

This may seem so obvious it’s not worth mentioning, but I think it’s easier for the church to forget this point than we might like to admit.

The two “book-ends” of Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth are the message of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5) and the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15). Throughout that letter, as he helped them correct their many problems, Paul continued to point them back to who Jesus is and what He had done for them.

The church's shepherds must keep themselves and the flock focused on the Chief Shepherd and following after Him. The preachers and teachers must continue proclaiming God’s word and the good news of who Jesus is, what He has done, and what He brings.

All Christians must be equipped (Ephesians 4:12) to live a life in this world that remembers the example Jesus left for us.

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: "WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH"; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:21-25)

The West Hobbs Street church strives together to keep Jesus Christ at the forefront of all we do - from what we teach, to our worship, even to the way we try to live in this world.

A Good Church Willingly Serves Others.

Our Lord’s willingness to serve others and the compassion He had for others stands out whenever we read through the gospel accounts.

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. (Matthew 4:23-25)

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. (Matthew 9:35-36)

The Lord’s example of service and loving-kindness He showed to others was quickly followed by the very first members of His church.

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)

As I have come to know the members of the West Hobbs Street Church of Christ, I’ve learned that this church is full of selfless servants who follow our Lord’s example of loving and serving others.

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In a time where the church is often cast aside, even by some of the religious, as “non-essential,” we would do well to remind ourselves just how important God’s word says His church is.

Part of my reason for writing this is to encourage you that there are churches out there that are striving to be all God wants them to be.

Just like anyone, we have our areas where we could do better. We are not sinlessly perfect - nor would we ever claim to be. But we are walking with God in the light and have His forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ His Son (1 John 1:5-10).

What a blessing God’s eternal purpose in Jesus is (Ephesians 3:11)! And what an unspeakable blessing it is that His church is able to declare God’s many-sided wisdom to the world (Ephesians 3:10).