1. In Holland, Michigan we lived on a street which is part of Tulip Lane. In the fall, city workers planted thousands of tulip bulbs along the boulevard in the middle of our street. In the spring these bulbs would shoot upward out of the ground. To see those plants made us think about how, in a month, we would have thousands of beautiful flowers along the street - a seemingly endless, colourful bouquet of flowers. The life in these plants has been there all winter, but now that we can see the plants we evidence of that life.
2. Growth also provides evidence of life in the church. We are alive through the power of the Holy Spirit. Growth lets us see that life. Most of us would agree that growth is vital to the life of the church. More importantly, Jesus commanded the church to grow.
3. Why then is there such a wide variety of opinion about church growth? If I would put my notes to the side and ask each one of you to tell us what direction church growth should take, how would you respond? PAUSE. What direction should church growth take? Each of you might respond somewhat differently. I wouldn’t expect all of you to agree. Many experts and church leaders don’t. For the sake of unity we might even try to stay away from growth. If we can’t agree on how to do something, we reason that it might be better not to do anything at all.
4. Many opinions on the direction which church growth should take centre upon one of three views:
a. One view is that the church should be concerned about growing upwards. The purpose of the church is to glorify God and to strengthen its relationship with Him. Then, we, as a church will sense His presence in our midst. By diligently studying His word we will learn how to live holy lives. We must reach upward to God and glorify Him in all that we do. The church is to teach sound doctrine, preach the word and spend much time in prayer. Then we will grow spiritually.
b. A second view considers the need to grow within. What we need is more fellowship. We need to build a sharing, loving community. Our concern should be for our fellow church members. W need not only to worship together, but to have potluck dinners and golf tournaments together. We need to grow within and create a community of caringand loving individuals.
c. A third view is that the direction of church growth must be to reach out to the world of unbelievers and to win them to Christ. We must look at the community around the church. We must proclaim the gospel to them. Evangelism is the answer, And not only proclaim the word, but also in reaching out to meet their needs. Open our arms to the elderly by providing meals. Start a drop-in centre for youth. Start new churches in areas were we can proclaim the gospel to the unchurched. This will provide the numerical growth which the church needs..
5. Grow upward, grow within or grow out? Which view is correct? Should we growth seek spiritual growth, community growth or numerical growth. On which of these must we concentrate to enable the church of Jesus Christ to grow? Should First Reformed Church in Canada be concerned withgrowing upward, growing within or growhing out?
6. As a child I came from Holland with my parents in 1952. As strangers in a new land with a new language, I saw the Dutch immigrants share a common faith and a common heritage. That caused them to depend upon God and upon each other. As more immigrants came, we could see numerical growth. Same here in Chatham. And while we can still remain proud of that heritage, we need to be realistic. Times have changed. My generation is as much Canadian as it is Dutch. The Reformed Church in Canada, including Chatham is at a point in its history at which it has to examine itself and set its priorities to enable it to grow. Great to see non-Dutch deacon ordained but to believe that it took over 48 years for this to happen.
7. What are our priorities? What kind of growth are we seeking? The elders (and consistory) responsible for growth at our church. Told to nurture lambs, sheep. Jesus told John and tells you "feed my sheep". I believe the next three years, (time new elders and deacons will serve will be crucial to our health and growth and our existence itself). I’ve seen much to indicate a readiness to grow. Probably soon have consistory retreat to talk about. We have seen three views as to the direction which church growth should take.
8. To grow, however, we need to agree on our priorities and to agree on how to grow.
9. By examining the early church in Acts we will see that all three views to church growth are correct. The church was growing at a fast pace. It was growing upward and seeking spiritual growth. It was growing within and building community growth. It was growing outward and creating numerical growth. It did, however place them in the proper order of priority.
10. Our passage takes place after the day of Pentecost. We may wonder if it is fair to examine the growth of the church immediately after the Holy Spirit had empowered it. Wasn’t the key to its growth simply power of the Holy Spirit rather then the activities of the church itself? This is true, but we must consider two things. First, though the Holy Spirit provided the growth, the church was active and participated in creating that growth. Second, today also, we are fully dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit to create growth. However, we have our role to fulfill. The power of God is available to us as a church but we need to do our part to let that power flow out through us.
11. Lets look at the direction which the early church took.
12. First, the church was grew upward. It sought and it achieved spiritual growth. As we said, the day of Pentecost had just passed and the power of the Holy Spirit filled the church. 3,000 new members had been baptized. In Acts 2:42 we read that those who had been baptized devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Three of these - teaching, the breaking of bread, and prayer reflect the desire to grow upward - to have a closer relationship and better understanding of God. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachings. The apostles taught what Jesus had personally taught them. Their teaching was pure.
a. Today, the word of God is the basis on which to build a growing church. Through the study of the Bible, we need to clearly understand the meaning of Scripture. We grow spiritually as we learn the word of God, as we understand the power and love which is revealed in the word, and as we come to learn His will for His church.
b. The church sought communion with God through the breaking of bread. This refers to the Lord’s Supper. They remembered the death and resurrection of Jesus. This was also a physical reminder of the presence of God in their midst. It was a time to commit themselves to a close relationship to God. When we as a church partake together in the Lord’s Supper, we are reminded of our spiritual relationship with Christ.
c. The church also devoted itself to prayers. When we are devoted to prayer, it becomes an integral part of our worship and of our church life. It has been in times of prayer when I have most felt and enjoyed God’s presence in my life - both personal prayers and public prayers in the church. Each Sunday, before our worship services, the consistory meets for a time of prayer. Somehow as we share our joys and concerns before God and seek His blessing, we sense His presence in His church. Do we as a church spend enough time in prayer?
