Enlarging Your Circle

Designed to Grow  The church is not as much a building or an organization as it is an living entity.  God designed us to grow and to flourish through the working of His grace.

Parting Words  Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Searching for “YE”  Most Christians act as though “Ye” is an evangelist from the orient.  We have a divine purpose to accomplish whose ultimate goal is to fulfill the great commission.

Staggering Stats  Every year 80% of churches either plateau or declined in attendance.  10.2 decline in professing Christians in America from the mid 90s.till now.  1500 pastors drop out ministry per year

Why does revival tarry?  The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing  God is limited in what he can do on the earth unless He has someone to operate through.  God said “who will go for me”? Isaiah answered “here am I Lord send me”

Praying for a change  When God brings change He uses people  He uses His own People  His Family  His Church  2Co 5:18 God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships. GW

The Inhibitor of growth  self  All of self none of God  Less of self more of God  None of self all of God  Smith Wigglesworth  John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Koinanitice –The Antibody  Self Exam  1. Do you make an effort to welcome new people into your circle?  2. Do you avoid befriending people that are different than you?  3. Do you frequently reach out to those you encounter?  4. Do you have friends that are sinners?  5. Do new people feel comfortable in your circle of friends?

Think Outside the Box  Peter went to the Gentiles  Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch  What about you?