And He expects it to ----

It’s not your jobto make the Church grow

It’s the nature of theIt’s the nature of theChurch to grow. Church to grow.

1. Provide the factors1. Provide the factors that support growththat support growth

2. Cope with factors 2. Cope with factors that interfere with itthat interfere with it

And it will grow whenwe:

Predictions of the CHURCH• To AbrahamTo Abraham• By IsaiahBy Isaiah• By DanielBy Daniel

All describe it as powerful andAll describe it as powerful and

GROWINGGROWINGGROWINGGROWING

Jesus’ Vision for His CHURCH

• Like yeastLike yeast• Like a mustard seedLike a mustard seed• The Great SupperThe Great Supper

All describe it as powerful andAll describe it as powerful and

GROWINGGROWINGGROWINGGROWING

The New TestamentThe New Testamentchurch is the church is the model of healthmodel of healthand growth.and growth.

Verbal exclamationpoints in the book of ACTS

• Three thousand were addedThree thousand were added• The Lord added to their number dailyThe Lord added to their number daily• The number grew to about 5 thousandThe number grew to about 5 thousand• More and more believed . . .The number of disciples More and more believed . . .The number of disciples

increased rapidlyincreased rapidly• Grew in numbers living in the fear of the LordGrew in numbers living in the fear of the Lord• A great number of people believed and A great number of people believed and

turned to the Lord . . .And . . . .turned to the Lord . . .And . . . .• The Word of God continued to increase and The Word of God continued to increase and

spreadspread

• The word of the Lord spread through- out the whole The word of the Lord spread through- out the whole regionregion

• They preached . . . and won a large number of disciplesThey preached . . . and won a large number of disciples• So the churches . . . grew daily in So the churches . . . grew daily in

numbersnumbers• Some of the Jews . . . a large number of God-Some of the Jews . . . a large number of God-

fearing Greeks and not a few prominent fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women women

• Many Jews . . .prominent Greek Many Jews . . .prominent Greek women . . .many Greek men.women . . .many Greek men.

And so ---And so ---The word of the The word of the Lord spread Lord spread widely and widely and grew in grew in power !power !

Acts 2:42-47They devoted themselves to:

• Meeting together--temple & house to house

• Learning

• Sharing life in Jesus / caring for one-another in authentic relationships

• Breaking bread (dining / Lord’s Supper)

• Prayer

• Praise / awe

• The favor of those who observed them

• Saving others DAILY

The New TestamentThe New Testament describes a describes a Church that was --Church that was --

The New TestamentThe New Testament describes a describes a Church that was --Church that was --

TRUETRUE

GENUINEGENUINESOUNDSOUND

SOLIDSOLID

CREDIBLECREDIBLE

HONESTHONEST

REALREALVALIDVALID

AN AUTHENTIC CHURCH !

AN AUTHENTIC CHURCH !

AWEAWE

AWEAWEAWEAWE

AWEAWEAWEAWE

AWEAWE

AWEAWEAWEAWE

AN AWESOME CHURCH !

AN AWESOME CHURCH !

HARMONYHARMONY

ONE MINDONE MINDONENESSONENESS

HEARTS HEARTS BEATINGBEATINGAS ONEAS ONEBreathingBreathing

in unisonin unisonBreathingBreathingin unisonin unison

OneOneaccordaccord

UNITYUNITYONE HEARTONE HEART

A UNIFIED CHURCH !

A UNIFIED CHURCH !

Holy SpiritHoly Spirit

Holy SpiritHoly Spirit

Holy SpiritHoly Spirit

Holy SpiritHoly Spirit

Holy SpiritHoly Spirit

Holy Holy SpiritSpirit

Holy SpiritHoly Spirit Holy SpiritHoly Spirit

A SPIRIT-FILLED CHURCH !

A SPIRIT-FILLED CHURCH !

An Authentic Church•Constant

fellowship•Prayer•Worship•Awe•Study / learn /

practice

•Harmony•Care for one-

another•Outreach to

others•Sacrifice /

generosity

PROBLEMPROBLEM::

When we read about thatWhen we read about thatnormalnormal church, church, it appears to be it appears to be abnormalabnormalbecause most churches because most churches today are today are subnormal.subnormal.

-- Bob Moorehead-- Bob Moorehead

It actually It actually happened!happened!

““A community of believersA community of believersdecided together that they decided together that they would live their lives radi-would live their lives radi-cally devoted to God. cally devoted to God. Ninety-five percent devo-Ninety-five percent devo-tion wasn’t enough: they tion wasn’t enough: they determined to submit fully determined to submit fully and follow God in every way.and follow God in every way.

““They agreed to love one-They agreed to love one-another irrationally . . .another irrationally . . .Meeting each other’sMeeting each other’sneeds, making sure thatneeds, making sure thatno brother or sister livedno brother or sister livedwithout. They took offwithout. They took offtheir masks so they couldtheir masks so they couldknow and be known.know and be known.

““Passionately concernedPassionately concernedabout those outside theabout those outside thefamily of God, they reachedfamily of God, they reachedout to lost people, regard-out to lost people, regard-less of the consequences. less of the consequences. They prayed fervently that They prayed fervently that they would have boldness they would have boldness to proclaim the gospel, to proclaim the gospel,

even if it cost them their even if it cost them their lives.lives. ““They looked to the They looked to the direction of the Holy Spirit. direction of the Holy Spirit. Every day they and theirEvery day they and theirleaders asked, ‘What leaders asked, ‘What would the Spirit want us to would the Spirit want us to do? What new thing will the do? What new thing will the Spirit unfold before us Spirit unfold before us today?’today?’

