1. What Growing Churches Believe

2. Statistics 80% churches in decline 8 churches close every day
Median attendance = 75
Church of Christ = 13,000 USA
Church of Christ growth rate = 1.6%
U.S. population growth rate = 30%

3. Growing Churches Believe…
Sin is the universal problem.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
- Rom. 3:23

4. Different People – Same Conversion
Eunuch – Ethiopian
Saul – Jew
Cornelius – Roman
Lydia – Greek

5. Growing Churches Believe…
Sin is the universal problem.
Salvation is the Universal Hunger

6. All four people needed approval from God in the form of forgiveness, purification and acceptance

7. Growing Churches Believe…
Sin is the universal problem.
Salvation is the Universal Hunger
The Gospel is the Universal Solution

8. 12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
- Acts 4:12

9. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
- Rom. 1:16

10. Only ONE Response to the Gospel
Philip baptized the Eunuch – Acts 8:38
Ananias baptized Saul – Acts 9:18
Peter baptized Cornelius – Acts 10:47-48
Paul baptized Lydia – Acts 16:15

11. Different People Same Response

12. Sometimes Churches… Forget the basics Get away from the basics
Don’t practice the basics

13. Church Growth is Built on the Understanding That :
Sin is the problem
Jesus is the answer
Preaching the gospel is the way

14. Church Growth Begins With You!