4 Pillars of Biblical Growth (Relationships)

From Acts to Thessalonians: Biblical Unity for a Growing Church

Introduction:

At the beginning of time, and at the center of creation, there was a relationship. I’d like to share some of the elderships mind-space with you this morning. Things we speak of frequently in our meetings as we look to improve ourselves and the congregation here. There are exciting opportunities here at Forrest Park.

We are blessed to be in one the greatest congregations in the brotherhood. I wish you could hear how others all over the country speak about you. The work here we do locally and the work in LAM. This should not make way for complacency and boasting, but for opportunity to do even better for Christ and his church. To boast in Christ ‘s blessings and what he allows us to share and be apart of. 1 Cor. 1:31

We will explore how the book of Acts provides our model for church growth, and we will take a look at our Focus book this week in Thessalonians.

The church in Thessalonica was a young rapidly growing church, when we read about this congregation I see Forrest Park in many ways.

Georgia Bulldogs Example - Don Garner

Coach Kirby Smart recently spoke about his team's dramatic changes: "Our team is going to be comprised of 54% first and second year players. Very big change for us. Last year was probably one of the most veteran teams I've been a part of. We had a tremendous group that all left at the same time, so we are going to be very young.

So what do you get with that? You get youthful exuberance. We've had practices that have been spirited. We had a great spring practice that we talked about the words fire, passion, and energy. I think the biggest thing that separates teams today is complacency among players versus fire, passion, and energy. So, we've tried to highlight those traits as much as possible with our players. Our players need to bring energy each and every day. If they don't, they'll be confronted by the players that do.

And if the players continue to do that, we'll have a successful season and a successful team in a day and age that times are changing. We have to navigate better than our opponent. We continue to find ways to do that. We sell relationships over transactions. We think the relationship still wins out because the relationship allows you to push people and demand excellence. And we're going to continue to do that. We don't believe in just being transactional because when you're transactional, you cannot accomplish whatever your ultimate goal is, whatever your greatest reach is, whatever the ceiling is for every player and every team we have. You don't reach that without relationships. So, we're going to try to win 24-hour increments each and every day together."

- I will tell you your eldership is not perfect men. We are constantly self examining and pushing to improve within our own roles. We strive to do better. I want to start the lesson off saying we all can enjoy the process of improving ourselves together, this is where relationships are critical in church growth.

Our Church Context

The attendance board in the church. Numbers can become very easily transactional. Churches can get hung up on the transactional numbers of their congregation. The word transactional is cold, not very empathetic, doesn’t carry much connection. It means we only care about being a large congregation.

Just trying to get someone in a baptistery can become transactional. (Repeat). Relationship means you’ll carry the person into the life of Christianity after the baptism. God wants quality over quantity. He wants relationships, not transactions.

Wesley gave us a long list of members who have gone on to their reward here at Forrest Park.

Attendance, approximately 110 new members have come into Forrest Park within the last 3 years. That’s 110 new personalities, 110 new ideas and zeal, 110 new differences, 110 different levels of spiritual maturity, 110 new challenges, 110 new opportunities, 110 new potential! Thats around 1/3 of this congregation!

4 Pillar Models for Biblical Growth (In Acts)

***Acts 2:41-47 - The 4 Pillar Foundation Model - Relational Based Principles.

Four Pillars from Acts 2:

TRUTH - Devotion to Teaching (Acts 2:42) - Grounded in truth - Biblical Relationship

RELATIONSHIPS - Fellowship and Breaking Bread (Acts 2:42, 46) - Intentional & Internal Relationships with each other

PRAYER (Acts 2:42) - Dependence on God together - Relationship with God

SHARED SERVICE (Acts 2:44-47) - Active, generous participation - Mission Relationship

***Acts 6:1-7 - The 4 Pillar Management Model

Key Principles from Acts 6:

Address Issues (Acts 6:1-2) - Don't ignore problems that growth brings - Meetings with members - Challenges bring Opportunities for leadership growth!

Shared Leadership (Acts 6:3) - Empower others to serve meaningfully - IMPACT TEAMS

Focus on Core Mission (Acts 6:4) - Mission Statement - Leaders maintain priorities - Each member doing what is best for the body, not for themselves.

Unity Through Action (Acts 6:5) - Solutions that unify the group! - We’re Better Together!

