Bible Text: Nicene Creed | Preacher: Rev. Dr. Lou Saldiveri

— Pastor Lou’s Notes —
Intro: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit did an incredible miracle on that first Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection. We can find this account in Acts, chapter 2 and particularly in the later verses of that same chapter. You and I need to know the four marks of a healthy church. The better we embrace and understand the marks of a healthy church, the better the probability that we will honor and glorify God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

First, lets look at Acts 2 and look at the role of the Holy Spirit in the formation of the church.

1.
The Holy Spirit Opens Hearts

1.
To hear the gospel
2.
To understand the gospel
3.
To gives willing hearts the desire for repentance and faith (prophetic)
4.
To call out the people of God to be a church
2.
The Holy Spirit Makes Clear the Four Marks of a Healthy Church

1.
Unity: Acts 2; Ephesians 4:3-12

1.
The Holy Spirit is the basis for unity: Phil. 2:1-4
2.
Love is the the life blood of the church
3.
Unity does not mean unifromity

1.
Healthy diversity in unity is good

1.
Different backgrounds, different gift sets, different personalities
4.
We can love one another even when we may disagree

1.
St. Augustine said. “in essentials, unity; in non essentials, freedom; and in all things, charity”.

1.
What are some of the essentials?

1.
Salvation by faith alone in the finished work of Christ
2.
God is a triune God
3.
The Bible is the Word of God and carries His authority

1.
It is our final authority when it is interpreted using historical, grammatical rules of hermenutics
4.
Heaven and Hell are real
5.
Christ is coming again
2.
Holiness

1.
We are called by God to pursue holiness and be different from the world: Lev: 11:44-45; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2

1.
We are willing to honestly deal with sin in confession and repentance before God
2.
We willingly yield to the Holy Spirit in the continuing process of sanctification: 1 Thess. 4:3-7
2.
The church corporately is called to be different from the world

1.
We affirm corporate biblical morals and ethics with glorify and honor God

1.
The importance of corporate worship, preaching and teaching the Scriptures, corporate prayer, and outreach to our community and the world.
2.
The importance of discipleship, identifying, and effectively training ministry leaders
3.
Catholicity: Gal 3:28

1.
The gospel is for all
2.
The gospel is for the whole world; Matthew 28:18-20
4.
Apostolic

1.
Faithful to the teaching of the Apostles e.g. the Scriptures: 2 Tim. 3:16
2.
The example of Paul teaching and preaching
3.
When we, the church, strays away from Scripture, we get in trouble

1.
Martin Luther’s reformation

Closing: God created the church to be a place of unity in love, holy (set apart for HIs use and glory), catholic (Bringing the whole gospel to the whole world), and Apostolic (Matthew 28:18-20). The church is the Bride of Christ. The church is the Body of Christ! The church is an unstoppable force empowered by Christ’s love through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God!