Anytime the gospel is preached great things can happen. “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16). “The word of God is living and powerful” (Heb 4:12).

Churches grow when God is involved.

Acts 2:1-11

It’s important that the apostles were in Jerusalem. Of course, that’s where God had said the church would begin (Is 2:1-3). The apostles are obeying Jesus by staying in Jerusalem. “Stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Lk 24:49, ESV). The apostles would begin their testimony to Jesus in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8).

Twice we’re told that the apostles spoke from God. The apostles were “all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (v 4). The crowd: “We hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God” (v 11).

You know that for men to be converted, the gospel must be preached. In the Old Testament, the word of God was highly valued. “The Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: ‘Behold, I have put My words in your mouth’” (Jer 1:9). “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them” (Ezek 3:4). The New Testament connects hearing the Word of God with our faith. Jn 20:30-31. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17).

Churches grow when God is involved.

That principle runs throughout the New Testament. “The hand of the Lord was with them [men from Cyprus and Cyrene who were preaching in Antioch], and a great number believed and turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21). “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Cor 3:6).

How does that work practically?

One: You need an assembly.

The apostles were all in one place (v 1). We need to assemble if the church is to grow. One: Jesus is with us when we assemble. “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt 18:20). Two: Worship can turn unbelievers into believers. 1 Cor 14:23-25. Commit to being here during the meeting.

Two: You need a fullness of truth.

The Holy Spirit overwhelmed and filled the apostles. “Baptism” of the Holy Spirit. “I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mk 1:8). “Baptize” in Greek means “to immerse.” The apostles could speak for God. “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” (Jn 16:13).

The Bible is the lasting impact of Holy Spirit baptism. “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches” (1 Cor 2:13). “Prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet 1:21).

The conversion of sinners only happens through the preaching of Scripture. “Those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:41). “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16). “It pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe” (1 Cor 1:21).

If God is to use us to bring people to His Son, we need a fullness of truth. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another” (Col 3:16). Commit to spending time in Scripture.

Three: You need a crowd.

“When this sound occurred, the multitude came together” (Acts 2:6). “Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord’” (Is 2:3). “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled” (Lk 14:23).

What would happen when if we really came to understand that “Churches grow when God is involved?”

We’d work together with God in His vineyard. “We are God’s fellow workers” (1 Cor 3:9). “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain” (2 Cor 6:1).

Are you a worker in God’s vineyard?