1 / 118

A STUDY ON CHURCH GROWTH

A STUDY ON CHURCH GROWTH. But what is the most effective way to reach people today? The Institute For American Church Growth asked over 10,000 people this question. : "What was responsible for your coming to Christ and this church?" Their replies were:. a . I had a special need - 3%

jesusclemens
Download Presentation

A STUDY ON CHURCH GROWTH

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. A STUDY ON CHURCH GROWTH

  2. But what is the most effective way to reach people today? The Institute For American Church Growth asked over 10,000 people this question. • : "What was responsible for your coming to Christ and this church?"Their replies were:

  3. a. I had a special need - 3% • b. I just walked in - 3% • c. I liked the minister - 6% • d. I visited there - 1% • e. I liked the Bible classes - 5% • f. I attended a gospel meeting - 0.5% • g. I liked the programs - 3% • h. A friend or relative invited me - 79%

  4. DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN THE WORD & GROWTH

  5. Acts 12:24, “But the word of God grew and multiplied.” • Acts 19:20, “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”

  6. I. THE ELEMENTS OF CHURCH GROWTH

  7. PRAYER • Acts 1:14, “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” • Before the day of Penecost, prayers were prayed!

  8. The power of "prayer in agreement“ again is established when the Sanhedrin threatened the followers with punitive action if they continued to speak about the "name" (Acts 4:18). The impulse to share was too great, however, and a meeting of unified prayer sent the early church to new levels of boldness (Acts 4:31). "Having been bold in witness, they were equally bold in prayer."

  9. Strategy • Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

  10. This strategy is unfolded in the rest of the books of Acts. • God had a plan. He knew how, where, and who would carry out this plan!

  11. Acts 2:37-47, “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

  12. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

  13. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

  14. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

  15. From Acts 2 We Learn The Three C’S • 1) A Challenge, “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39). • Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

  16. 2) A Charge, “Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (Acts 2:40). • We need to be dedicated to teach, warn, and fight against false teachers, false churches, and Satan! • We can’t save others if we cannot save ourselves!!!!!

  17. 3) A Commitment, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common” (Acts 2:42-44).

  18. Commitment is the key to almost everything in life. What makes a good employee? COMMITMENT! What makes a good spouse? COMMITMENT! What makes a dedicated Christian? COMMITMENT! • Psa. 37:5, “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”

  19. Vision • Another element of why the early church grew was because of vision! • Prov. 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

  20. Concern • Acts 4:32-35, “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

  21. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.”

  22. It wasn’t the goods laid at the apostles’ feet that drew these people together. They became a family that cared about each other. They were of ONE HEART and ONE SOUL! • People wanted to belong! That was one of the great secrets of the early church. It wasn’t a social club; it was a family united!

  23. Evangelism • Evangelism was a key element in the growth of the early church! • According to God, we are responsible for this entire community. We must think of ways to reach every lost soul in this community!

  24. Universal Cooperation • There was this universal umbrella where poor churches were supported by wealthier churches. • Rom. 15:26, “For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.”

  25. Churches were to be concerned with preaching the gospel message. • Once you realize that the richest person in the universe owns the church; you come to understand that by doing His will, money will not be an issue!!!

  26. TRACING CHURCH GROWTH IN THE BOOK OF ACTS

  27. I. Starting At Jerusalem • Acts 2, It was the day of Pentecost, AD 33, the first sermon was preached, and 3,000 souls were added to the church!

  28. The Incubus • Acts 2:5, “And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.”

  29. Training • Before people headed back to their countries, cities, and towns, they stayed in Jerusalem and were taught! • Acts 2:41, 42, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

  30. Sharing • Acts 2:46, 47, “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

  31. Endearing Faith • In Acts 3 & 4, Peter and John heal a lame man, get arrested, and told to stop preaching! • Their preaching brought 5,000 men to the Lord!

  32. Acts 4:18-20, “And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

  33. Conflict & Resolution • Acts 5:1, “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.” • In Acts 5:1-11, the story is revealed. Note verse eleven, “And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.”

  34. God resolves the first conflict within the church. • Note the effect: Acts 5:14, “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.”

  35. 2nd conflict: Acts 5:17-20, “Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”

  36. Start feb.8 • Note that God resolves the conflict! • In Acts 5:24-33, They are brought before the High priest, chief priest, and council and told to stop preaching. Peter proclaims, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (vs. 29).

  37. The conflict is further resolved by the most unlikely character, Gamaliel. • Acts 5:38, 39, “And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”

  38. The Apostles’ Reaction • Acts 5:41, 42, “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”

  39. 3rd Conflict, Acts 6:1-7, “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

  40. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

  41. Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

  42. When it came time to select men who could take on this responsibility, it was given to those men who were completely dedicated to Christ! They were not chosen because they had experience in business. They were not chosen because of their intellectual aptitude. They were chosen because they were filled with the Holy Ghost and Wisdom.

  43. 4th Conflict, the Death of Stephen, Acts 6:8-7:60. • Acts 8:2, “And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.”

  44. 5th Conflict, Saul, Acts 8:1-4, “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

  45. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”

  46. Resolution: God converted Saul to Christianity! (Acts 9).

  47. II. PREACHING IN SAMARIA • The Lord’s strategy was that the church would begin in Jerusalem, and then be established in Samaria. • Acts 8:4-6, “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.”

  48. III. PREACHING TO FOREIGNERS • Acts 8:26-28, The Eunuch, “And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.”

  49. Cornelius (Acts 10, 11). • This story speaks of the prayer of a sinner, an angel’s guidance, and Peter’s prejudice! • The Lord had to command Peter in a vision to eat a meal that was unclean three times! (Acts 10:16). • Once again we are dealing with conflict and resolution. Peter’s prejudice was the conflict, and obedience to God was the resolution.

  50. After Peter spoke of the conversion of Cornelius to the apostles and brethren at Jerusalem, they responded positively. • However, the gospel was still being preached primarily to the Jews: “Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only” (Acts 11:19).

More Related