Growth (part 2)

The nature and ministry of the church:

Growth (part 2)

“…to equip...” means to bring someone or something to completion (perfect and adequate in every respect) and fit for some purpose

“…build up the church...” means the act of bringing something closer to fullness or completion; understood as if assisting in the construction of an incomplete building.

Last week we considered that the list of practices in Acts chapter 2 might serve as the “core values” (the nature) of the church

The ministry of the church must come out of the church’s nature…and we must take care that the ministry never supersedes the nature!

Here’s the question:

What should the church be doing?

The (simple) answer:

Equipping God’s people to do his work, to build up the church.

As we try to decide “how” to equip and build, we need to make sure that multiplication of numbers should never be the “why” that drives our ministry efforts.

It isn’t just about numbers - it is about equipping and building

The building of the church is not 1) simply adding numerical growth, 2) adding a new wing or ministry, or 3) “doing” more stuff

1 Peter 2:5 “And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.”

Let’s look at Paul’s description in Eph 4:13 to try to understand the goal of growth

We all ought to be continually learning more and more about how to measure up to the full and complete standard of Christ!

Consider Philippians 2:5-11 “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Don’t forget - our spiritual journey rarely sees a “square one reset”

If we fail, fall, sin we can simply confess, repent, and continue on our journey to be like Jesus.