***MISSION STATEMENT - Forrest Park Eldership

***Case Study: Thessalonians (Acts 17:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10)

Paul's letter to the Thessalonians applies these Acts principles to a young, mixed congregation facing challenges of growth, change, and maintaining unity. There is rapid growth in this congregation as you can see their 2 Thess. 1:3-4

It shows that biblical community thrives on relationships

Relationship with God

Relationship with the churches of Christ

Relationship with one another

And Relationships with those in the world we are bridging to Christ

Not just religious transactions - Paul shows us in Thessalonians a Loving Relationship: Parental / Family Imagery, Personal Longing, Ongoing Prayer.

***Church Growth Implications:

Expect Developmental Challenges

Growth creates new problems that weren't present initially

Success can breed complacency or make churches vulnerable to deception

Young churches need ongoing guidance, not just initial instruction

Adapt Leadership Approaches

Different seasons require different emphases - encouragement (1 Thess.) vs. correction (2 Thess.)

Maintain relational foundation even when addressing problems

Pastoral tone can shift while pastoral heart remains constant

Embrace Maturity

Problems can indicate growth, not failure

Correction is evidence of care, not abandonment

Healthy churches learn from mistakes and become stronger through challenge

***1. Grounded in Truth

Acts 2:42 – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching”

Thessalonians Connections:

Received God’s word as truth, not human opinion: 1 Thess. 2:13

Protected against deception: (Someone in the church speaking falsely!) 1 Thess. 2:13

Encouraged to “stand fast” and hold traditions taught by Paul, whether by word or epistle (2 Thess. 2:15).

Why It Matters:

Doctrinal stability anchors us in turbulent times.

Holding Scripture central prevents drift.

We must develop a culture where God’s Word and His Truth is the anchor of all that we do.

Kirby Smart - “So what do you get with that? You get youthful exuberance. We've had practices that have been spirited.” This is great as long as it is rooted in Biblical principles.

***2. Relationships

Acts 2:42, 46 – “Fellowship… broke bread in their homes… with glad and sincere hearts”

Thessalonians Connections:

Invested care, Pauls relationship to them: (1 Thess. 2:5-13)

Genuine love, church growing in Love!: (1 Thess. 1:3; 2 Thess. 1:3)

Longing and remembrance, Paul shows affection: (1 Thess. 2:17–20).

Exhortation to unselfish service and brotherly care, look out for each other! (1 Thess. 5:12–24).

Why It Matters:

Relationships fuel perseverance under pressure.

Healthy bonds drive communal excellence! Relationships allow you to push people and demand excellence. Because Christ demonstrated the same to us!

The word relationship is at the center of all creation. God’s desire to have a relationship to us!

***3. Prayer - Dependance on God

Acts 2:42 – “And to prayer”

Thessalonians Connections:

Constant intercession, Paul shows his constant petition to God: (2 Thess. 1:11–12)

Mutual prayer requests, Paul petitions the church to also pray for them: (2 Thess. 3:1–2)

Lifestyle of prayer, here Paul expresses prayer as something we should always do in our lives!: (1 Thess. 5:16–18)

Benediction of peace and God’s presence, pray that God will work in us. (2 Thess. 3:16–18).

Why It Matters:

God is our source of spiritual strength.

Corporate prayer binds us in dependence and unity.

***4. Shared Service

Acts 2:44–47 – “All who believed were together and had all things in common… distributing to each as any had need”

Thessalonians Connections:

Call to productive work, don’t be idle!: (2 Thess. 3:10)

Paul’s example, to show he is practicing what he preaches! : (2 Thess. 3:7–9).

Encouragements to perseverance, continue doing good!: (2 Thess. 3:13).

Conduct before outsiders, we are reliant on God and our example will show Christ!: (1 Thess. 4:11–12).

Why It Matters:

Active contribution reflects love, not obligation.

Every member’s service sustains communal health.

Work forms strong leaders and workers for the Lord.

***Conclusion

Paul took the four pillars of Acts 2 and showed us how to live them out in a real, diverse, and growing church. As we embrace:

1. Truth as our unshakeable foundation,

2. Relationships as our life-giving bonds,

3. Prayer as our continual dependence,

4. Service as our shared expression of love—

How do we continue continue to do these things? When you step back and look at the enormity of the work, the opportunity, the lost souls not reached, the activities we have here at Forrest Park, the work of LAM, the fact that time doesn’t slow down and people and faces changes, but God does not change, the Church does not change, and the principles by which we are held to do not change. These Pillars do not change.

We do this one day at a time. I like how Kirby Smart said this,

“Winning 24-Hour Increments Together”

We choose relationships over transactions. We are souls, not numbers.