CHURCH GROWTH

                                         Mark 16:15; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

Introduction

     A.  Questions:  See our church grow?  Know how to grow?  Be a part?

     B.  We must be involved in three activities:  1) pray for it, 2) plan for it

           and 3) work for it. 

           1.  Ways in which we have been involved:

           2.  View to be taken (1 Corinthians 15:58) :

     C.  Let us consider several fundamental growth principles based on God’s word.

Body

      I.  First, to experience growth, we must rely on the power of God and not our

           human strength.

           A.  Mark 16:15:  Jesus told His followers, “go into all the world and preach the

                 Good news to all creation.”

                 1. There were eleven apostles (Acts1:13) and 120 disciples (Acts 1:15)

                     when Jesus issued this Great Commission.

                 2. The church was established on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem 10 days

                      after Jesus gave the Great Commission .  About 3,000 people accepted the

                      message of the good news (Acts 2:41; read Acts 2:14, 36-41, 47)

                 3.  According to Acts 4:4, the church in Jerusalem had grown to about 5,000

                      men. 

                 4.  More and more were added to their number (the saved) (Acts 5:14).

                 5.  According to Acts 6:1(KJV), the disciples multiplied.  It has been

                      estimated that the church in Jerusalem grew to between 50, 000 and

                      100,000 members.  See Colossians 1:21-23.

         

           HOW DID THE EARLY CHURCH GROW SO RAPIDLY?  THE DISCIPLES

            TAUGHT THE GOOD NEWS AS INSTRUCTED BY THE LORD (Mk. 16:15)

            AND GOD SAVED THOSE WHO ACCEPTED (Acts 2:47).  (see 1 Corinthians

            3:6-7

Conclusion

       A.  If we want our church to grow, we must plant the seed and rely on God for

             the growth.