How Do Churches Grow How Do Churches Grow

How Do Churches Grow?

How Do Churches Grow? o Building a Healthy Church o Evangelism as a Team Effort o Do We Expect to Grow? o The End of Cookie-Cutter Evangelism o Are You Ready for Growing Pains?

Are You Ready for Growing Pains Counting the Cost

1) Investment A. Time i. New Construction Does Not Equal Growth Alone. ii. 1 Corinthians 3: 6 -8 § New Classrooms = The Planted Seed § Our Teaching = The Watering § God = Increase of Those Seeking the Truth iii. More classrooms and more students will need additional teachers. (Acts 6: 3)

1) Investment Are you ready to invest more of your time for the sake of growth?

2) Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zones A. Friendliness i. “Friendliness starts and ends in the parking lot. ” (Biblical Guidelines to Effective Evangelism; Comer) B. Hospitality i. Define: the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way.

2) Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zones B. Hospitality ii. Applies to Our Visitors and New Members. (James 2: 1 -4, 8 -9) iii. Understand the importance of small groups. § § § Start with 10 – 20 Continue with 40 – 60 End with whole congregation

2) Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zones Are you ready for the cost of stepping out of your “comfort zone” to be a warm and friendly church that is hospitable for the sake of growth? “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. ” - 1 Peter 4: 9

3) Patience A. Parking i. Consider Allowing Space for Visitors. ii. Growth = A Full Parking Lot! B. Seating i. Consider Allowing Seats for Visitors. ii. Growth = A Full Auditorium! C. New Ideas i. New Christians with New Ideas about Scripture. ii. Growth = Patience with Teaching!

3) Patience Are you ready for the cost of being a little more Patient with a full parking lot, being Patient when the seats fill up and you can’t sit in your “favorite spot, ” being Patient with new Christians who need our help to be taught the word of God for the sake of growth?

4) Future Growth A. Parents Affect on Children i. A Study Shows: § § § If both parents are active in church – 80% of children remain. If only one parent is active – 50% of children remain. If no parents are active – only 20% of children remain. ii. Another Study shows: § § 76 Million adults in the U. S. are baby boomers. Their children add another 70 Million to the population. Equals 146 Million or 58% of the U. S population “Post-War Generation is getting larger and more unchurched”

4) Future Growth Are you ready to pay the personal cost of time, stepping out of your comforts zone, having patience with new Christians, being an active worker in the church?

Are You Ready for Growing Pains Counting the Cost