““And with the Holy Spirit inAnd with the Holy Spirit incharge, they worshippedcharge, they worshippedGod continually, andGod continually, andhonored Him by using theirhonored Him by using theirspiritual gifts. Everyonespiritual gifts. Everyoneplayed a critical role, played a critical role, everyone was important.”everyone was important.”

““Think what (Think what (your churchyour church))will be like when all of us will be like when all of us are radically devoted to are radically devoted to Christ, irrevocably Christ, irrevocably committed to each other, committed to each other,

and relentlessly dedicated and relentlessly dedicated to reaching those outside to reaching those outside God’s family with theGod’s family with theGospel of Christ.Gospel of Christ.

We will be a churchWe will be a churchagainst which the gatesagainst which the gatesof hell cannot prevail!”of hell cannot prevail!”

It Can Happen Today

Today, the church canToday, the church cangrow anywhere---with thegrow anywhere---with thepossible exception ofpossible exception ofAntarctica.Antarctica.

---Donald McGavran---Donald McGavran

It Can Happen Today

• The time is right

It Can Happen Today

• The time is right

• The power that is ours

The The The The

Of the authenticOf the authenticChurchChurch

Victor Hugo:“Nothing is as power-

ful as an idea whose time has come. It is stronger than all the armies of the world. An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come.”

ChurchChurchChurchChurch

A fully-functionalA fully-functionalAuthenticAuthenticBiblical Biblical

ChurchChurchChurchChurch

Is an Idea whose Is an Idea whose time has come ---time has come ---

AGAIN !AGAIN !

It Can Happen Today

• The time is right

• The power that is ours

• The population explosion

The unevangelized inThe unevangelized inAmericaAmerica

==

the 5th largest the 5th largest mission field mission field in the worldin the world!!

3rd3rd

It Can Happen Today

• The time is right

• The power that is ours

• The population explosion

• Social crises

• Growing receptivity

The echo of Eden in people

Today --

People are searchingfor “REALITY”

“Get R

eal!”“Real People

Real News”“It’s the Real Thing”

They know they areoften deceived byfalsehood or simulation.

It Can Happen Today

• The time is right

• The power that is ours

• The population explosion

• Social crises

• Growing receptivity

• Resources

Resources available as never before:

• Effective evangelism• Nurture & equip Christians• Competent leadership• Mobilize resources• Administer church life & work• Cope with impediments

Donald McGavran

“I am growing increasinglycertain that Churches today must recover theevangelistic passionof the early Church.”

Donald McGavran:

““Today---Today---in a world where 3/4 in a world where 3/4 people have yet people have yet to believe in Christ to believe in Christ and at least 2/4 have and at least 2/4 have yet to hear of Him . . .yet to hear of Him . . .

““Today---Today---in a world where 3/4 in a world where 3/4 people have yet people have yet to believe in Christ to believe in Christ and at least 2/4 have and at least 2/4 have yet to hear of Him . . .yet to hear of Him . . .

““. . . if a congregation . . . if a congregation is not reproducing,is not reproducing,““. . . if a congregation . . . if a congregation is not reproducing,is not reproducing,

it isit is notnot aa N.T. Church,N.T. Church,it isit is notnot aa N.T. Church,N.T. Church,no matterno matter what what it calls itself.”it calls itself.” no matterno matter what what it calls itself.”it calls itself.”

“Most non-growingchurches neither wantto grow nor expect togrow. They arecontentedly doing thosethings that do notproduce growth. It is assimple as that.

“Most non-growingchurches neither wantto grow nor expect togrow. They arecontentedly doing thosethings that do notproduce growth. It is assimple as that.

“Our Lord went to thecross to save the lost. People who won’t cross the street for the lost can scarcely claim to beHis disciples.”

-- McGavran

“Our Lord went to thecross to save the lost. People who won’t cross the street for the lost can scarcely claim to beHis disciples.”

-- McGavran

A challenge to today’schurches

Cin

der

ella

wit

h a

mn

esia

AWake-up

Call

““And do this, understandingAnd do this, understandingthe present time. the present time. The hour has come for youThe hour has come for youto wake up from yourto wake up from yourslumber, because ourslumber, because oursalvation is nearer nowsalvation is nearer nowthan when we firstthan when we firstbelieved.believed.

The night is nearly over;The night is nearly over;the day is almost here.the day is almost here.So let us put aside theSo let us put aside thedeeds of darknessdeeds of darknessand put on the armor and put on the armor of light.”of light.”

--- Rom. 13:11, 12--- Rom. 13:11, 12

Wake up, O sleeperWake up, O sleeperrise from the dead,rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on youand Christ will shine on you

Eph. 5:14-16 --Eph. 5:14-16 --

Be very careful, then,Be very careful, then,how you live---not ashow you live---not asunwise but as wise,unwise but as wise,making the most ofmaking the most ofevery opportunity, every opportunity, because the days arebecause the days areevil. Therefore do notevil. Therefore do notbe foolish, but understandbe foolish, but understandwhat the Lord’s will is.”what the Lord’s will is.”

wreckage

wreckageChurchChurch

wreckage

wreckageChurchChurchChurchChurch

Lack of growthLack of growth

Must not be Must not be condoned as normalcondoned as normal

AndAnd

Must not be Must not be toleratedtolerated

If a church is notgrowing,

Something is lackingthat must be provided,

Or something ishindering and must bedealt with.