Traits of Growing Churches 1 Types of Growth

Types of Growth • • • Fast growth? Sustained growth? Spiritual growth? Numerical growth?

Emphasize Faithfulness to Christ, not Numbers • Christians encouraged to be faithful seedsowers; Let

Emphasis on the Power of the Gospel to Save • Not on gimmicks, entertainment,

Personal Responsibility of Each Member is Stressed • We cannot all do the same

Interest is in Working for Christ, not Promoting Self • Do the work that

Prepare each Christian to Help the Church Grow • Prepare yourself to teach, Col.

Prepare each Christian to Help the Church Grow • Some results of individual preparation:

God Gives the Increase 1 Cor. 3: 6 -7 • Numerical growth without spiritual

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Traits of Growing Churches 1

Types of Growth • • • Fast growth? Sustained growth? Spiritual growth? Numerical growth? Growth that pleases God! 1 Cor. 3: 6; Acts 2: 47; 5: 14; 6: 7 • Bible traits of growth that pleases God 2

Emphasize Faithfulness to Christ, not Numbers • Christians encouraged to be faithful seedsowers; Let God give results, Lk. 8: 11 (5) – Confident faith that is loyal and true to Christ, Phil. 4: 13 – Faithfulness is essential to be fellow-workers, 1 Cor. 3: 1 -9 – Spiritual strength not measured by numbers and quotas, 1 Cor. 3: 6; 1 Chrn. 21: 1 -4, 7, 14 3

Emphasis on the Power of the Gospel to Save • Not on gimmicks, entertainment, social gospel, etc. , Jno. 6: 26 -27; 2 Tim. 4: 2 – Not: Feasts and festivals to draw people to gospel…or to keep them, Matt. 14: 13 -15 – Not: Benevolence to draw lost, Acts 3: 1 -8, 11 – Feeding souls the bread of life, Jno. 6: 35 • Teaching the gospel, not teaching to teach • Send out the message, Isa. 55: 11 4

Personal Responsibility of Each Member is Stressed • We cannot all do the same things, but we can all do something, Eph. 4: 11 -16; 1 Cor. 12: 12 -27; Rom. 14: 12 – By doing our part we help unite the church, encouraging one another and helping the church grow 5

Interest is in Working for Christ, not Promoting Self • Do the work that needs doing while encouraging others to also work – Don’t “toot your own horn” or look for credit, Matt. 6: 16 -18 – Self-promotion is worldly, kills enthusiasm and promotes factious division, Jas. 3: 13 -16 • Growth is harmed as disharmony surfaces 6

Prepare each Christian to Help the Church Grow • Prepare yourself to teach, Col. 4: 5 -6 – Study your Bible, 2 Tim. 2: 15 – Strengthen your resolve against rejection, 2 Tim. 2: 1 -3 – Serve in your sphere of opportunity and influence, Gal. 6: 5 7

Prepare each Christian to Help the Church Grow • Some results of individual preparation: – Principle of multiplication is applied, Tim. 2: 2 – Baptize at all hours, Acts 16: 33 – Ground new converts, Matt. 28: 19 -20; 2: 6 -7 2 Col. 8

God Gives the Increase 1 Cor. 3: 6 -7 • Numerical growth without spiritual growth is just carnal growth • Spiritual growth is essential, Eph. 4: 12 -15 (Matt. 28: 19) • Numerical growth may or may not coincide with spiritual growth 9