The book of acts a pattern for modern church growth

As with his previous books, elmer towns wrote praying the book of acts in poetic style, combining modern day language with a lyrical twist. Studies in the book of acts previous page next page. Todays passage from the book of acts describes the expansion of the firstcentury church, but the steady growth it portrays applies also to what happened in the second century and beyond. Paul and the early church were not at odds with the laws of the old testament. Acts is the only biblical book that chronicles the history of the church immediately after jesuss ascension. In the beginning, 120 believers obediently met in an upper room to pray as jesus had instructed them to do.

The early church had the pattern, therefore, the glory. The book of acts and church growth paperback june 1, 1990 by f. These themes are also experienced as growing pains in modern organizations. T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. Acts shows what the early church believed and practiced. The book of acts displays many structural patterns, but for the sake of time we will focus on two facets of the structure of acts.

David shenk and ervin stutzman write extensively in their book creating communities of the kingdom about the importance of acts for church planting. Phil sanders, instructor 1 nsop church growth, fall 2003 syllabus for church growth the study of church growth encompasses both a study of scripture and the methods of our time that lead to spiritual and numerical growth of the kingdom of god. In spite of this clear precedent in the book of acts, one writer, in defense of the housechurch position, declares that the new testament church began as a small group house church col. Its possible to double, triple or quadruple the size of a church. This article presents the concept of church growth alongside evangelism mainly in the book of acts. To prove this point, let us take a quick look at church growth in the book of acts, with a special view to the church in jerusalem. Things that hinder congregational growth galatians 5. Up to this point the apostles had been through a lot already. First, we will explore the prominent pattern of repeated summary statements. All one needs to do is study the book of acts to see the answer. But let me also warn you that explosive growth is difficult.

Shedding light on the new testament religious studies center. Church growth statements in the book of acts barnes bible charts 2. The pattern deducted from the events in the first church entails at least the following. While experiences like pentecost the initial outpouring of the holy spirit are unique, many of the activities provide models that we can wisely transfer into our campus context. And third, we will suggest a model for the modern application of the book. As people went forth to preach christ, converts were won throughout the roman empire. Forever building depicts the pattern of creative initiatives that. Church planters were nurtured first under apostolic church leadership. Philips only requirement was that the man believe the message philip proclaimed to him.

Things that hinder congregational growth lesson material. Look at any church budget and youll probably find 1 or 2 percent of church funds allocated to benevolencehelping poor people in need. Church growth in the book of acts a church of christ can and will grow spiritually and numerically when it is faithful to the word of god. The book of acts is a key historical record of what the early church believed and practiced. It shows how the early church coped with pagan and jewish thought, the roman government and hellenistic society. The reason many churches today dont have the glory of god in them is that theyre not under the government of godappointed, fivefold ministries the first. Frank stagg has described the book of acts as the story of an unhindered gospel.

However acts chapter 27 is not the end but the beginning of the church, in fact acts is still going on, for we are now the church acting, we are now the bringers of the gospel, instrument of righteousness to be used by god for his glory. Most churches seem to face growth barriers at five key points. What todays church needs to learn from the book of acts nov 17, 2015 that there would be heaps of lessons to be learned from the book of acts should be obvious this is after all the brand new, pristine body of believers closest to christ and closest to the original vision of what the church should look like. Paul confirmed that the church has its foundation in jesus christ 1 corinthians 3. The pattern of fear before wisdom, revelation, and salvation is an oft repeated. Is improved methodology always the key to bigger churches and more effective evangelism. The stores about why luke, james, peter, john, and jude wrote their letters set dramatic. As such, it provides us with a valuable account of how the church was able to grow and spread out from jerusalem into the rest of the roman empire. It was, and i imagine still is, a true learning experience with much good material. A pattern for modern church growth, in shedding light on the new testament. There is real and needed place for organization in the church.

The you are there narration provides deep insight and understanding of the times in which the acts of the apostles and the general epistles were written. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. And we add to that this great second witness, the book of mormon, the testament of the new world, for as the. Phil sanders, instructor 4 nsop church growth, fall 2003 a study of the growth of the church in early church history acts 2. Spiritual and numerical growth for churches has been under the magnifying glass for many years. Oct 15, 20 when you look at the book of acts, you find at least eight characteristics of the early church that positioned them for this kind of blessing from god. However, by becoming proactive in learning to identify and break through these barriers. In the first few chapters of acts we are told how the early church centered her ministries in the city of jerusalem. Stay tuned for second half of this post where we will address 5 more key principles of church planting from the book of acts. We looked at an important example of this last week. Although the bible does not specifically address church growth, the principle of church growth is the understanding that jesus said, i will build my church, and the gates of hades will not overcome it matthew 16. We will accent what builds scriptural churches, not what inflates by human ingenuity.

Ludlow we have now received the atonement matthew o. Whereas the old testament depicts evangelism as people coming to god, the lucan perspective demonstrates that gods servants will go to his people. They had not ventured out as jesus had commanded in acts 1. They had been following jesus and were witnesses of the many miracles he had performed. The holy spirit at work in believers flashcards quizlet. Gibbons, paul as a witness of the work of god, in go ye into all the world. They had not ventured out as jesus had commanded in. The church was not to be patterned after the old earthly israelite kingdom acts 1. In the book of acts, the government of the church was in the hands of the fivefold ministry, where god placed it. Five reasons the early church grew acts 4 forthright.

