Church Growth

Introduction

-Growing into the body of Christ. Growth is measured in 2 ways: personal, spiritual maturity (being more like Jesus in character and conduct) and numerically (adding souls to the church). These two things go together. When one happens then so does the other. Evidence of the individual Christian maturing is developing the skill of sharing their faith, being a witness in using their God-given abilities and/or evangelizing. On the other side of the coin, when the lost comes to Christ it builds the faith of Christians involved in that conversion. These two things go hand-in-glove.

Growing into the body of Christ means maturing as individual Christians in Christlikeness and adding numbers to God’s church (souls of people who are being saved, not just for Sunday attendance).

-In the book of Acts, the phrase, “God multiplied them” or “God added to their number” occurs several times. Let’s look at 5 of them briefly to learn how we can grow into the body of Christ.

I. Evangelizing (Acts 2:36-41, 3:)

A. Jesus called His apostles to be His witnesses. Their primary objective was to testify to Jesus being Lord and Christ. This began on Pentecost, a mere 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection (2:36)

1.Peter, along with the 11, stood up and boldly proclaimed Jesus’ death and resurrection as part of God’s plan. Yet, the Jews sinned in killing their Messiah

a. Many were convicted at the revelation of Jesus Christ as Lord and wanted to know what they could do. Peter was glad to answer (v. 37-40)

b. The point is this, there is nothing they can do to fix their sin problem. Jesus provided the only solution: forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit

1. All people must be is respond God’s way, by faith they repent and are immersed to receive God’s gift

2. Peter encouraged and sought to prove the truth of the gospel with many words and evidences

2. At the end, 3,000 believed, repented, and were baptized. Being counted as the first to receive the salvation of the resurrected Lord (v. 41)

B. Evangelism is a key part in growing into the body of Christ

1.It’s a faith builder for both the evangelizer and the one being evangelized to

a. We believe and trust in the Lord and His salvation so much that we can’t help but talk about it

b. We know that the gospel is God’s power to transform lives for the better (Romans 1:16)

2. You don’t have to be the smartest, have the best memory, or the best arguments to win people to Christ

a. Live your life above reproach for Christ (let the way you live, your demeanor, your words, your attitude, all be an example of the positive change Christ makes in you)

b. Be open about the things God has done in your life (tell your testimony, talk about Jesus and why you follow Him)

c. Look for opportunities to pray with people (that one action can make a greater impact than you realize)

3. Evangelizing is about planting and watering seeds. Go to your world, plant/water some seeds with the good news of Jesus, keep living a faithful life as an example to others, and pray with/for people. Then watch as God adds the increase

II. Community (Acts 2:44-47, 4:32-37)

A. Acts 2 is the beginning of Christianity

1. After the initial 3,000 converts in response to Peter’s sermon, we find details regarding what the church did thereafter (vv 42-47)

a. What brought people in the door to hear the gospel from the apostles? The community of the church

b. Believers had all things in common, they sold their possessions to take care of needs, worshiped as one, and ate in each other’s homes. They lived life together. As a result, they had the respect of all and the Lord continually added people who were being saved. 

2. The unity of believers is meant to be an example, one that shines the light of Christ among the nations. We cannot be the beacon of the gospel we are called to be if we isolate ourselves

a. Too often we are picky about which Sundays we spend with God’s people. We willingly neglect gathering and serving with other Christians. We refuse to make the most of every opportunity to develop in the faith and assist others in growth as well. Our conviction about gathering and participating must change for the better.

b. There is truth in the phrase, “You get out what you put in.” Perhaps church services are not structured in a way that meets your every need. Maybe there are inadequate avenues for the utilization of people’s abilities. Churches are not perfect but they are made up of people who are saved by grace.

B. This is a key component for growing each other and bringing more people to Christ

1.People today are looking for a sense of belonging, they want to feel included and develop deep, meaningful relationships

2. Developing a community of family in our church is pivotal for developing as Christians

a. We need the encouragement and the accountability

b. The lost need to see what it means to live as children of God

3. We praise the Lord for the community we already have: I know of visitors who have come and said that we are friendly, there’s a warm atmosphere, and they feel welcome

a. We want to keep growing in this to meet each other’s needs and the needs for the lost

b. We grow in:

1.Having all things in common/one mindedness (the same core beliefs of Jesus as Lord, living by faith, the foundation of God’s Word, the hope of eternal life, the severity of sin, and the reality of salvation)

2. Spending time together (hospitality, service projects, Bible studies, etc.)

3. Helping the needy (first in our own walls then in our neighborhoods. What needs can we meet? Buying diapers and wipes for new moms? Cooking a meal for the one struggling? Fixing or upgrading something that broke? Helping with chores that are too much? Lending a listening ear to the hurting?). Ask the question, “What can I do for you?”

4. Praise God together. (Look for ways to help other people to have a positive, meaningful worship experience. Perhaps by singing songs you don’t particularly like, maybe by sitting next to someone you don’t usually sit by for encouragement, inviting someone to come serve with you, etc.)

