Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Texts - ; ;

Church Growth in the last days

remarkable multiplication of mega-churches

use of marketing platforms

use of church programs to attract the public

employing of sermons that appeal to human needs

How the Early Church Grew (the first 3 decades of church history)

Accounts of church growth beginning at Jerusalem

- he church started with a core group of 120 disciples in Jerusalem.

- he church started with a core group of 120 disciples in Jerusalem.

- 3000 were added on the day of Pentecost - new disciples were added to the church daily - the number of believers rose to 5,000 - the word of God continued to increase, the number of the disciples multiplied greatly, many priests became obedient to the faith - the disciples were scattered by persecution throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria - Samaria receives the gospel - the church throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria had peace and was built up, and multiplied.

- Cornelius receives the gospel in Caesarea - the word of God increased and multiplied after an angel of the Lord kills Herod in Tyre and Sidon - marks the beginning of the missionary journeys of Paul; the gospel goes to the various provinces of the Roman empire First missionary journey - - Seleucia, Salamis and Paphos in CyprusActs 13.13 - Perga in Pamphylia - Antioch in Pisidia - Jews believed in Pisidia - Iconium - Lystra - Derbe - back to Lystra, Iconium, Antioch, and appointed elders - back to Antioch Second missionary journey - - Cilicia - returns to Derbe and Lystra; finds Timothy - the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily, when Paul came to Derbe - Troas - Samothrace and Neapolis - Philippi in Macedonia; Lydia was converted - the jailer in Philippi was converted with his family - Amphipolis, Apollonia and Thessalonica - Berea - Athens - Corinth - Cenchreae - Ephesus - returns to Antioch Third missionary journey - - Ephesus - in Ephesus the word of the Lord continued to increase - goes to Macedonia via Troas - Assos, Mitylene, Miletus - Tyre - Jerusalem - Paul arrested in Jerusalem - at Jerusalem, Paul related how God worked in his ministry among the Gentiles

- 3000 were added on the day of Pentecost

- new disciples were added to the church daily

- the number of believers rose to 5,000

- the word of God continued to increase, the number of the disciples multiplied greatly, many priests became obedient to the faith

- the disciples were scattered by persecution throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria

- Samaria receives the gospel

- the church throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria had peace and was built up, and multiplied.

- Cornelius receives the gospel in Caesarea

- the word of God increased and multiplied after an angel of the Lord kills Herod in Tyre and Sidon

- marks the beginning of the missionary journeys of Paul; the gospel goes to the various provinces of the Roman empire

First missionary journey -

- Seleucia, Salamis and Paphos in Cyprus

- Perga in Pamphylia

- Antioch in Pisidia

- Jews believed in Pisidia

- Iconium - Lystra - Derbe

- back to Lystra, Iconium, Antioch, and appointed elders

- back to Antioch

Second missionary journey -

- Cilicia

- returns to Derbe and Lystra; finds Timothy

- the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily, when Paul came to Derbe

- Troas

- Samothrace and Neapolis

- Philippi in Macedonia; Lydia was converted

- the jailer in Philippi was converted with his family

- Amphipolis, Apollonia and Thessalonica

- Berea

- Athens

- Corinth

- Cenchreae

- Ephesus

- returns to Antioch

Third missionary journey -

- Ephesus

- in Ephesus the word of the Lord continued to increase

- goes to Macedonia via Troas

- Assos, Mitylene, Miletus

- Tyre

- Jerusalem

- Paul arrested in Jerusalem

- at Jerusalem, Paul related how God worked in his ministry among the Gentiles

Observations

The church was born on Pentecost in 30 AD, Paul was arrested on Pentecost in 58 AD, 28 years later

The Book of Acts opened on Pentecost in 30 AD, and closed 31 years later when Paul landed in Rome, 61 AD

Time when the church showed remarkable growth

Times when church showed remarkable growthfirst gospel preaching at Pentecost - when the problem in Jerusalem church was resolved - when persecution scattered the disciples - when persecution dissipated after Saul was converted - when the church focused on mission work - when confusion among the Gentiles concerning the Law were settled and promulgated -

first gospel preaching at Pentecost -

Times when church showed remarkable growthfirst gospel preaching at Pentecost - when the problem in Jerusalem church was resolved - when persecution scattered the disciples - when persecution dissipated after Saul was converted - when the church focused on mission work - when confusion among the Gentiles concerning the Law were settled and promulgated -

when the problem in Jerusalem church was resolved -

when persecution scattered the disciples -

when persecution dissipated after Saul was converted -

when the church focused on mission work -

when confusion among the Gentiles concerning the Law were settled and promulgated -

3 Marks of Church Growth

Numerical Growth

, were added to the original 120 disciples

- the members grew to 5,000 men (not including the women)

- many priests were added to the disciples

Spiritual Growth

- Spirit-filled men were identified among the disciples; the Word of God increased

- the Word of God increased and multiplied

- prophets and teachers were rising

- the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily

Ministries Expansion

- there was distribution of goods to the poor members

- mission work was established

Note - this was not due to persecution

Genuine Church Growth is a Work of the Holy Spirit

Mission Advance

Biblical Pattern for Church Growth

The Holy Spirit led the church to growth in three ways:

1. Spirit-empowered gospel preaching

- Peter preached the first sermon that brought in 3,000 new believers

2. Spirit-guided resolution of internal problems

- the apostles resolved the rising problem in the church

Acts 6.

- Saul’s conversion brought peace in the churches

Acts 9.

- resolution from the Jerusalem council brought joy to the churches

Acts 15.30

Acts 16.4-5

3. Spirit-led mission works

Acts 13.

The Church is the Spirit’s vehicle - the means - by which He will accomplish His work.

to bring the Gospel of Christ to all nations

- you will be my witnesses