What Kind Of People Compose The Church? Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots Common people from Jewish and Roman and Greek cultures. Homosexuals, Adulterers, Fornicators, Sorcerers, Idol worshippers, Atheists. People who came from generations of Judaism but had to change People who came from generations of Heathen practices but had to change People who came from Idolatrous ideas about God and evil and good but had to change. People who had to overcome lifestyles of immorality but had to change. People who had to turn their backs on their families lifestyles.

What Changed These People? The Gospel of Jesus Christ! They committed themselves to put the Lord first in all they did and to crown Him as the authority in all things. They studied the Word, reasoned it out, and obeyed. They were pricked in their hearts and the powerful Word moved them to change from who they were to become children of God. The Power of God (the Gospel) broke their hearts and convicted them of their sins. They submitted to it and then zealously had a mind to share that same gospel with others. From the Epistles we see they had to fight as we do to stay changed (Gal. 1:5-10; 5:19-21; Thessalonians, Corinthians, Laodicea, Ephesus, etc).

Growth And The Early Church All mothers and dad’s want their children to grow. We measure them regularly at the doctors and at home. We also want our businesses to grow, our area to grow- we also want our homes to grow strong. Our heavenly Father planned from eternity that the church would be established and Jesus purchased it with His blood (Eph. 1:3-14; Acts 20:28). As we read the book of Acts and the epistles, we notice that the first century church grew in number and in faith, very quickly. This did not happen by miracle. God’s plan was that fallible converted humans like us (Christians) would carry out His plan and would handle His infallible Word ably and it would change the hearts of men.

New Testament Church Growth Has anything changed today? Still have sinful people Still have Infallible and Powerful Word Still have Faithful fallible Christians Why do we not experience the growth in many places that they did in the first century? Strong Faith and Zeal is lacking in many places and the hearts of many Christians. What was being done in the first century that may have gone lacking today in many places? God is also concerned with growth. However, He measures spiritual as well as numeric growth. For example, the Hebrews were rebuked for their lack of spiritual growth in Hebrews 5:12-14. Looking to the book of Acts, we see the Lord’s church growing by leaps and bounds in spiritual and physical ways. Why was that? Let’s look at some reasons why the first church grew the way it did. May we follow their example and learn how we might grow today.

4 Keys to Church Growth Their Teaching Their Unity Their Corrective Discipline of one another Their Strong Stand for the truth.

What Did They Teach? Let’s look at the teaching done from two angles: the type of preaching, and the amount of preaching. We see the type of preaching was Jesus and Him crucified. This is apparent from the first gospel sermon (Acts 2:22-36). Looking through the book of Acts, we see that other teachers followed suit. Philip preached Christ (Acts 8:5, 12, 35). Paul preached Christ as well (Acts 13:27-38; 17:1-3). Teaching was also done concerning the necessity of obedience to God’s word (Acts 2:37-38). The Ethiopian eunuch was obviously taught that obedience was necessary for salvation, or he would not have asked Philip, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” (Acts 8:36). These early preachers preached the oracles of God (I Pet. 4:11). No apostle or sound teacher taught their own opinions. They taught the truth, God’s word (Jn. 17:17; Gal. 1:6-9). The amount of preaching is evident in this book of Acts. These people were taught of God on a regular basis. In Acts 2:42 and Acts 2:46, we see people who were “continuing” in God’s word. They were being taught on a daily basis. People were being taught not only publicly, but privately (Acts 5:42). The teaching was not done “once in a while.” There were daily results from daily teaching (Acts 2:47)!

What Unity!  The book of Acts reveals a people who were united in their work, purpose, and motive. They were living as Jesus prayed they would in John 17:21-23. Acts 4:32 says, “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.” These people genuinely cared and loved one another. Luke said, “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need” (Acts 2:44-45). This unity brought the early Christians together during times of adversity and made the church grow not only physically, but spiritually.

Consistent Corrective Discipline That is correct, the early church took corrective action at times! Please read Acts 5:1-11, and notice the action taken by God at this time. What was the result you ask? How many left these “cold, unfeeling people”? Luke wrote, “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women” (Acts 5:14). Yes, friends, corrective discipline must be exercised if we wish the church to grow! It is a command! “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us...And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” (II Thess. 3:6, 14-15). No, this is not an option. It is something that must be done to please God, and encourage growth in the church.

Strength In Standing Together For Truth  Please notice that their stand for the truth was a daily stand (Acts 2:42; 5:42). Seeing that these people stood for the truth daily, the church grew daily! In Acts 4:1-3, we read, “And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.” Here is a time of adversity and problems. The Sadducees, priests, and captain of the temple tried to stop the preaching of Peter and John. Please notice what happened next, “Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand” (Acts 4:4). These men did not back down, and the church grew! Later on, we see the people praying to God about the problems that were upon them. Please notice their attitude in this prayer,“And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word” (Acts 4:29). Does this sound like they were going to compromise their beliefs to “get along”? Certainly not! Neither should we!

Conclusion Because these four things were a part of the early church, we see the church growing by 3000 (Acts 2:47), to 5000 (Acts 4:4), then multitudes (Acts 5:14), and then multiplying with a great number of the priests being  added as well (Acts 6:1, 7). This growth occurred because these people believed and obeyed God, and allowed Him to bless them (I Cor. 3:6). Do you want this church to grow? It is going to take hard work. It is going to involve our putting these principles into practice. We need to concentrate on spiritual growth. When the spiritual growth occurs, the physical growth will come. Let us not be like the Hebrews who should have been teachers and were not. Let us be as the Thessalonians who “sounded out the word” (I Thess. 1:8).