III. Solving Problems (Acts 5:1-14, 6:1-7)

A. God’s people are not exempt from problems. Life breeds problems

1.In Acts 5 we read of a couple, Ananias and Sapphira, who chose to sell their property for a certain amount, decided to keep some of the money for themselves, and lied to Peter about how much they gave to the needy

a. Peter showed them how serious a sin this is, they lied to the Holy Spirit not just to men (v. 3)

b. God made an example of Ananias and Sapphira, they both dropped dead (v. 9-10)

c. Notice the result (v. 11-14). The church came together in unity, following God in faith, choosing to do righteously, and followed the apostles’ lead. Thus, all people had high respect for the church and God continually added to their number (those who were being saved)

2. The church didn’t just deal with sin problems, they had a system problem (Acts 6)

a. The Grecian widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. The need was there, the solution was there, but there was a problem with executing (fulfilling the ministry)

b. The apostles came up with a solution (v. 2-4). Noticed what happened once they added leaders to oversee this ministry (v. 7).

c. With the problem resolved, people had freedom to spread the gospel and many more became obedient to the faith

B. Our natural inclination is to avoid problems (hoping they’ll go away). God does not want us to treat problems so flippantly

1.It takes courage and boldness to deal with a problem head on: whether it’s sin, a problem with our system, a poor choice in judgment, a rash word spoken, etc.

2. We see in the Bible how solving problems opens up the opportunity for growth and success:

a. Moses was overwhelmed and overworked. He was the sole judge for the entire nation of Israel (Exodus 18). His father-in-law, Jethro, gave advice for Moses to find leaders among the 12 tribes who could take some of the burden off, which is exactly what Moses did (v. 24-26). Once that was settled they went to Mt. Sinai to enter the Mosaic Covenant with God, receiving the 10 Commandments

b. During the conquest, Joshua led the Israelites to a massive victory in Jericho. God’s one stipulation was that the plunder of the city was to be dedicated to the Lord as a tithe, a thankful offering for God’s power and help. The problem? Achan chose to take some of the spoil for himself secretly. When Israel then tried to fight against the small town of Ai they lost, because God was not with them. In Joshua 7 we read of how God makes clear that there was sin in the camp, they figured out who it was, brought about the proper punishment, and God was with them for victory

c. Esther was a Jew in exile and she becomes queen. It is in that position where she learns of a plot to destroy her cousin and her people. She had to muster up courage to go before the king, facing death, so that she could save her people. A scary problem and a brave solution

3. God wants us to face our problems to resolve them and He will help us

a. Take the first step in reconciling, no one else will

b. Pull someone aside to talk to them, yet, with gentleness and respect

c. Look for ways to build up, not tear down

d. Be willing to take the loss, even if you were right (someone slaps you on cheek then present the other)

e. Seek advice if you aren’t sure how to proceed

IV. Encouragement (Acts 9:26-31)

A. Saul, the great persecutor of the church, became a Christian and was persecuted himself

1.After fleeing Damascus and arriving in Jerusalem, Saul sought out the Christians for fellowship but they all feared him (v. 26)

a. But Barnabas stood up, put his arm around Saul, and defended him. Only then did the people accept Saul (v. 27-30)

b. They did ministry together with all boldness, spreading the name of Jesus

2. The result? The church was built up and it grew, all because one man encouraged another and defended him (v. 31)

B. Life is full of uncertainties and struggles. Encouragement can often be the fuel that propels people forward through the pain

1.The problem lies not in the difficulties of life but our perspective and reaction to them

a. We look out and see hopelessness and disaster. We say to ourselves, “The only way this can end is badly” or, we beat ourselves down

b. Depression and anxiety run rampant, in part, because people cannot see any hope. We need to be encouraged and to give encouragement. Some of the greatest growth comes when we fight our way out of the depths of despair

c. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

2. Ways to encourage and be encouraged:

a. 1) Endure: keep picking yourself and others up, take one step at a time. Draw near to God, He will draw near to you. Remind yourself and each other of the glories to come, just keep going

b. 2) Evoke: intentionally look for opportunities to do good and loving deeds. Find ways to stir up/provoke others to join you in doing good

c. 3) Engage: get together with like-minded people, find a friend, be in the fellowship of Christians. Living life together helps uplift us in times of need

V. Continued Faithfulness (Acts 11:19-24)

A. Persecution had been continuing against the church and it forced Christians to spread all over and they preached Jesus everywhere they went (v. 19-21)

1.The church at Jerusalem heard about the gospel spreading to Antioch and Barnabas went to help them out

2. Barnabas was glad to find the grace of God changing lives and he encouraged them to continue in faithfulness to the Lord. The people, along with Barnabas, continued in boldness and many were added to the Lord (v. 23-24)

B. We all need men and women like Barnabas to look up to

1.It’s been said that everyone needs a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy

a. A mentor to guide us and teach us

b. A peer to encourage us and strengthen us

c. A student to invest in

2. Barnabas was a good man who led by example. He called the Christians in Antioch to stand firm in their faith, to remain true to the Lord. Look at the difference an example of continued faithfulness made

3. Continue in faithfulness

a. Learn from the example of a trusted, respectable Christian who has qualities you want to have

b. Find a comrade to walk beside, challenging one another to continue

c. Invest in someone that you can add value to (this is the concept of discipleship)

4. It may take longer than you expected. Keep growing in Christlikeness, fight the good fight daily. Be the example that can change lives by living out your faith day by day

Conclusion

These are 5 different areas of church growth: both personal and communal. We are not perfect, but we are growing. It’s a journey that we are walking together. So, pick one of these areas that we talked about today and seek ways to improve and develop: evangelism, community, solving problems, encouragement, and continued faithfulness.

Remember, you’re not in this alone. We are growing into the body of Christ together.