1. Friends with Everyone

2. Acts 2: 41-47 (TNIV) “Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. “Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.”

3. Acts 2: 41-47 (TNIV) “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

4. Acts 2: 41-47 (TNIV)  Boldness and authority  Church activities Teaching; fellowship; communion; prayer  Signs and wonders  Sharing everything  Meeting together  Numerical growth

5. Super-size me!  McDonald’s 3 times a day for 30 days  Gained 13% body mass index and over 2 stones in weight

6. Growth in the Church Pre- Pentecost  Acts 1: 12 11 Disciples + women + Mary + Jesus’ brothers  Acts 1: 15around 120 including Matthias Pentecost  Acts 2: 413,000 believe and baptised Post Pentecost  Acts 4: 45,000 men minimum

7. Churches grow…  Church plants  Marketing and promotion  People movement Relocation Dissatisfaction/reputation  Beware of elitist motivation

8. Growth v. Godly  Teaching, fellowship, communion, prayer  Expectation of God moving in power  Preferring and serving  Forgiveness and receiving it  More prayer – specific  ‘Body ministry’  Helping the disenfranchised  Community involvement

9. Our Mission Acts 2: 46 “…having the goodwill of all the people” Acts 4: 33 “…much grace was upon them all“  Living by God’s standards  Distinctive – attitudes, motives, values  Holding fast

10. Power & Favour “... the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world ” - 1John 4:4 (NIV) “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and men” - Luke 2: 52 (NIV) “…as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” - Romans 12: 18 (NIV)

11. Power & Favour Jeremiah 29: 7 (NIV) “... seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper ” Jeremiah 29: 7 (NCV) “…do good things for the city where I sent you as captives. Pray to the Lord for the city where you are living, because if good things happen in the city, good things will happen to you also.”

12. Our Mission  Numerical growth is a by-product of a godly church  Our ‘targets’ Those who don’t know Jesus yet The ‘unattached’ Family members  Prayer is vital – it’s intentional

13. The Challenge 1 new Christian per time period After 5 = 16 After 10 = 512 After 15 = 16,384 After 20 = 524,288 After 25 = 16,777,266 5080025,600819,20026,214,400838,860,800