There are numerous books, articles, videos, and audios available on the subject of church growth these days. Churches are bombarded with a large array of resources and models that promise "rapid" church growth, "easy" church growth, "massive" church growth, and the like. But there is no book or program better or more effective than the Bible itself.
A historical look at the birth of Christianity should make something pretty clear: Jesus drew crowds. It is hard to justify a 'small church' mentality when looking at the example of Jesus given in the Bible.
The clear lesson from the life of Christ and the book of Acts is that the church is to be constantly expanding and constantly on the move. And that its impact should not be restricted to formal church services, but rather to the community itself and meeting the needs of those surrounding it. What community has a greater need than hearing the Good News of the Gospel?
When the day of Pentecost came, the writer of Acts records that the Holy Spirit descended on the followers of Christ in "tongues of fire" and with a "mighty wind" (Acts 2:1-3). When this incredible and supernatural event happened, it attracted quite a crowd and gave the apostle Peter a dramatic opportunity to stand up publicly and be counted as a follower of Christ, an opportunity he failed to take on the night of Jesus' trial.
After Peter's sermon, the writer of Acts reports that "about 3,000 souls" were incorporated into the “church”, the "church" being the fellowship of believers and followers of Jesus Christ.
A local church that withdraws into closed-door legalism, "Comfort Zone" complacency, or elitist judgmentalism, according to the Bible, is a church outside of God's will. We must always remember that when we point a finger at someone else, there are three other fingers pointing back at us. There should always be time for critical self-evaluation when things aren’t going as well as they should.
This is not to suggest that a church shouldn't stand for truth as this is clearly part of God's mandate for the church. But if Jesus is #2 on the list of priorities for a church, that church fails to allow the Holy Spirit to work and the church dies or becomes more of a Social Club and Landlord, renting its facilities in order to survive as a result. As long as one continues to do the same things they have always done, they will continue to get the same results they have always gotten.
Social Injustice and Racial Equality are indeed noble causes to work towards, but it can't replace the primary reason a church exists. Jesus has to be that reason in order for the Holy Spirit to fill the pews. Somehow our churches today need to get back to the basics of Christianity.
The biblical model for a church is a church that actively and passionately ministers to both the physical and spiritual needs of those around it, but especially the spiritual needs. Such a church should desire to grow, not for its own glory, satisfaction, or financial concerns, but because of its love for God and the people within its reach.
A historical look at the birth of Christianity should make something pretty clear: Jesus drew crowds. It is hard to justify a 'small church' mentality when looking at the example of Jesus given in the Bible.
The clear lesson from the life of Christ and the book of Acts is that the church is to be constantly expanding and constantly on the move. And that its impact should not be restricted to formal church services, but rather to the community itself and meeting the needs of those surrounding it. What community has a greater need than hearing the Good News of the Gospel?
When the day of Pentecost came, the writer of Acts records that the Holy Spirit descended on the followers of Christ in "tongues of fire" and with a "mighty wind" (Acts 2:1-3). When this incredible and supernatural event happened, it attracted quite a crowd and gave the apostle Peter a dramatic opportunity to stand up publicly and be counted as a follower of Christ, an opportunity he failed to take on the night of Jesus' trial.
After Peter's sermon, the writer of Acts reports that "about 3,000 souls" were incorporated into the “church”, the "church" being the fellowship of believers and followers of Jesus Christ.
A local church that withdraws into closed-door legalism, "Comfort Zone" complacency, or elitist judgmentalism, according to the Bible, is a church outside of God's will. We must always remember that when we point a finger at someone else, there are three other fingers pointing back at us. There should always be time for critical self-evaluation when things aren’t going as well as they should.
This is not to suggest that a church shouldn't stand for truth as this is clearly part of God's mandate for the church. But if Jesus is #2 on the list of priorities for a church, that church fails to allow the Holy Spirit to work and the church dies or becomes more of a Social Club and Landlord, renting its facilities in order to survive as a result. As long as one continues to do the same things they have always done, they will continue to get the same results they have always gotten.
Social Injustice and Racial Equality are indeed noble causes to work towards, but it can't replace the primary reason a church exists. Jesus has to be that reason in order for the Holy Spirit to fill the pews. Somehow our churches today need to get back to the basics of Christianity.
The biblical model for a church is a church that actively and passionately ministers to both the physical and spiritual needs of those around it, but especially the spiritual needs. Such a church should desire to grow, not for its own glory, satisfaction, or financial concerns, but because of its love for God and the people within its reach.
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