Our new book, The Storms Have Only Just Begun, is now available at Barnes and Noble and other popular platforms. Its purpose is to encourage and enable Christians to become houses who will stand in the relentless storms of the decade. Those houses will have opportunity for growing the church within God’s prescription.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1Timothy 2:3-4
God our Savior desires all men, women, and children to be saved. Therefore, the responsibility and privilege of church leaders and congregants alike is participation with God toward this end. There are few desires more important to God. And so, He has given us a way for growing the church.
Frankly, most have either forgotten, dismissed, or failed to learn God’s way in this regard. Consequently, we have turned to the ways of this world for growth, unwittingly compromising our relationship with God and His will.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
This will be hard to hear for some, if not many. For you, two bits of encouragement. First, the depth of God’s mercy is unfathomable. Though He may be disappointed in our conformity with the world, He has not been caught off guard.
Confession, repentance, and positive movement in the correct direction accomplishes much in the kingdom. He will show up and glorify Himself through those who will humble themselves. Which brings us to encouragement two:
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. Romans 12:3
This season of storms and chaos has given us opportunity to think soberly about the condition of the church and what God might do to bring her back into His will. Scripture and history witness to us that chaos births new things. Perhaps the time and energy spent on reviving the old would be better invested is finding God’s way for church growth.
Spiritual and Numerical Growth
Both spiritual and numerical growth are important considerations for the church. They are not alternatives, and certainly not competitors – that is, unless we make them so by choosing something other than God’s way.
What you are about to read is so obvious, I am taking a few extra words to warn you not to take them lightly.
In the kingdom of God, the order of things is highly important. Our focus on spiritual growth must come before any thought about the number of people on our rolls. Spiritual growth trumps numerical growth, period.
Jesus did not go after numbers. Whenever the crowds gathered, Jesus ministered to them; but then He challenged them spiritually, knowing many of His disciples would walk with Him no more (John 6:66).
Jesus is our example in all things. The first step back to God’s way for church growth is a deliberate and violent movement toward spiritual maturity as the prime measure of success. God’s way for spiritual maturity is transformation, which we covered in a previous series, beginning here.
The remainder of this article will focus on God’s way for numerical growth, understanding the preeminence of spiritual growth as the foundation for all that follows.
Prior to the pandemic, the church (particularly in the West) began conforming to the world’s ways for growth to support building expansions and increased budgets. For example, churches have been marketing against one another for so long now, we hardly notice the damage such practices have to the Body of Christ in a community. Last time I looked, Marketing Director is not listed as one of Christ’s gifts to the church in Ephesians 4.
For those offended, let me quickly add that there are exceptions. Every leader and church leadership team must judge for themselves whether they have turned away from God in pursuit of worldly methods. I pray this article will help in that regard.
For the congregant, it is important to find a fellowship committed to God’s ways in everything. However, you must not use the failings of leadership as excuse to abandon the fellowship God has led you to. We are all in process, including leaders.
Only God can release you from your commitment to community. He may just as well be calling you to practice His way as a transformation agent right where He has planted you.
Go
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28: 18-20
The One with all authority (think about that for a minute) has specifically told us to GO, not market for them to come. Again, this is so obvious it seems silly to make a point of it. How could we get this matter so twisted around?
My suspicion: We have become deceived because we have failed to focus first on spiritual growth. I cannot imagine a different conclusion: We seem to think the world knows better than God.
Perhaps it helps to know that “all the nations” includes our own, beginning with our house, our neighborhood, and our community of faith. The enemies of God have built such a fortress of doubt and discouragement, it will require supernatural courage, strength, and violence to break down the walls; but seriously, what else are we to do?
Drawing from God’s Best Example
In the series on God’s Way for Living in Community, we explored the example God developed in the First Century church. We will do the same here by quickly considering a few pertinent passages.
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:40-42
A few things to note here: First, as with Christ (Luke 19:10), the Holy Spirit sent Peter out to the lost with testimony and exhortation of the Gospel. Second, also as with Christ (Luke 9:41), he did not mince words identifying the condition of society and its culture. God’s way for growing the church involves being obvious, forthright, and energetic, in location and presentation.
Third, getting people to “receive his word” was not the end of the matter. In fact, conversion was only the beginning. The Spirit’s ultimate objective was (and is) making disciples through steadfast exercise of the necessary spiritual disciplines. God’s way for growing the church recognizes salvation as a process, not an event.
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47
The First Century church lived the Gospel together daily, in both public display and private intimacy. God’s way for growing the church is a whole-life enterprise, not a segmented portion of our lives.
So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Acts 5:11-15
God’s way for growing the church requires, and is accompanied by, supernatural invasion of His power into our lives. This is both an encouragement and a test of our obedience to His way. We must also recognize and understand the fear that comes when God is in our midst (see also Acts 2:48).
Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7
How did the word spread without social media, TV, newspapers, etc.? Well, by word of mouth. Image that: People sharing with their neighbor about the peace and power of God for all who desired to be saved!
Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. Acts 9:31
The Book of Acts refers to the fear of the Lord no less than ten times – more than any other New Testament book. Regardless of our desire to think otherwise – and consequently refuse to teach it – growing the church God’s way requires a healthy fear of Him and His Son. And we must be clear: Fear includes both reverence for, and terror of the Lord – Philippians 2:12, 2Corinthians 5:11, and Hebrews 12:28-29 make this vividly clear.
Conclusion
The times we live in – the storms and chaos of this decade – provide great opportunity to change the way we are doing things, as both congregations and congregates. God works all things to the good of those who love Him, to those called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
We are here providentially, in these troubling times, to be instruments and weapons of God’s righteousness. Jesus Christ will use us to build His church, if we will only commit ourselves to His Father’s way. The Holy Spirit eagerly waits for our submission to His transformative power, for individual and fellowship (2Corinthians 3:18).
God bless you with grace, fear, and courage for the adventure of growing the church in His way and power.
Have a strong day in the Lord,
Rob
#iamjustthepen