2. Studying Church Growth
Considering Leadership Choices

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

4. Methods change, but not the message.
1 Corinthians 9:22
Methods change, but not the message.
 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.

5. Wineskins change, but not the wine.
Luke 5:36-38
Wineskins change, but not the wine.
He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old rwineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 

6. Trends among growing and declining churches of Christ indicate 6 clear choices for churches that have decided to grow.
Not really open to discussion anymore. It’s just a matter of whether we’ll choose to act.

7. Recognizing the generation
Trends indicate 6 clear choices for churches that have decided to grow.
CHOICE #1
The Culture Choice
Recognizing the generation
gap is now a culture gap!?!

8. Conclusion???
Growing churches are willing to do the ministry to reach out, and are looking to balance ages in spite of culture differences.

9. Evangelize or Fossilize
…I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
1 Corinthians 9:22

10. Trends indicate 6 clear choices for churches that have decided to grow.
The Leadership Choice

11. Leadership not to be confused with authority.
Elders are given authority, right to direct, manage, oversee
Leadership is INFLUENCE

12. Two aspects of Leadership Important to Church Growth
Staff ratio
Attitude of Leaders

13. Leadership is exercised through…
Personal example, i.e., 1 Cor. 11:1
Initiating actions, i.e., 1 Cor. 5:5
Communication that influences and encourages others to fulfill God’s purposes, i.e., Phil. 2:13; 1:6

14. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

15. Leadership is not an office or position, but an influencing power.

16. “Duhh” Point for our study
Growing churches have attitudes and actions distinctly different from declining churches, including leadership attitudes and action.

17. 5 Main Actions Demonstrating Leadership
Spiritual Renewal… emphasizing prayer and evangelism
Vision… picture of an end-result
Builds morale
Confidence that God is at work
Focuses on God’s agenda, off of self

18. 5 Main Actions Demonstrating Leadership
Spiritual Renewal… emphasizing prayer and evangelism
Vision… picture of an end-result
Planning… separates pro-active from reactive
Goals… statements of faith in God
Open leadership

19. Churches that want to grow have 6 choices to make…
in culture recognition..
in leadership..
And… (to be continued..)