Studying Church Growth PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

1 Chronicles 12:32 And of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do… The Issachar Factor

Why didn’t all the congregations of Israel grow at the same rate? Family reproduction comes from God and OUR CHOICES The Choice Factor

NUMBERS MATTER… Acts 2:41 - 3,000 the first day Acts 2:41 - 3,000 the first day Acts 2:47 - adding day by day Acts 2:47 - adding day by day Acts 4:4 - 5,000 “men” Acts 4:4 - 5,000 “men” Acts 5:14 - multitudes added Acts 5:14 - multitudes added Acts 6:1 - increasing in number Acts 6:1 - increasing in number Acts 6:7 - the number of disciples increased greatly Acts 6:7 - the number of disciples increased greatly The Numbers Factor

Amos 9:7 Are you not as the sons of Ethiopia to Me O sons of Israel? Declares the Lord. Have I not brought up Israel from the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir? The Israel Fallacy

Influencing Our Growth 1.The ISSACHAR factor, 1 Chron. 12:32 2.The CHOICE factor, 1 Cor. 3:6-8 3.The ISRAEL fallacy, Amos 9:7 4.The NUMBERS factor, Acts 2:41-6:7

1 Corinthians 9:22 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. [22] To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. Methods change, but not the message.

THREE CHORES FOR EVERY CHURCH 1. Think… about what we’re doing 2. Determine… how to do the best we can 3. Always abound! 1 Corinthians 15:58

Congregations Must Make A Choice When It Comes to… Today’s culture Today’s culture Leadership Leadership Worship Worship Involvement Involvement Outreach, and Outreach, and Identity Identity

Studies Indicate…. There are three main levels of organized fellowship and all three levels are necessary to a growing church.

3 Main Levels of Infrastructure Level 1- Sharing group, limited in number, avg , stretch to 30-40, purpose? spiritual sharing Level 2- Fellowship group, limited in number, avg , stretch to 200, purpose? acceptance and belonging Level 3- Assembly group, unlimited in number, Purpose? To worship, encourage, edify, proclaim Christ

Why Team Evangelism? Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV) Because “synergy” is biblical

Why Team Evangelism? Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, (Philippians 1:27 ESV) Because “team effort” is biblical

Why Team Evangelism? …from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:16 ESV) Because the “100% ideal” is biblical

Why Team Evangelism? When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. (Acts 12:12 ESV) …how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, (Acts 20:20 ESV) Because “small group meetings” are biblical

Numerous “Team” efforts have been proven out Visitation groups Visitation groups Door knocking teams Door knocking teams Cell groups Cell groups H.O.M.E. studies H.O.M.E. studies

Sooo, we’re left with the job to do It is up to us to understand And to make choices And to get busy Planting & watering