The Gospel and church growth
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do we as a church have the desire to grow?
are we as a church willing to do what it takes to grow?
How can we as a church participate in church growth?
one way we can all participate in helping the church grow is to be dedicated to spreading the gospel message.
So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
what word had they recieved?
Acts 2:37
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”
they heard the gospel - the words about Jesus
“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—
And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”
yes the death burial and resurrection. that is the message that Peter preached that day, that is the message that caused about three thousand to be baptized.
you’ll notice the infant church continues in in the spostles teaching
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
In chapter 3 Peter and john continue teaching the gospel, the message of Jesus and his death burial and resurrection
But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
Acts 2:
so dedicated and convicted of the importance of spreading the gospel message that when they were commanded not to speak they responded
for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
the apostles prayed
the apostles prayed
Acts 4:29
“And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence,
And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
Acts 4:39
after the angel releases the apostles from prison in acts 5 they are told to speak…the whole message of life. the message of Jesus Christ that life is found only in Jesus.
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.
Acts
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
they point is they were to speak the whole message of life. they could not stay silent. When we stay silent the gospel is not heard and the gospel does not spread.
saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Acts
everyday
So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.
there was such a priority in them teaching the word that they said it is not desirable, good to neglect the Word of God. It has priority. the gospel has to be proclaimed. the message has to continue to be spoken and heard.
“But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Acts
as the word of God spreads so does the number of disciples
The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
is it any wonder why the
Acts
Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.
But preacher we understand that the apostles were commanded to by Jesus to spread that message and we see that they took that job seriously but that doesn’t mean everyone has the responsabilty to speak the word of God does it?
Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.
But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John,
we actually have one of them Philip who
Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.
But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.
Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John,
So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.
But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.
Acts 12:24
and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.
Col. 4:
Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
if the church is going to grow, we all must be involved in spreading the Gospel. All have that responsibility. those in the early church not just the apostles went about spreading the message of Jesus Christ and we must do the same.
do we as a church have the desire to grow?
are we as a church willing to do what it takes to grow?
How can we as a church participate in church growth?
Who are you going to share Jesus with this week, this month, this year!
Will speak about Jesus, will you just like Peter and John say
for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
will you follow the example laid out in the book of acts Preach, teach and live Jesus? May the Lord Bless us as we strive to do just that.