HOW TO BE PASSIONATE ABOUT CHURCH GROWTH

Isaiah 2:1-3, “1The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”

Luke 14:15-23, “15And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. 16Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

The church, which is the gathering of redeemed Christian believers, and not merely the building that houses such a gathering. It is a living spiritual entity which God expects to grow.

Church growth should be in the following dimensions:

1. Spiritual in faith, knowledge and revelation of God’s word anointing. Colossians 2:6-7, “6As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” 2 Thessalonians 1:3, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;”
2. Numerical growth: Increase in number of converts and growing believers Acts 5:14, “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)” Acts 16:5, “And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.”
3. Physical growth: There should increase in properties, land, buildings, etc. Joshua 24:13, “And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat. Acts 4:34, “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,”
4. Social growth: There should be strong witness, good report, impact and influence in the community where the church is located John 4:28-30, “28The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.” John 4:39-42, “39And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. 40So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 41And many more believed because of his own word; 42And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” Acts 2:47, “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

To be passionate about church growth, each member of the church needs to regularly do the following:

1. Pray for the conversion of souls in the church’s neighborhood. Romans 10:1, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”
2. Pray that newly converted believers be led by the Holy into the church and be established in faith. Galatians 4:19, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,”
3. Engage in aggressive publicity to invite people in the neighborhood to church’s weekly and special programmes. John 1:45-46,“45Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.”
4. Engage in soul-winning evangelism to the unsaved in the community with the aim of leading them to Christ and the church. Matthew 28:19-20, “19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
5. Follow up and disciple newly converted members of the church. Acts 14:21-22, “21And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 15:36, “And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.”
6. Pray alone or join the church intercessors to pray for massive inflow of new attendees at church services and programmes.
7. Be available to assist with teaching, caring and administering new and growing members of the church. Exodus 18:21-26.
8. Look for, call or yisit members who have left with a great passion to bringing them back to the fold. Luke 15:4-7, “ 4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.