Welcome

Church Growth In Acts

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NKJV Testimony of him

Church Growth In Acts Number Area Appeal Spirituality

Numerical Growth Jerusalem 120 = 1:15 3,000 = 2:41 Increase = 2:47 120 = 1:15 3,000 = 2:41 Increase = 2:47 5,000 = 4:4 Multitudes = 5:14 Multiplied = 6:1,7 Samaria Multitudes responded = 8:16 Ethiopian Eunuch …. = 8 Palestine Scattered ……… = 9:31 multiplied ……… = 12:24 many thousands = 21:20 Gentiles Cornelius ………..… = 10 Antioch in Syria ……= 11:21 Missionary journeys of Paul

Numbers represent Souls Numerical Growth Numbers represent Souls Matt. 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Geographic Growth in Area How the gospel went to all the world Acts 1:8 = Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and uttermost part of the earth Key Cities Jerusalem Antioch in Syria Antioch in Pisidia Ephesus Rome - Acts 28:30-31

Growth in Area Geographic

Acts 19:10 “And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.” Romans 10:18 “But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” Colossians 1:23 “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;”

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

Growth in Area Mission work -- take the gospel to all parts of world Christ died for them just like he died for us! If we are not interested in taking the gospel to all the world then we are not really interested in taking the gospel to any of the world.

Growth in Appeal The Gospel is for “every creature” Mark 16:15 “all flesh” Acts 2:17-18 All human beings - whole of humanity Persons of all nationalities Acts – Gospel taken to all flesh 2:14 “all ye that dwell at Jerusalem” 2:36 “all the house of Israel” 5:15 “multitudes of men and women” 8:12 “they were baptized both men and women”

Different kinds of jobs and backgrounds Priests, Sorcerer, Treasurer, Seamstress, Tanner Centurion, Proconsul, Merchant, Jailer Tent maker, Ruler The Church must grow in appeal Rich and Poor Must not limit our prospects Gal. 3:28 “all one in Christ Jesus” Col. 3:11 “but Christ is all, and in all”

Gospel is Appealing Growth in Appeal We must take the gospel to all creatures Farmer and Factory worker Black and white Rich and poor Soldier and retired School teacher and Truck driver Merchant and Carpenter Young and Old Mechanic and Computer programmer Gospel is Appealing

Growth in Spirituality Church grew to be more like Jesus “of all that Jesus began both to do and teach” 1:1 “the Holy One” and “the just” 3:14 “went about doing good” 10:38 Therefore the church grew in spirituality “edified” 9:31 “established in the faith” 16:5 “cleave unto the Lord” 11:23

God Desires that we Grow Spiritually 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” Signs Obedience….. Faithfulness … Increase …….. to all God’s commands in worshipping God of love to fellow man

How did they accomplish this ? What they did not do: Establish world-wide organizations Storm Rome for change in laws Develop armies to take by force Take on social agendas Develop parachurch organizations Did not set out to change the world

How did they accomplish this ? What they did do: Did not set out to change the world but they set out to change individuals They changed individuals by teaching Acts 2:40 - multitude Acts 8:5 - Samaritans Acts 8:35 – Eunuch Acts 9:6 - Saul Acts 11:14 - Cornelius “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” Romans 10:17

How did they accomplish this ? What they did do: Did not set out to change the world but they set out to change individuals They changed individuals by teaching They realized they weren’t the ones doing the changing 1 Cor. 3:5-7 Paul – his job = Teach and God would bring the increase Phil. 4:13 – could do all things through God Eph. 3:20-21 – God would work through them Acts 11:21 – Hand of the Lord was with them

How did they accomplish this ? If we are going to Change people …. We must lean on God to do the changing Our job is just to do the teaching If we do God will be with us He will accomplish great things for His Kingdom

History of the Actions Of the early church

Church Growth In Acts Number Area Appeal Spirituality

The reason they grew was… “But the word of God grew and multiplied” 12:24 “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed” 19:20 When we let the word of God grow it will increase: Isa. 55:11 “it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent.”

Acts Church Growth In What will we do with it ? 120 Thousands We have the same Gospel. What will we do with it ?

Nelson Chapel Church of Christ 5039 Six Mile Road Maryville, Tn. 37803 www.nelsonchapelchurchofchrist.org April 9, 2017 Sermon by Arthur Pigman 2705 Druid Hill Dr. Maryville, Tn. 37804 art65ann@gmail.com