Transcript 1 Peter 2: 9 - Spiritbuilding

Studying Church Growth
Getting a Biblical
Perspective
Methods
change,
but not
the
message.
1 Corinthians 9:22
To those outside the law I
became as one outside the law
(not being outside the law of
God but under the law of Christ)
that I might win those outside
the law. [22] To the weak I
became weak, that I might win
the weak. I have become all
things to all people, that by all
means I might save some.
THREE CHORES FOR
EVERY CHURCH
Think…
about what we’re doing
2. Determine…
how to do the best we can
3. Always abound!
1 Corinthians 15:58
1.
Influencing Our Growth
1. The CHOICE factor,
1 Cor. 3:6-8
2. The ISSACHAR factor,
3. The ISRAEL fallacy,
1 Chron. 12:32
Amos 9:7
Getting a Biblical Perspective on
Church Growth
FACTS:

Every work God gave to
the “church” is assigned
to the local congregation

The “universal church”
has NO organization, and
NO structure
Getting a Biblical Perspective on
Church Growth
FACTS:

The local church is
“key” to church growth

When we’re talking
about “church growth”
we’re talking about
congregational growth
NUMBERS MATTER…






Acts
Acts
Acts
Acts
Acts
Acts
2:41 - 3,000 the first day
2:47 - adding day by day
4:4 - 5,000 “men”
5:14 - multitudes added
6:1 - increasing in number
6:7 - the number of disciples
increased greatly
NUMBERS MATTER…
20,000 +
members ?!?
was not a
virtue!
Smallness
Growth was a Blessing from
God
God planted
– Matthew 15:13
 God directed
– Revelation 3:7
 God grown
– 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

Influencing Our Growth
1. The CHOICE factor,
1 Cor. 3:6-8
2. The ISSACHAR factor,
3. The ISRAEL fallacy,
1 Chron. 12:32
Amos 9:7
4. The NUMBERS factor, Acts 2:41-6:7
1 Peter 2: 9
…you are a chosen race, a
royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people for God’s
own possession, so that you
may proclaim the excellencies
of Him who has called you
out of darkness into His
marvelous light;
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Now all these things are from
God, who reconciled us to
Himself through Christ and gave
us the ministry of reconciliation,
namely, that God was in Christ
reconciling the world to
Himself…
The Early Church was
“Mission” Focused
They knew their mission
– Luke 19:10; 1 Peter 2:21
 Accepted their mission
– 1 Peter 2:5-9; 2 Cor.5:18-19

The Early Church was
“Mission” Focused
They knew their mission
– Luke 19:10; 1 Peter 2:21
 Accepted their mission
– 1 Peter 2:5-9; 2 Cor.5:18-19
 And worked their mission
– by teaching, proclaiming,
worship, fellowship, and
service

Growth was
the blessing
for being
faithful to
their
mission.
THE FACTS ARE IN…
 1940-70 – everyone rode the wave
 1970’s- wave hit the beach
 1970-95- numerous studies
CONCLUSION?
Growth is largely in the hands of the
congregation.
Trends among growing and declining
churches of Christ indicate 6 clear
choices for churches that have
decided to grow.
Not really open to discussion
anymore. It’s just a matter of
whether we’ll choose to act.
Evangelize or Fossilize
…I have become all things to all men, so
that I may by all means save some.
1 Corinthians 9:22