Church growth principles in the book of acts

Blauws thesis is that a centripetal missionary consciousness becomes in acts a centrifugal missionary activity. Persecution arose at jerusalem, and the disciples had to leave for safety. According to mcgavran and ann, this is a universal truth which, when properly interpreted and applied, contributes significantly to the growth of churches and denominations. Pdf evangelism and church growth in the book of acts.

Principles of church growth from the book of acts paperback september 1, 1986 by edwin bontrager author. Such a perspective belies a naive understanding of the real focus of the church growth movement. A church of christ can and will grow spiritually and numerically when it is faithful to the word of god. The book of acts is a story of mission, church planting and church growth and underlines that growth through the church is a significant. Nevertheless, spiritempowered discipleship, undoubtedly, had played a crucial role in the explosive growth of the early church.

People and churches develop an appetite for what they are accustomed to being fed. The early believers in acts were filled with the holy spirit. If we were to employ these same factors, we too, can have church growth. But the reason this church experienced such remarkable growth was not that the leaders employed the latest church growth principles. As the gospel was scattered abroad where these disciples went, the church flo urished 3. Whereas the old testament depicts evangelism as people coming to god, the lucan perspective demonstrates that gods servants will go to his people. It is a truth of god which leads his church to spread his good news, plant church after church, and increase his body1977, p.

Pdf the depiction of church growth in acts ben wilson. Principles of church growth from the book of acts scottsdale. In my former book, theophilus, i wrote about all that jesus began to do and. The book begins with the ascension of jesus into heaven acts 1. The book of acts tells the story of the beginning of the church of jesus christ. Find out what your church is hungry for and feed it to them. In addition to the history, various kinds of the epistles to the churches record the words regarding the church growth. As the saying goes, you plan the work and work the plan. The book of acts is a key historical record of what the early church believed and practiced. Whereas the gospel of luke focuses on the life and ministry of jesus christ, the acts of the apostles builds upon what jesus did and taught see acts 1. But in the book of acts there is a verse that speaks of growth, and factors are named there that helped this growth occur. Greens evangelism in the early church,l the subjects of evangelism and church growth in the book of acts have been unaccountably neglected in recent years.

The record from the book of acts couldnt be clearer. In fact, three times luke underscores the large numbers 11. Church principles are seen in many churches of all sizes and shapes, and they promote a more natural approach to church growth. Church growth principles acts of the apostles christian church. Principles of church growth in the early church ezinearticles. The you are there narration provides deep insight and understanding of the times in which the acts of the apostles and the general epistles were written. Repentance, nature of many in the church conversion, nature of revival, corporate. For an example of one church growth writers use of acts, see c. Professor of new testament studies acadia divinity college, wolfville, nova. At nearly twenty years of age, the book has become dated in places, yet many principles still apply. Its initial chapters describe the churchs founding and early years. You can gain a perspective on four types of church growth by looking at acts 2.

Growth religious awakenings hand of god additions progress gods hand. Dec 11, 2009 pauls church planting principles using the book of acts introduction the working of the holy spirit and the expansion of gods kingdom from jerusalem, judea, and samaria and to the ends of earth called for a radical transformation not just in apostle pauls life but to the direction of mission as a whole. But not the kind of growth that would simply satisfy our craving for more members, but the kind of growth that is the result of saving souls. So, when you see god bless your church with growth, dont be surprised to experience resistance, sometimes even from within. A church with a steady diet of feelgood sermonettes in place of solid teaching from scripture might eventually grow to become a large congregation but it will be weak. The purpose of this project is to utilize the four e principles of discipleship implicit in acts.

Acts shows what the early church believed and practiced. And he will grow his church as we apply the biblical churchgrowth principles we see in the book of acts. The five most important church growth principles by gary. Church growth in the book of acts a church of christ can and will grow spiritually and numerically when it is faithful to the word of god. It shows how the early church coped with pagan and jewish thought, the roman government and hellenistic society. Church growth strategies that work for every church digital. Ludlowthe book of acts was written by luke after his gospel as the second part of a great twovolume work on jesus christ and the early christians. Posts about church growth principles written by russmitchell. Church growth principles leadership transformations. Rainer green valley baptist church birmingham, al 35226 wth the exception of m. The recipe for church planting from the book of acts the book of acts is the closest thing we have to a manual for church planting and missions in the new testament.

The book of acts is a story of mission, church planting and church growth and. Stay tuned for second half of this post where we will address 5 more key principles of church planting from the book of acts. Ludlow whereas the gospel of luke focuses on the life and ministry of jesus christ, the acts of the apostles builds upon what jesus did and taught see acts 1. In it is story after story of the lords hand in the growth of the church through missions and church planting. Commission there will be a tremendous increase in church growth. Our church health assessment tool chat was designed as a resource to the local church. A survey of the book of acts shows how prayer permeated the life of the church.

Biblical strategy and shift to spiritual driven church growth. One finds embedded in acts a record of christian defenses made to both jews e. Now that we have scriptural leadership in this congregation it is appropriate to begin talking about growth. The first churches in the book of acts began in prayer acts 1. Paul and the early church were not at odds with the laws of the old testament. The multiplying principles of the new testament were affordable and. Growth is an essential quality of the kingdom of god that jesus proclaimed and taught. Church growth principles measure and monitor your church health we have developed a powerful webdriven assessment tool based on the above researchbased characteristics of a healthy church. First 5 principles of church planting from acts massive prayer. It can happen today principles of church growth from the. Acts begins with jesus teaching the apostles about the kingdom of god outside jerusalem, and ends, about thirty years later, with paul teaching gentile christians about the kingdom of god in rome. Some people distain the term, wrongly believing it is all about numbers. Oct 15, 20 when you look at the book of acts, you find at least eight characteristics of the early church that positioned them for this kind of blessing from god.

As with his previous books, elmer towns wrote praying the book of acts in poetic style, combining modernday language with a lyrical twist. Is there only an isolated example of this principle, or do we see it consistently described through the book of acts. This article presents the concept of church growth alongside evangelism mainly in the book of acts. The book of acts provides a detailed, orderly, eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel immediately after the resurrection of jesus christ. If we echo the actions of the early church, we can expect gods blessing on our church as much as those ancient leaders saw a blessing on the church in jerusalem.

Philips only requirement was that the man believe the message philip proclaimed to him. Within the acts of the apostoloi there are theoretical and practical exemplars which the contemporary church may pattern to navigate a pathway to fruitful evangelism and sustainable growth. To my knowledge, however, no church growth book with a complete focus on acts has been written. Principles of evangelism from the book of acts truthonlybible. Its narrative supplies a bridge connecting the life and ministry of jesus to the life of the church and the witness of the earliest believers. This is about principles not techniques for healthy church growth. So the church throughout all judea and galilee and samaria enjoyed peace, being built up. The recipe for church planting from the book of acts.

I read a pile of books and attended most of the big churchgrowth. Good leadership will develop a good plan for growth and how to use new members and existing members in the work of the church. In some cases, rainer was prophetic, anticipating what church life would be like in the 21st century. There is real and needed place for organization in the church. Oct 18, 2012 lyle schaller, considered one of the best church consultants in the world, states in his book, the very large church, that the two most comfortable church sizes are under 45 people and under 150 people, likely making them two of the hardest thresholds to pass through, in addition to the 800 mark. Church growth statements in the book of acts barnes bible charts 2. Pastors that embrace effective church growth strategies are like the leaders of the yankees organization. Rick warren asserts that the new testament itself is the most profound book written for the church growth. To prove this point, let us take a quick look at church growth in the book of acts, with a special view to the church in jerusalem.