Many pastors and church leaders have a tough time persuading their congregations to pursue church growth. This is especially the case with established congregations, who have become comfortable in their size, culture, and traditions.
There are, however, no small churches in the Bible commended for remaining small. In fact, those churches most committed to the Christian faith were growing churches. In light of this biblical truth, how can pastors and church leaders persuade congregations to embrace and work toward church growth?
The Great Commission
Anytime one considers the subject of church growth, it's important to start with the commissioning of the church. What does Jesus teach about church growth?
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples to "teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:18-20, KJV).
Jesus' Great Commission to the disciples (and, by extension, his entire church) is a three-step process:
- Evangelism - Teaching all "nations" (or people groups, nationalities, races, etc.) about the "Gospel" (or "good news") of Jesus' atoning death and resurrection.
- Baptism - The first step of obedience for those who have received Christ, and the act that publicly confirms them as members of a Christian congregation.
- Discipleship - The process of teaching Jesus' new followers doctrine and Christlike living (Acts 2:42; Ephesians 2:19-20).
Though the "church" of Jesus is universal in scope, it is locally organized, and each congregation is to commit itself to this three-fold task.
What Does Jesus Teach About Church Growth?
The scope and strategy of Jesus' Great Commission is captured in the first chapter of the book of Acts, when he tells his disciples to begin in Jerusalem, expand outward to all of Judea, then to Samaria, and the "uttermost parts of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
Evangelism is to be comprehensive, all-fronts push outward. The kingdom of God is to be advanced city by city, nation by nation, throughout the entire world.
Prior to his crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus modeled the passion and commitment to which he calls his followers. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is seen talking with sinners, tending to the sick and disadvantaged, and preaching to great crowds. He is unswervingly committed to reaching people and changing hearts.
Theologian Millard Erickson carefully examines Jesus' ministry and his Great Commission, and says the "call to evangelize is a command" and that "if the church is to be faithful to its Lord and bring joy to his heart, it must be engaged in bringing the gospel to all people." (Erickson, Millard. Christian Theology, 2nd edition. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1998).
Scholar Wayne Grudem says the "evangelistic work of declaring the gospel is the primary ministry that the church has toward the world." (Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000).
Growth of the Early Christian Church
While some Christian congregations languish in mediocrity or decline today, this was not the case with the first century church in Jerusalem. Following Jesus' ascension, the eleven remaining disciples gathered with the wider network of Jesus' followers.
At the time of Pentecost, about 120 of Jesus' followers were praying in the "upper room," when the Holy Spirit came down and empowered them (Acts 2:1-4). Pentecost saw 3,000 men and women added to the Jerusalem church. Talk about church growth!
The early church continued to grow, spreading well beyond Jerusalem. Churches sprung up in Greece, Rome, Africa, and throughout the known world.
What Does the Bible Say About Outreach?
The bottom line is that the Christian church is commanded to evangelize and expected to grow. Those Christians who refuse to pursue evangelism or outreach are not in line with Scripture. Those congregations that refuse to embrace church growth are not in step with the Great Commission.
Related Reading
Those who found this article interesting may also wish to read "What is Biblical Church Growth?" and "Do You Want Massive Church Growth?"
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