One cannot read the Book of Acts without being impressed with the rapid growth of the church after her establishment in Acts 2 (cf., Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7; 11:21; 13:49; 16:5). These passages show the church growing spiritually and numerically. Both are important! Numerous passages make it clear God wants His church to grow in faith (Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12), for numbers represent precious souls, and we certainly know that God “is not willing that any should perish but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:3-4). The purpose of this article is not to promote a particular method but to suggest a couple of areas on which we must focus if we want to see the church grow.
Let me suggest first that we must develop a mind to grow. I am afraid Satan has really done his work well and has convinced us that growth isn’t going to happen. I believe we have allowed ourselves to be convinced that people aren’t interested and there is little or nothing we can do to change that. If the church is going to grow, we must develop the mindset that we truly believe it can grow. We must believe that God is still able to do amazing things through His church. Do we still believe Romans 1:16? Do we still believe Matthew 11:28-30? Do we believe that Jesus is the answer to the problems of life? Do we really believe people are lost without the Gospel (Romans 3:23; 6:23; John 14:6)? We need to strive to develop the passion that Christ, the apostles and the early church had for the lost (Luke 19:10; John 4:34; 9:4; Acts 5:18-20).
Secondly, we must have the proper message. Looking at the message of the early church, we can learn these things about the message: It was a message that included the whole counsel of God. Paul made that statement to the elders of Ephesus in Acts 20:27. The message of the early church was Christ-centered, convicted men of sin, called them to repentance and then provided the solution for sin. Furthermore, it challenged false religions. Christianity confronted people with making sacrifices for the cause of Christ (Acts 2; 17; 19)
It was an uncompromising message. It did not reach out and embrace every religious view and lifestyle. There was an exclusiveness about the message that made it appear narrow minded to many who heard it (Acts 4:12).
It was a message of good news centering on Christ and especially the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:26; 3:14; 4:10; 5:29-31). People need the good news. They need to know that Jesus loves us, left the glories of Heaven, died a horrible death on the cross and conquered death so that we might have the good life now and eternal life in the end.
Finally, it was a proclaimed message. Early Christians went everywhere preaching the word (Acts 8:4). They had “good news,” and they wanted the world to hear it! They felt compelled to proclaim it (Acts 4:19-20; 8:4).
We live in difficult times, and reaching people with the Gospel is not easy. Yet, if we will develop the mind to grow, taking the message of Christ to all who will listen, the church can still grow! May God help us to not allow Satan to discourage us and convince us not to grow. Instead, let’s put into practice these biblical principles and allow God to work through us and His Word.
