The Keys to a Growing Church

Introduction:

I read an article from Pew Research Center that stated the number of Christians attending church is slightly lower than in 2019. The percentage of people that attend service once or more a month declined from 33% to 30%. I don’t think it’s any surprise to us that the church as a whole is in decline.

I don’t think church attendance is the biggest shift we saw during the pandemic, but the perception of church to those with God. If a person is seeking faith, hope, and love for their lives, I’m not sure they are turning to the church to find those answers.

We are used to people turning to the church to find God and fulfilment, but those day are gone. Church has become an unknown to the lost world. Even Christians have declined in seeking the church for spiritual growth in faith, hope, and love.

It’s important that every church body be lazar-focused on the mission of God and the direction God is taking them.

Because of these factor we can relate to the first church in Acts 2. The World was not looking at this group of people for the answers for life.

Acts 2:41 ESV

41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

You’ve got 3000 baby Christians that have come to the realization that they killed Jesus.

Acts 2:42 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

If they had stayed in their holy huddles the world would have been lost. There had to be more. The Acts 2 Church is not the goal of a mature body of believers but the birth of the church.

The growth methods of Acts 2 are important and we will discuss those in detail but first we must understand the goal of the church if we are going to turn the world upside down as they did.

The Goal of the Church

Ephesians 4:11–12 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Kingdom Ministry

Salvation through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

Jesus commanded them to go into all the world and preach the gospel.

Reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ.

We are ambassadors of the kingdom to reconcile people to God.

2 Corinthians 5:18–20 ESV

18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Kingdom ministry requires Kingdom Maturity.

Kingdom Maturity

Ephesians 4:13 ESV

13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Unity of the Faith

This is what we know as discipleship: helping believers come into the unity of the faith.

This is why we mentor through 180° personal discipleship.

The knowledge of the Son of God

This is why we have a discipleship path that goes beyond the basics of 180°.

I’m teaching the Keys to Bible Study starting in a few weeks in which I teach you to feast on the knowledge of the Son of God.

The Stature of Christ

Ephesians 4:14 ESV

14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

No longer Children

Hebrews 5:12–14 ESV

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

1 Corinthians 13:11–13 ESV

11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Speaking the Truth in Love

Ephesians 4:15–16 ESV

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

God is love

The mature Christian expresses the image and likeness of God which is love.

Transition

This is the goal of the Church: Kingdom ministry through Kingdom maturity. The goal of the church is not the fellowship of believers, breaking bread together, and prayers. It’s Kingdom ministry through Kingdom maturity.

So, how do we get there? Acts 2 gives us the keys for growing into Kingdom ministry and Kingdom maturity.

Keys for a Growing Church

Acts 2:42 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Devotion to God’s Word

The new covenant of Grace

The fullness of God’s desire and plan.

Devotion to God’s People

The fellowship of believers

The communion of the saints

Devotion to God through Prayer

Acts 2:43 KJV 1900

43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

Healthy Fear of God

Acts 2:44–45 ESV

44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Collective Unity

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts - Aristotle

Giving to your body is taking care of yourself.

Acts 2:46–47 ESV

46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Corporate Worship In the temple

Christians come together

Hebrews 10:25 ESV

25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Even is Paul’s day some had gotten out of the habit of daily church.

We meet together for encouragement.

Every day revolved around the temple.

These were devout Jews that had become devout Christians.

How devoted are you to Christ and his Church? I’m afraid we are fitting God into our schedule instead of God consuming our lives.

Communal Worship Around the table

Worship spilled over into their homes.

Eating Together

Sharing the joy of the Lord together

Praising God together

Worship spilled over int the community.

Acts 2:47 (ESV)

47 ...And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

R-Groups Discussion Questions:

What does it mean to live in the full Stature of Christ in Ephesians 4:13?

Ephesians 4:13 ESV

13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Would you consider yourself a child in Christ or a mature believer? Why?

How can we grow together to be more mature in Christ?