LIBERTY UNIVERSITY JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
The Fifth Characteristic of a Healthy Church: A Commitment to Share with Courage
A Paper Submitted to
the Faculty of the School of Divinity
in Candidacy for the Degree of
Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership (Ed. D) Department of Christian Leadership and
Church Ministries
By
Mary Gracias
Lynchburg, Virginia
9/2022
The Fifth Characteristic of a Healthy Church: A Commitment to Share with Courage
The first community of saints reflected the power and nature of God with their lives. The
early Church followed their Biblical example (recorded in the Book of Acts) as they emulated
the nature and essence of the first disciples. The observations of those who witnessed the early
Church should inspire and guide us. If we were to imitate the earliest energized believers, our
churches would transform the culture and inspire a new generation. How can we, as Christians
today, become more like the Church that changed the world and transformed the Roman
Empire? We must learn the truth, strive for unity, live in awe, serve in love, share with courage
and overflow with joy. These six important characteristics were held by the earliest
congregations:
Acts 2:42-47
And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to
the breaking of bread and to prayer. And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many
wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were
together, and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions,
and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. And day by day continuing with
one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals
together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the
people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Six simple attributes were observed in the earliest believers. These characteristics can serve
as a template and guide for those of us who want to restore the passion and impact of the early
Church. If we employ them today, we’ll create healthy, vibrant, transformative churches. As
grateful Christ followers, our gratitude should motivate us to share the truth with others:
Principle #5: Share with Courage
The Church must live a bold and fearless life surrendered to the cause of Christ:
“…and they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe;
and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had
believed were together, and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and
possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. And day by day
continuing with one mind in the temple…”
While the early believers certainly cared for those within the Christian community who
were in need, they also courageously communicated the truth of the Gospel with the world
around them. The scriptures tell us they were of “one mind in the temple”. What was this
“mind” they shared? Repeatedly, and in spite of intense opposition, the apostles and their
disciples entered the temple and preached the truth about Jesus. This courageous stand for the
truth often brought them into conflict with the world around them:
Acts 4:1-3
And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard, and
the Sadducees, came upon them, being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the
people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
Opposition became a part of the lives of the first believers. They grew to understand and
accept it and live their lives with courage. They repeatedly returned to the most hostile of
environments to share their faith because they knew (in spite of any hardship they might suffer)
God had a cause they wanted to join and He was ultimately in control of their destiny. The first
believers were continually directed back into the eye of the storm:
Acts 5:19-21
But an angel of the Lord during the night opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he
said, “Go your way, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this
Life.” And upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and began to teach.
The Church must live with courage. We need to be prepared and ready to share our faith
with people who hold differing views. We know the first believers didn’t wait to be asked about
their faith and their God; they entered into the most dangerous and hostile of territories and
tactfully reasoned with non-believers, even before they were invited. We should live with this
kind of wisdom and courage. We need to look and plan for opportunities to engage people with
the Gospel. We should have the courage to talk to people who hold differing views. We should
understand what they believe and where they are coming from. This passion and courage will
often lead us into hostile territory; into the heart of other faith systems, onto university
campuses, into ideological communities. But we ought to combine our time of training with a
life of courage to advance the cause and mission of Jesus.
