Local churches are made up of children of God who agree to work together in specific geographical locations.  In the New Testament, we read of local churches in places such as Jerusalem, Rome, Ephesus, Corinth, Philippi, etc.  It is God’s will that those who obey the gospel and are added to the universal church of Christ (Matthew 16:18), join themselves to local churches where they can work together with other Christians.

While there is only one universal church (Ephesians 4:4), there are many local churches spread throughout the world.  Faithful local churches all have some things in common, but each one is unique, being completely autonomous.  All local churches have their weaknesses and strengths.  The question is, what kind of local church is pleasing to God?  We will be looking at the characteristics of a model local church this week.

Let us begin by considering a converted church.  Before a person can be added to the church, he or she must convert.  In his second recorded sermon, Peter said, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted…” (Acts 3:19).  The word convert here means “to turn about” (Strong).  This takes place when a person is baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38), but repentance demands ongoing fruit.  When John the Baptist saw the Pharisees and Sadducees come out to hear him preach, he told them, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8).  The fruit verifies that one has truly been converted.

A model local church is filled with people who have been converted—people who have turned away from sin and devoted themselves to Christ.  To the one who has been converted, the world is no longer appealing.

Galatians 6:14 (ESV)
¹⁴  But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Something that is crucified dies.  Paul was saying here that the world had become dead to him.  All of his energy and focus were on the cause of Christ and pleasing God.

Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
¹³  Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Are you a part of a converted church?  In answering that question, you should start with yourself.  Have you been truly converted, and if you say yes, are you bearing the fruit of repentance which proves it?  Those who are converted attend all the assemblies of the saints (Hebrews 10:24-25), preach the gospel to the lost (Matthew 28:19), and do all they can to help the local church reach its full potential (Ephesians 4:16).  As evidence of their commitment to Christ and His cause, they give as they have been prospered (1 Corinthians 16:1-2), and they do so cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).  Does this sound like you?

A church filled with these kinds of members is going to be a model church.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.