Biblical Model For Church Growth:
Separating Numerical Growth From Spiritual Maturity.
“They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer” (Acts 2:24).
In the above scripture, we see at play the spiritual disciplines of Prayer, the Word (apostle teaching), and Fellowship (Godly, scriptural conversation and sharing).
Here’s the context:
Jesus died on the cross for our sins, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sat down with God on His throne. Then on Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within born-again believers in Christ.
Acts 2: 24 reveals what believers who increasingly were added to the church did after receiving the Holy Spirit from the Day of Pentecost. They met for prayer, shared the word, fellowshipped, and broke bread (in remembrance of Christ's death on the cross).
Born-again Christians, historically, have grown closer to the Lord through spending hours in private prayers, and meditation on the Scriptures. They have also grown in intimacy with Christ through Bible Study/Prayer groups in their local churches — gaining from the comments and experiences of men and women of different backgrounds and viewpoints.
Openly expressed views of lay Christians from individual perspectives in light of scriptures are effective in growing new believers in the faith. Hebrews 10:24–25 underscores the real reasons believers are encouraged to come together:
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
My experience in big churches where the memberships are broken into small groups — for prayers and Bible study — speaks volumes to the effectiveness of the small group Bible Study model. The small group model allows for the participation of members in a non-threatening environment: It is an environment where every participant is encouraged to ask questions and contribute from individual perspectives.
One pastor recommends four things to look for in the Scriptures during our Bible Study moments:
Four key questions to ask are:
- What does the passage say about God?
- What does it say about Man?
- What can we share with someone else from the passage?
- What does the passage say we should pray about?
Effective Group Bible Study takes participants prayerfully through four phases: The goal is to learn how to listen prayerfully, speak prayerfully; Then live prayerfully with a greater understanding of the Scriptures — and walk by the Spirit.
For intensive understanding and life application, the Bible should be studied one book at a time, from beginning to end — prayerfully considering each verse in context. There should be no rush. Real Bible Study takes time.
The Central Focus of Church Meetings!
The Lord, Jesus demonstrated his righteous indignation against commercializing the house of God — Church meetings and programs:
“On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, ‘Is it not written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it “a den of robbers.” (Mark 11: 15–17)
Notice that the people were in the temple courts — not really inside the temple. Yet they attracted the righteous indignation of Jesus. He got personally, and physically involved — turned over the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.
Jesus drove out traders who turned the house of prayer into “a den of robbers.”
Gospel of Christ Or Gospel of the Anti-Christ?
Today, traders are right inside our local churches, doing the dirty job of preaching false gospels of financial and material prosperity.
The apostle Paul called it the “other gospel” while scolding the Galatians for falling so soon to the antics of false teachers after they had heard the true gospel of Christ preached to them. “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus was clearly portrayed as crucified…” (Galatians 3: 1).
Paul said to the Galatians, Only bewitched people — people under the spell and out of their minds — behave the way they have done.
Hard talk. Right?
To everything original, there’s a counterfeit. False teaching by nature spreads like wildfire. No one needs to be surprised at the phenomenal rise of some newly-fangled ministries and churches around the world — especially in developing countries of Africa. Apparently, there’s growth in the number of attendees at their stadium-sized church buildings, while there’s zero growth in spiritual maturity.
What is the Gospel?
Take this from ODB:
“Ephesians 2:14–22 is theologically rich. Like a chord of three strands, the passage brings together three key doctrines of the Christian faith: teaching about Christ (Christology), the church (Ecclesiology), and the Holy Spirit (Pneumatology). Jesus, through his reconciling ministry, is the source of our peace with God (vv.14,16) and through him, two disparate groups — Jew and Gentile — have become one humanity (vv.14–15). This indeed, is one body and a new family (vv.14–18) “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone” (v.20). The Holy Spirit has been and is at work in forming and sustaining the church. He facilitates our decision for salvation (v.18) and indwells the church that Jesus is building (v.22).
The apostle Paul warned young believers against sweet-talking apostles who are no apostles. His words to them, and us were: Beware! Beware of celebrated apostles whose stalk-in-trade is telling you what you want to hear. And beware of false prophets seeking relevance in your life.
Beware! Beware!! Beware!!!
And be guided by Paul’s admonition to the Corinthian Christians:
“Now brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, ‘Do not go beyond what is written.’
The Bible is ‘what is written.’ Read your Bible, and join a credible Bible Study group.
“Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other” (1 Corinthians 4: 6).
