TITLE: Can this church grow?

TEXT: Acts 9:31

PROPOSITION: God expects His church to grow.

QUESTION: How?

KEY WORD: Ways

Introduction:

1. Several issues need to be discussed and understood

2. Church growth is not a “magic wand”

3. Title – Can this church grow?

Why I am here

1. Janet and I looked at three churches

   1. One we dismissed right away

   2. Priceville and another church were very similar in size (other offered more salary)

   3. We chose Priceville – We believe that this church has potential

   4. We believe the church can grow.

2. Honest statement – If we did not feel this church could grow and we could help it grow – WE WOULD NOT BE HERE.

Early Church – GREW!

1. Acts 2:41 – 3,000

2. Acts 4:4 – about 5,000 men

3. Acts 5:14 – more believers were added, multitudes of men and women

4. Acts 6:1 – number of disciples was multiplying

5. Acts 9:31 – had rest, multiplied

6. Acts 12:24 – Word of God grew and multiplied

7. Acts 19:20 – Mightily grew the word and prevailed

Church Growth Principles

1. Three ways churches decline

   1. Death

   2. Move out

   3. Drop out / leave

2. Three ways congregations grow

   1. Baptisms

   2. Move in

   3. Restorations

3. We have little control over – death or move out

4. We have little control over – move ins

5. We must focus on – baptisms, restorations, prevent drop outs

Practical Principles of Church Growth

1. Growing churches must want to grow. (Nehemiah 4:6)

2. Growing churches must plan to grow. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

3. A church must have leadership to grow. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

4. A church must prioritize evangelism/outreach to grow. (Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Timothy 2:2)

5. A church must make disciples of its converts. (Hebrews 5:10-12)

6. A church must make ministers of its members. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

7. A church must offer multiple ministry opportunities. (Romans 12:4-8)

8. A church must be involved in mission-minded activities. (John 4:35)

9. A church must be involved in inviting and recruiting to grow.

10. A church must be involved in aggressive visitation every week to grow. (Acts 5:42; 20:20)

11. A church must keep an up-to-date prospect file for visitation.

12. A church must follow-up visitors in order to grow.

13. A church must train its members in evangelism in order to grow. (2 Timothy 2:2; Ephesians 4:11ff.)

14. A church must build strong relationships among its members to grow.

15. A church must be open to newcomers for that church to grow.

16. Crowded classes and worship services engender more desire for growth than smaller and empty ones.

17. The quality of the singing and the ability of the preacher do affect church growth.

18. A church that is willing to change (in areas of opinion not Scripture) will often grow faster than churches that will not make any changes. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

19. Churches which set goals often grow more than churches which do not.

20. Churches that evaluate progress will often grow faster.

(From Phil Sanders, Nashville School of Preaching)