d. The apostles teaching, the breaking of bread and prayer. Spiritual growth resulted from these activities. In verse 43 we read that fear came upon every soul. This was not a fear of man, but a fear of God. Not a fear that led to despair but a fear that led to glorifying and praising God. It acknowledged their faith in His power and their utter dependence on Him. Also, many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. These wonders and signs created astonishment. They were signs which not only showed the power of the apostles or the early church but they pointed to their source - Jesus Christ.
e. To grow spiritually is the first priority of church growth. Are we signs to the world around us? When people see our desire to worship and serve God. When they see our desire to seek His will, then we become signs that point to Jesus Christ. If we are not committing ourselves to Christ and seeking His presence in the life of the church, our seeking to grow will be futile and meaningless.
13. The early church grew also grew as a community. In verse 42, we also read that the believers devoted themselves to fellowship. This fellowship did not consist only of a gathering together but sharing of their lives and their possessions. They provided for the needs of fellow believers. Whenever another had a need, they would probably sell some possessions to provide money for that need.
a. When we freely share our possessions and money, we build up the community. Our care program which provides for meals for the sick. So many of you visit the elderly. Our card ministry. Even our calendars and directories. Our supper groups, Bible study groups. This sharing helps to build a strong sense of community.
b. This year we are trying to increase opportunity to be part of groups. Explain group house visitation - option , not mandatory. In Acts, part of the church’s fellowship included going to the temple and worshiping together. As we worship God we participate in that worship together as brothers and sisters in Christ. Our spiritual growth should lead to community growth and fellowship. If we lack a sense of community, we may actually be lacking in a spiritual relationship with God. Jesus tells us that our relationships with each other cannot be separated from our relationship with Him. In John 13:34, Jesus tells us that a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. Iin fact, later Jesus questions whether we can really love Him if do not have love for one another, The people also broke bread together in their homes. They shared their meals with each other. Opening our homes to each other builds up the church.
c. The church needs to grow inwardly. In fact we cannot separate this from our need togrow upwards. As we feel the presence of God in our lives we want to share in our faith with fellow believers. This in turn helps us to feel God’s presence even more as we sense His presence in the lives of others. Our fellowship is also evidence of our faith. In John 13:35, Jesus continues "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
d. For us to grow as individuals and as a church we need to grow both upwards and within..
14. The early church, however also grew outward. Through preaching and through reaching out in action to those outside the church. As Peter and John were going up to the temple to pray, a lame man interrupted them and asked them for alms. Didn’t the man realize that he was interrupting two leaders of an exciting, growing church? Surely they were too busy to listen to him. They were not. Not only did they stop but they looked intently at him and Peter told him to look at them. Most people simply threw some money at him but there was something different about Peter and John. - they seemed to be reaching out to him in a personal, caring way. Instead of a mechanical act of charity the moment became personal. They cared about the man. And then, without first asking Him to confess his faith in Jesus Christ or to commit himself to the church, they told Him to walk. And just in case he would hesitate in this, Peter reached out and took his hand and raised him up. And the man walked!
15. Church of Jesus Christ, First Reformed Church, this is how we are to reach out to those around us. When we come across those who need our help, we are to reach out not because it is expected of us but because we care. Also, if we let people know that what we are doing is for the sake of Jesus Christ, we ill be glorifying Him.. This act of compassion, this miracle of the power of God, led to church growth. The man who had been lame leaped and praised God. A crowd of people gathered around to see what had happened. This provided an opportunity for Peter to proclaim the gospel to them. any of those who heard believed and the number of believers grew to about five thousand. To grow we need to reach out to those outside the church. Evangelism based on the word of God, based on love and concern for others, and revealed in actions.
16. Reaching out creates numerical growth. For many people, though, numerical growth has seemed to become a worldly term. It almost sounds unspiritual. We are not a club involved in a membership drive. Are we trying to get more members or start new churches to make us bigger than others? Under the wrong motives, some of these arguments are true, but when we try to grow numerically in order to glorify God we are continuing in the ministry begun by Jesus. In John 17:18, Jesus prays to His Father "As thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world." . As Christians, we should feel a strong desire for others to receive Christ.
17. The church in Acts grew - upwards, within and out. We, as a church can grow but we need to be committed and united in our efforts. Our commitment must be total, not token. Some of us may be more concerned about reaching upwards and seeking spiritual growth. Others may want to build up the community. Still others will seek to reach out. Since all three areas are important, this diversity will enable us to work in each area.
18. Perhaps you feel inadequate to meet the challenge of church growth. You don’t need to feel that way. So far we have been focusing on what the early church did after Pentecost. However, all that activity in itself created no growth. Acts 2:47 makes a short but important statement: "And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." God asks us to do our part but we do not have to worry about the results.
19. The tulips which they will enjoy in Holland, Michigan next spring were planted by people. After they were planted, however, they could not make the plants grow. This was up to God, through nature. We must plant the bulbs to grow. We must seek growth. God, however, will provide the growth.
20. Church of Jesus Christ, are we growing upwards to glorify God? Are we growing within to build up the church in love? Are we reaching out to those outside the church?
21. May we grow in faith. May we even more feel the presence of Jesus Christ and build up a community dedicated to Him and to each other, and may we reach out to those around us. The challenge to grow requires effort. We can’t just sit back and watch it happen. We have to plant the bulbs. The results of church growth will bring blessings to the church, but, more importantly, it will glorify our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ..