What todays church needs to learn from the book of acts. The book of acts provides us with numerous glimpses of the unfolding early church. Messages of the new testament apostles, 31 st annual sidney b. But such distribution of funds runs counter opposite to how the early church spent its.

Now luke shows us another problem that occurred in the midst of this phenomenal growth. The unique aspects of these books of the bible are vividly presented through contemporary illustrations and poignant prayers. From the book of acts paperback may 25, 2004 by marlin mull author. Dec 29, 2016 most churches seem to face growth barriers at five key points. Its initial chapters describe the churchs founding and early years. Acts thus affords the preeminent picture of church growth in the nt, and so it is. In the same way, luke seems to emphasize that this expansion was a work of the spirit rather than giving us a definitive, normative description of how all believers receive the holy spirit. The church has a mission, a work, a worship, and an organization, and there is no better place in the bible to find these things described and proscribed than in the book of acts. Peter and the original apostles were trained for more than three years under the chief apostle, our lord jesus. Pdf evangelism and church growth in the book of acts.

One finds embedded in acts a record of christian defenses made to both jews e. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 2009, 129. A socialrhetorical texture analysis of the book of acts reveals three themes or stages in the early church. The beginning of the church and its growth t he book of acts records the growth and progress of the church in the first century. In only three decades, a small group of frightened believers in jerusalem transformed. Well, it falls to me and its a joy to kind of open up our conference and draw your attention to why every true calvinist must affirm a biblical ecclesiology and reject church growth theory. The course provides ministers with the basic principles and tools promoted by church growth theorists. Peter wagner and others who were pushing principles for church growth. Dynamic, explosive growth is gods will and design for the church down to its very dna. If we echo the actions of the early church, we can expect gods blessing on our church as much as those ancient leaders saw a blessing on the church in jerusalem. The expansion of the church reformed bible studies.

Pdf the depiction of church growth in acts ben wilson. Good leadership will develop a good plan for growth and how to use new members and existing members in the work of the church. The structure and content of acts 2009 by third millennium ministries. Barnabas and paul were trained by the jerusalem church apostolic team acts 4. As the saying goes, you plan the work and work the plan.

An email excerpt comparing the modern ideas of marketing for church growth. The early church in jerusalem may not be the perfect pattern for all that we. They see the book of acts as a church planting manual drawing a number of principles that can be useful today such as holy spirit, leadership and training, vision, prayer, cultural differences. When you look at the book of acts, you find at least eight characteristics of the early church that positioned them for this kind of blessing from god. Jan 12, 2012 the book has more to tell us about the rapid expansion of the church than about historical peculiarities of the early church. There are plenty of evangelical experts who would answer yes to both of tho. There have been multiple strategies put forward to remedy the struggles and deficiencies associated with drawing people to jesus and his churchand then growing them into fully committed disciples of jesus. I was sitting in a missions course entitled perspectives on the world christian movement. This is the third lesson on things that hinder congregational growth. Second, we will look into the pattern of church growth that appears in acts. While there are some areas of great detail of the acts of the apostles, many times you must use cross references to the gospels of matthew, mark, luke and john as well as some other epistles in the new testament to get the full picture of what was. Maybe another 5 percent, or 10 percent at best, is given to needs outside the church that on some level help the poor.

The record from the book of acts couldnt be clearer. For an example of one church growth writers use of acts, see c. An indepth study of the factors that promote or hinder church growth, followed by a strong emphasis on developing specific growth strategies for the local church. Verse 42 lists four of the activities to which the church devoted itself. Pattern for church growth and missions life biblepresbyterian. Ludlowthe book of acts was written by luke after his gospel as the second part of a great twovolume work on jesus christ and the early christians.

In spiritual development, growth is a christian lifestyle enhanced by. This wonderful testament of the old world, this great and good holy bible is one of our standard works. Our remarks for this article will come from acts 4. They all met together continually for prayer acts 1. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Elmer towns reveals the relevance of the new testament books of acts, hebrews, james, the two books of peter, the three books of john and jude for todays living and learning. This study is done in the expectation that the book of acts can inform. Everything great for the kingdom of god or for jesus christ. Ludlow whereas the gospel of luke focuses on the life and ministry of jesus christ, the acts of the apostles builds upon what jesus did and taught see acts 1. In training pastors throughout the country, ive discovered we all deal with the same inevitable barriers, so remember youre not alone. The church must worship, connect, grow, serve and go. Transforming a church the acts 2 way influence magazine.

The inclination is going to be much stronger to pattern ourselves after what we see in acts. Dont reach for your phone and start twittering because you have already been to that seminar or read that book. The book of acts tells us on that day the god of heaven launched the church of christ. Luke has followed a pattern from chapter one that alternates between a picture of the church alone and the church in relation to the world james boice, acts baker, pp. Professor of new testament studies acadia divinity college, wolfville, nova scotia. In spite of our progress and the growth in knowledge, or perhaps.