30 Things The Churches In Acts Did To Grow
How can we see growth in depth and in width in our churches today?
If you’re reading books or listening to podcasts on churches in America then you might be struggling to despair. People are leaving. Pastors are failing. Officers are caving into accommodating to the culture. Can God bring anything good out of this?
It is interesting to see how church growth “experts” react to this. Often it is with despair. Some respond with a certain strategy. Few point back to the book of Acts.
If God could take the apostles and build a church around them then He can certainly use people today. If Jesus could push back the gates of hell in a time where worldliness was rampant and Christianity was non-existent then He can certainly do it today. If something, the book of Acts is an argument for all churches today that if God could work wonders then then He can surely work wonders for us now.
If one takes a cursory look at the book of Acts, you’ll find at least 30 things that happened in those churches back then in order for them to grow:
Certain people were charged to witness about the Person & Work of Jesus Christ.
Prayer meetings were established and prioritized.
Leadership was solidified and multiplied.
Scripture was expounded and applied to all of life.
People were devoted to studying the Scriptures.
Intentional shepherding was the norm.
Sending out missionaries was emphasized.
Personal testimonies were told.
As the gospel spread, people were filled with the Holy Spirit.
Evangelism happened across the street and around the world.
Christ was the emphasis of their message, the power of their ministry, and the focus of their mission.
There were calls to everyone to repentance and believe in Christ.
The means of grace (Word, prayer, sacraments all experienced in the covenant community) was the engine of their ministry.
Fellowship & hospitality was a direct application of the gospel of grace.
Giving of time, money, resources, and skills was a fruit of the gospel proclaimed.
Care for the poor was not sidelined or neglected.
Boldness to speak truthfully about God, sin, humanity, salvation, Christ, the Church, and judgment was evident.
Fear of God was promoted over fear of man.
Two ordained offices for the Church were established in order to give healthy church government.
Suffering was endured.
Teaching people how to read the Bible was of first importance.
They made organized efforts to go out and evangelize but they also stayed aware of the opportunities that were presented to them in their daily lives.
Christian freedom rather than legalism was promoted.
Understanding Christ-centered covenant theology was crucial to understanding the gospel.
Enduring persecution from religious leaders, friends, family, and even government officials was a norm.
Observing the Sabbath was key.
Writing letters to others was instrumental.
They pursued theological clarity and doctrinal truth.
They had places where people could wrestle with the gospel and ask questions.
They visited the widows and orphans and those in jail.