• “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 1:1-2).

• “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints” (Colossians 1:1-4).

WHAT MAKES FOR A SOUND CHURCH?

• Sound doctrine/teaching/instructionI Tim. 1:8-11; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; Titus 1:9-2:1

• Sound/wholesome words, I Tim. 6:3-5

• Sound words, pattern/standard, 2 Tim. 1:13

• Sound in the faith, Titus 1:13-14

• Sound in faith, love, & patience, Titus 2:2

WHAT DOES SOUND MEAN?

(II) Metaphorically of persons, to be sound in the faith, meaning firm, pure in respect to Christian doctrine and life (Titus 1:13; 2:2). Of doctrine, meaning sound doctrine, i.e., true, pure, uncorrupted (1 Tim. 1:10; 6:3; 2 Tim. 1:13; 4:3; Titus 1:9; 2:1).

Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.; Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

WHAT DOES SOUND MEAN?

72.15 ὑγιαίνωb: (derivative of ὑγιήςb ‘right, accurate,’ 72.14) to be correct in one’s views, with the implication of such a state being positively valued—‘to be correct, to be sound, to be accurate.’ ἔλεγχε αὐτοὺς ἀποτόμως, ἵνα ὑγιαίνωσιν ἐν τῇ πίστει ‘rebuke them sharply that they might be correct in their faith’ Titus 1:13.

Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Vol. 1, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament : Based on Semantic Domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.; New York: United Bible societies, 1996), 673.

WHAT DOES SOUND MEAN?

ὑγιαίνω; (ὑγιής); … to be sound, to be well, to be in good health: prop., Lk. 5:31; 7:10; 15:27; [3 Jn. 2]; metaph. the phrase [sound in the faith] … is used of one whose Christian opinions are free from any admixture of error, Tit. 1:13; [faith, love, endurance] …, of one who keeps these graces sound and strong, Tit. 2:2; [the sound doctrine], the sound i. e. true and incorrupt doctrine, 1 Tim. 1:10; 2 Tim. 4:3; Tit. 1:9; 2:1; …1 Tim. 6:3; 2 Tim. 1:13, ….

Joseph Henry Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Being Grimm's Wilke's Clavis Novi Testamenti (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1889), 634.

A SOUND CHURCH

Titus 1:9

Titus 2:12

Titus 3:1-2, 14

“The churches of Christ greet you” (Romans 16:16)

• “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (I Cor. 1:10).

“The churches of Christ greet you” (Romans 16:16)

• “For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church” (I Corinthians 4:17).

• “But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches” (7:17).

“The churches of Christ greet you” (Romans 16:16)

• “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints” (I Corinthians 14:33).

• “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also” (I Cor. 16:1).

“The churches of Christ greet you” (Romans 16:16)

• “As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9).

• “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia--remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine” (I Tim. 1:3).

“The churches of Christ greet you” (Romans 16:16)

• “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).

• “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:17).

Revelation 2:1-3:22The Seven Churches of Asia

JESUS’ MESSAGE TO THE 7 CHURCHES

• The church of Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7)–Right for correct doctrine (2-3, 6)–Wrong for lack of love and fervor (4-5)

• The church in Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11)– The challenge of adversities and hardships:• Tribulation (v. 9)• Poverty (v. 9)• Blasphemy (v. 9)• Imprisonment/Death (v. 10)

JESUS’ MESSAGE TO THE 7 CHURCHES

• The church in Pergamos (Rev. 2:12-17)–Right for holding fast to Jesus’ name (13)–Wrong for holding to doctrinal error (14-16)

• The church in Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-29)–Right for their works, love, service, faith,

and patience (19)–Wrong for tolerating evil rather than

reproving it (20-23)

JESUS’ MESSAGE TO THE 7 CHURCHES

• The church in Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6)–Right for some works, some faithful (2, 4)–Wrong for being spiritually lazy & dead (1-3)

• The church in Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13)–Right for keeping Jesus’ Word, not denying

His name, and persevering (8, 10) –Responsibility to use the opportunities Christ

had given them (8)

JESUS’ MESSAGE TO THE 7 CHURCHES

• The church in Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22)–Received no commendation by Christ–Wrong for being spiritually lukewarm (15-16)–Wrong for being wretched, miserable, poor,

blind, and naked (17)–Wrong for lacking zeal (19)

GOD’S PLAN FOR YOUR SALVATION: