Church Growth!

Genesis 9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.

You may be thinking, “is this another post about Christians having children?” Not necessarily, this is going to deal with a cliché we hear a lot about in Christendom: CHURCH GROWTH. Church growth is something here in America all the so-called churches have a focus on. Suffering for Jesus Christ is being thrown out the window for packing more pews, so people can hear a good sermon. After hearing this wonderfully expository message, now in order to grow the church, the members are called to go and grab more people to add to the church. In the end, you have bigger building, bigger parking lot, and more people in your area. Your church has grown right? I beg to differ.

Lets be real, this is not just happening at T.D Jakes church, or with Jamal Bryant’s congregation. No, the false teachers are not the only one’s that have grasped this concept. I believe the churches who say they teach true biblical doctrine have grabbed on to this as well. Their intentions may be good, but it seems some churches are trying to draw more and more people, make more members and call that growth. This should not be!

Fruitfulness and multiplication is what should be happening. Is just bring Joe Smoe to church going to make your congregation grow? No, because Joe Smoe came only because you invited him. Joe is still beating his wife, still getting drunk, and still living in sin. Going to your church on Sunday doesn’t change his life. Even if he joins, his life is not changed. Let me explain what true growth is:

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Abiding, this is the key to being fruitful and multiplying. The Greek transliteration of this is meno me-no: means to remain, to tarry. If we stay in the word of Christ, as that 5^th verse indicates, we will be fruitful. Jesus Christ told this to His disciple in Matthew 10:11. So are we abiding with Joe Smoe? No, we are leaving the church with responsibility. We just bring him, ask him to come to some programs and bible studies, and off we go. No talking with Joe, getting to know Joe, just as long as he becomes a member, the church will grow right? No, no, abide with Joe. Go to the brother’s house, spend some time with him talking about Jesus Christ. Go to him and abide at his place. Huh? Yeah, go have a cup of coffee with Joe, and talk with him about Jesus. Take your time with him, ministering Jesus Christ to him. Look here:

Luke 19:5-11 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

Now look at see what Jesus Christ abiding produced? Yes, a fruitful response to the Gospel. If we abide in Christ, and abide with those whom He has called us to, don’t you see the Church growing. Abiding makes them fruitful, and because their fruitful, they’ll multiply: equal to true church growth.

Look at the scriptures. Look where Paul abided! He was not an Apostle of just one church? He abided in so many places and these places became fruitful and multiplied. The church that only has 20 fruit bearing Christians will truly grow as they go out and abide with more to grow into more fruitful Christians (multiplication). But the church with 500 members, some fruitful and some just members only, will produce a bunch of religion and Sunday pew sitters for the next twenty years. Is that what we really desire in Christ Jesus? No, so be fruitful and multiply!

Acts 2:42-47 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.