Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (KJV)
Loved ones, assisting the church to grow spiritually and in numbers is the service every committed Christian will strive to do to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Jesus said, “19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20). From these marching orders, we learn that the power of salvation lies NOT in institutions, publicity, entertainment, gimmicks, or emotional outbursts. Rather, soul winning disciple-making lies with the humble people of God; i.e., Christians who will submit to God’s Method Of Church Growth – EVANGELISM or preaching the Gospel. If you are familiar with the 27 books of the New Testament, you understand that the church of the first century grew rapidly. Unfortunately, today the church of Christ is not growing as it should. However, if the principles and basic factors that caused the early church to grow were applied today, surely, they would help us also to grow. First, we might consider some things that were NOT factors in the growth of the early church. Many church leaders believe that the key to church growth is spending more money, sometimes large amounts of money. Yet, when one looks at the factors that led to the growth of the first century church, money was unquestionably not one of them. In fact, most of the factors that modern church leaders believe are essential to growth were absent in the early church. The early church did not have nice buildings; in fact they had no buildings at all. The church met in a variety of locations such as the Temple (Acts 2:46), but it seems that most congregations met in private homes (Acts 5:42; Philemon 2). The early church did not have well educated, prestigious, eloquent men serving as preachers, since located preachers as we think about them were virtually unknown in the first century. Most of the members were poor, and it was the common people who gladly heeded the words of Jesus (Mark 12:37). Thus, the church was not largely composed of civic leaders and rich respected prominent members of society. There is no "quick fix" for church growth. However, one factor that is absolutely essential for the advancement of the kingdom are for all members to truly live a Christian LIFESTYLE. Colossians 3:1-10 teaches us to seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. We are to set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Your old you is dead, and your life is now hid with Christ in God. Therefore, the Christian lifestyle must deny all avenues of sin (which we once walked in). Our lifestyle must be one that puts away fornication, covetousness, anger, and filthy communication out of our mouth. We must never lie to one another, as our old man led by our old father, the devil, tempted (John 8:44). We have put on the new man, made in the image of Jesus. The Christian life is fundamentally a partnership with God and other Christians. We are fellow laborers in God's church kingdom (Colossians 1:7; Philemon 16-17). There must be loving, personal relationships among Christians as well as among non-Christians. Individual members must spend much time in prayer. Paul used the word "together" several times to highlight a sharing that should exist among Christians. For example, in Colossians 2:12-13 Paul wrote that after being buried with Christ in baptism, we were also raised and made alive “TOGETHER with him,” having been forgiven of all our trespasses. Many other New Testament references emphasize the "one another" aspect of the Christian faith (read 1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:1). From passages like these, one should be able to see the closeness and togetherness that exists between Christians, as well as recognize that we are co-workers with God. Every Christian who spurns and rejects this Christian brotherhood and fellowship is a hinderance to the growth of the church. What then is the solution to the empty pew? Rather, who is the solution to the empty pew? Each child of God must analyze himself or herself to determine if he or she is part of the solution or instead part of the problem respecting church growth. Part of the partnering that we have been discussing involves assisting new Christians to mature so that we can partner with them as well. New converts must “desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). They must also “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). When new converts fail to grow, they become the weak link in evangelism. Another important characteristic of growing churches is that the majority of the members are involved in some ministry. Only people reach people, NOT programs. Statistics have revealed that generally churches with less than 30% of its members involved in some form of ministry are declining, churches with 30% to 55% involved are on a plateau, and those with more than 55% involved in ministry are growing. The church will not grow if evangelism is done by only the preacher, the elders, or deacons, or a few of the members. This idea was also present in the early church when we read in Acts 2:42 that the disciples “continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” They also met regularly together, even from house to house (Acts 2:46). We know that many members were involved in evangelism. It was the disciples that carried the Gospel throughout the regions, while the apostles stayed in Jerusalem. They were persecuted and scattered for sowing the seed and living the Christian lifestyle, but wherever they went they took the Word of God with them (Acts 8:1-4). The most important factor of church growth is that all members are UNITED IN LOVE for God and each other. LOVE for another is how we are identified. Jesus said to His disciples, “34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34-35). Spreading the Word – the Gospel – through evangelism is God’s Method of Church Growth. If you are a child of God, we encourage you to follow the example of the noble Bereans and search the below Scriptures, to see if what we have said is so (Acts 17:10-11). 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Luke 8:11 Luke 11:28 Luke 8:21 Mark 2:2 Acts 4:31 Acts 6:2 Acts 6:7 Acts 8:4 Acts 8:14 Acts 11:1 Acts 12:24 Acts 13:5 Acts 13:7 Acts 13:44 Acts 13:48 Acts 14:25 Acts 17:13 Acts 18:11 Acts 19:20 1 Thessalonians 2:13 2 Timothy 2:9 2 Timothy 4:2 Hebrews 4:12 1 Peter 1:23 1 Peter 1:25 Romans 1:16 Mark 16:15 In summary, if the majority of the members are truly working together in love for the Lord, the church will grow; if the majority of us are not sowing the seed, the church will not grow. It is as simple as that! Instead of looking for excuses or shifting blame for lack of growth, let us go back to the basics. Resolve today to participate in church growth and encourage your fellow Christians also to shoulder their responsibilities to help the Lord's church grow through evangelism. That's GOD'S METHOD OF CHURCH GROWTH! Let’s religiously apply some of the fanaticism typical of sports enthusiasts for the cause of Christ. To the God of heaven be the Glory as His Will is done (1 Corinthians 10:31). Please pray for wisdom, for me and my wife, Cynthia, and for the Liberty NW church of Christ meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA. We are praying for you, and we love you all so much. Samuel.
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