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  A CHURCH CHURCH
  by A.W. Tozer
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Summary: The ideal church is a healthy, fruitful vineyard that honors
Christ, marked by beautiful simplicity, Christian love, and childlike
candor.

Topics: "Church Unity", "Spiritual Renewal"
Scripture References: John 15:5, Philippians 2:3

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A.W. Tozer emphasizes that the church should embody a healthy and
fruitful vineyard that honors Christ, characterized by simplicity, love,
and humility. He envisions a community where gossip is absent, and each
member serves selflessly, fostering an atmosphere of childlike honesty
and reverence. Tozer asserts that the presence of Christ should be
palpable, with answered prayers and miracles being commonplace,
reflecting the church's alignment with scriptural standards. He
challenges the congregation to believe in this vision and to pursue a
radical transformation that recaptures the ancient power of God. The
call is for a reformation that breaks away from the prevailing religious
mood to achieve this ideal church.

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CONTENT
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The church should be a healthy, fruitful vineyard that will bring honor
to Christ, a church after Christ's own heart where He can look at the
travail of His soul and be satisfied. Among the people should be a
beautiful simplicity and a radiant Christian love so it would impossible
to find gossips and talebearers. There should be a feeling of humble
reverence and an air of joyous informality, where each one esteems
others better than himself or herself, where everyone is willing to
serve but no one jockeys to serve.

Childlike candor without duplicity or dishonesty should mark the church,
and the presence of Christ should be felt and the fragrance of His
garments smelled by His beloved. Prayers should be answered so regularly
that we think nothing of it. It would be common because God is God, and
we are His people. When necessary, miracles would not be uncommon. Is
that, in the light of Scripture, unreasonable and undesirable to expect
of a church? . . . Is this impossible? Is anything impossible with God?

Is anything impossible where the Lord Jesus Christ is? Is this
unscriptural? No! The only thing that is unscriptural about this vision
is that it is not up to the standard of Scripture yet. The scriptural
standards are still high. If you answer, "No, it is not unreasonable,
undesirable or impossible," then you are saying you believe in this. If
you believe in this, if you would like to become the church that could
begin this reformation, this change toward the better, this recapturing
of the ancient power of God in the souls of people, then there must be a
radical psychological break with the prevailing religious mood.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/aw-tozer/a-church-church/
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