There are so many different ideas relative to

There are so many different ideas relative to “church growth. ” In the first place, rather than think of “church growth, ” it might be better simply to think of the “salvation of souls” and how such is effected.

Acts, Our History Book

Acts, Our History Book Preaching Pentecost Samaria Eunuch Saul Cornelius Jailer Lydia Preaching Rom. 1: 16 Believed, 2: 36 Believed, 8: 12 Believed, 8: 37 Believed, 10: 43 Believed, 16: 31 Believed, 16: 14 Faith Rom. 10: 17 Repented Confessed Baptized Repented, 2: 38 Baptized, 8: 12 Confessed, 8: 37 Baptized, 8: 38 Baptized, 22: 16 Baptized, 10: 48 Repented, 16: 33 Baptized, 16: 15 Repentance Acts 17: 31 Confession Rom. 10: 9, 10 Baptism Gal. 3: 27

Church Growth How to Get 90% of Your Visitors to Join Your Church By Josh Hunt Fasten your seat belt, friend, because this is the most high powered approach we have. I do not know anything that works better than giving Friday nights to Jesus. Giving Friday nights to Jesus will reach more people in less time than any method I know. In fact, if you give Friday nights to Jesus and your class does not double in two years or less, it probably can't be done. The really unbelievable thing is that giving Friday nights to Jesus is more fun than Six Flags…. We didn't dream this ministry up, God lead us into it through his sovereign working out of the circumstances of our lives…. Here is how it works….

Church Growth . . . We used to have our friends over on Friday nights to play cards. We would have dessert, tell jokes, and play games together. One day I suggested to Sharon that we invite a couple who had visited the church to join us on Friday night. We did, and we had a good time in the process. During the entire evening, we never said anything about church or Sunday school or the Bible or anything remotely religious. But, do you know what? They joined the church in a few weeks. Now, he is teaching a class himself…. ”

Church Growth “…A few weeks later, we invited another couple over. We played cards, we laughed, we ate dessert, we had a good time. Guess what? After a few weeks, they joined the church and became very active in the group now…. After six months of this, I did a little research. I discovered that forty-five couples who would have been prospects for out class had visited the church during that time. We were able to have ten couples to our house to play cards. Nine out of these ten joined the church and became involved in the class…. I don't know of any method more effective in assimilating visitors than this hospitality ministry. ”

Acts, Our History Book Preaching Pentecost Samaria Eunuch Saul Cornelius Jailer Lydia Preaching Rom. 1: 16 Believed, 2: 36 Believed, 8: 12 Believed, 8: 37 Believed, 10: 43 Believed, 16: 31 Believed, 16: 14 Faith Rom. 10: 17 Repented Confessed Baptized Repented, 2: 38 Baptized, 8: 12 Confessed, 8: 37 Baptized, 8: 38 Baptized, 22: 16 Baptized, 10: 48 Repented, 16: 33 Baptized, 16: 15 Repentance Acts 17: 31 Confession Rom. 10: 9, 10 Baptism Gal. 3: 27

Church Growth

Church Growth “… 14: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15: But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4).

Church Growth Mutual edification. Sense in which taught (Eph. 4: 16). However, the modern “mutual edification doctrine” is not what Paul was teaching!

Church Growth Competent pulpit teaching. Mutual edification as practiced by some discourages competency in the pulpit and in classes (2 Tim. 4: 1 -5, I Tim. 5: 17, 18). James 3: 1 discourages such a practice as the mutual edification means of church growth.

Church Growth Verses that teach growth: I Peter 2: 1, 2; Colossians 1: 9, 10; Hebrews 5: 11 -14; I Corinthians 3: 1 -3; 2 Peter 3: 18; 2 Peter 1: 5 -11.

Church Growth “ 5: And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6: And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7: And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8: For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9: But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10: Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Pet. 1).

Church Growth Why grow? 1. In order to be obedient (I Pet. 1: 22). 2. To avoid being led astray (2 Pet. 3: 17, 18). 3. To be a skilful adult (Heb. 5: 11 -14). 4. To be of the same mind (I Cor. 1: 10).

Church Growth Why grow? 5. To truly be an asset (cp. Acts 15: 22). 6. To fulfill the purpose for which we have been created (Eccl. 12: 13).

Church Growth How to grow? 1. Have faith (I Thes. 5: 24, not done over night, Luke 8: 10 -15). 2. Attend every service (Acts 2: 42, Heb. 10: 24 -31, Eph. 4: 15, 16). 3. Do not run away from problems (Jas. 1: 2 -4).

Church Growth How to grow? 4. Study the word (Col. 1: 10, 2 Tim. 2: 15). 5. Pray often (I Thes. 5: 17, Rom. 12: 12). 6. Teach others (Acts 8: 4). 7. Be around mature Christians (Rom. 15: 1 -3).

Church Growth Conclusion: “ 12: Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13: For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Phili. 2).