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CHURCH GROWTH

What causes scriptural church growth? It depends on doing God's work in God's way. Paul said, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth" (1 Cor 3:6). Biblical growth isn't swelling but genuinely converted lives to Christ. Paul preached and Apollos edified, but the growth was not dependent on their personality but in the power of God. It is not primarily dependent on man's techniques or schemes.

1. Power of the Gospel. We need to remember that the power to convert lost people, with good hearts, is not in men's ability or style but in God's transforming word of truth (1 Thess 2:13). For example, Steve Rudd who was an atheist and now preaches the gospel in Canada, wrote, "I spent the entire day reading the Bible….I had never read the Bible before. I was stunned with the sudden belief in God that swept over me as I read the gospel of Matthew!" (Biblical Insights, "Why I Changed," p.4). Sid Latham, who had lived a worldly life but was converted by the gospel and now preaches in Bargersville, Indiana, wrote: "I became more dissatisfied with life…I decided to start reading through the NT. The Sermon on the Mount blew me away…I hope you will learn this one thing: the gospel is powerful to change lives" (Biblical Insights, "Why I Changed," p. 9).

Paul said, "I am now ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation" (Rom 1:16). Paul also said, "We do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord" (2 Cor 4:5). The power of truth is in the message of Christ, not the messenger. Our faith does not rest in man's wisdom but in God's power (1 Cor 2:5). Paul and Barnabas "were delivering the decrees…for them to observe. So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily" (Acts 16:4-5). Daily church growth was the direct result of all members growing stronger in the faith (Acts 11:26). This overflowed in reaching out to others with the life-changing power of the faith. A faith not worth sharing is not worth having. The power of truth in our own lives motivates us to evangelize (Matt 28:18-20).

2. Each One Teach One. "Those who had been scattered went about preaching the word" (Acts 8:4). All the members, not a select few, of the Jerusalem church verbally proclaimed the gospel to others. Beyond merely setting a good example (which is essential), we must actually say something to others about how Jesus can change their life.

"Go…tell them what great things the Lord has done for you and how He had mercy on you" (Mk 5:19-20). "You are… a people for God's own possession that you proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Pet 2:9-10). This is verbally and unashamedly "confessing Christ" before men (Matt 10:32-33). Confession is saying the same thing about Him that God says - that He is man's unique Savior.

3. The Preacher & the Church. The preacher works with, not for, the congregation under the elder's oversight. The pastors, with the evangelist, must actively work together to "equip the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ…speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects unto Him…according to the working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love" (Eph 4:12-16). This growth includes personal growth that leads to numerical growth. We need a clear, scriptural view of the preacher's relationship to the church in its spiritual work, as clearly defined in 1 & Timothy and Titus.

This is much different than the popular lone "pastor system" in denominationalism. Veteran gospel preacher James Cooper wrote in The Christian and the Church: "There is much misunderstanding among some Christians about the preacher and his work. Some brethren want to put the preacher on a pedestal, while others want to treat him like dirt under their feet. Both attitudes are wrong.

Many brethren expect the local preacher to visit the sick, check the benevolent needs of members, print the church bulletin, and otherwise `take charge' of the work. They often have a `winning coach' attitude: if the church is not growing numerically (winning), they want to fire the coach (preacher) and get another…While he, like all Christians, has a duty to visit those who need to be visited, he is not the `professional visitor' for the church. The concept of a `professional personal worker' doing the work of the members robs them of many opportunities for spiritual growth…

He has right to expect members to make a diligent effort to help by both word and example in the efforts to reach others in the community with the gospel (Acts 8:4)" (p. 48,49,52). Amen?

Working together in Christ-like love and peace, we all can improve in helping Biblical church growth that saves souls, changes lives and glories God (not ourselves).

By W. Frank Walton