Why Do We Believe in Church Growth
SERIES: Only You Can Be You
LESSON 2: July 17-23, 2024
Rev. Geneva Nelson
AIM: Help us realize how we can fulfill the second mandate of our church’s method for reaching the unchurched and de-churched by evangelizing God’s world.
Matthew 13:31 NIV
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.
This implies growth - not transfer growth. When a church puts on a better show than another church, all the church shoppers flock to that one.
We are called to be fishers of men not keepers of the aquarium.
Ways a Church grows?
1. Biological growth - children of members grow up in church
2. Transfer growth - believers and de-churched
3. Conversion growth - Non-believers
Our primary focus is reaching non-believers.
1) God commands numerical church growth - we have a mission, mandate, and a motive
Matthew 28:19-20 NIV 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
• Make disciples
• Mark disciples - baptism
• Mature disciples - teaching
Mark 16:15 NIV He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Luke 24:49 NIV I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
John 20:21 NIV Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
Acts 1:8 NIV But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Jerusalem - locally (neighborhood)
Judea - expanded area (Louisville)
Samaria - greater area (Kentucky)
For the church to grow, you must believe in it by finding the de-churched and the unchurched. Never lose the desire to grow. Because of the needs of all people, people need Christ. We do not grow for our benefit; we grow for the benefit of people.
2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
1 Peter 3:9 NIV Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
We never pray, “Lord help us reach more people if it’s your will.” It’s always God’s will.
2) Church growth is a choice.
Luke 15 gives us the priority of outreach - leave 99 safe sheep and get one lost sheep; if the sheep don’t come back, the shepherd goes to get him.
If I had a cure for cancer and I didn’t share it, it would be unloving!
The world is much more ready to receive the Gospel than Christians are willing to share it.
Ezekiel 3:18 GNV If I announce that someone evil is going to die but you do not warn him to change his ways so that he can save his life, he will die, still a sinner, but I will hold you responsible for his death.
Why do we evangelize?
A. People need to change. Jesus is the growth agent
Matthew 5:5, 13-14 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 8:11 NIV I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 24:14 NIV And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 26:1 NIV When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,
Jesus’ parables are about growth:
• The Sower - hundred-fold return
• The fig tree - just taking up space
• The mustard seed
• The yeast
• Great banquet - full house
B. Because the nature of the church implies Christian growth.
Colossians 2:19 NIV They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
Numerical growth in:
Acts 1:15 - 120
Acts 2:41 - 3000
Acts 2:27 - daily (365)
Acts 4:4 - 5,000
Acts 5:15 added
Acts 5:28 - Jerusalem - Filled Louisville with their teachings
Acts 6:1 -multiplied
Acts 6:7 - spread
Acts 20:21 - tens of thousands
C. We count people because people count.
What can I do to help my church grow?
1. Ask God where He wants you to serve
2. Pray for the growth of our church
3. Join a class/affinity group
4. Make a list of people who need to have a church
5. Make it your goal that one person become a Christian (unchurched) and a member (de-churche
27 авг 2024
