Aug 25, 2015 nelson searcy is an experienced church planter, coach and church growth strategist, working with churches in over 45 denominations. Its narrative supplies a bridge connecting the life and ministry of jesus to the life of the church and the witness of the earliest believers. In the first few chapters of acts we are told how the early church centered her ministries in the city of jerusalem. The events and narratives in the book of acts tell the story of fulfillment of the great commission by the disciples as they were lead by the spirit.
Leaven volume 3 issue 1galatians article 17 111995 the book of church growth. Up to this point the apostles had been through a lot already. When i was in seminary, church growth 101 was a required course. Pdf the depiction of church growth in acts ben wilson. Stay tuned for second half of this post where we will address 5 more key principles of church planting from the book of acts.
But it does demonstrate that economic matters are gospel matters. Extension growth is the church growth term synonymous with church planting. While there are some areas of great detail of the acts of the apostles, many times you must use cross references to the gospels of matthew, mark, luke and john as well as some other epistles in the new testament to get the full picture of what. Within the acts of the apostoloi there are theoretical and practical exemplars which the contemporary church may pattern to navigate a pathway to fruitful evangelism and sustainable growth.
The quest for this type growth is also seen in acts. This is a theologically solid, albeit basic, survey of church growth principles. Stephen was the first man after pentecost who was said to do miracles but not an apostle. Church growth in the book of acts a church of christ can and will grow spiritually and numerically when it is faithful to the word of god. Acts shows what the early church believed and practiced. Payne has a website with church planting and missions resources. Spiritual and numerical growth for churches has been under the magnifying glass for many years. The key to healthy church ministry is that it is the continuing ministry of jesus.
The five most important church growth principles by gary. Clicking on a chapter will show you the text of that chapter of acts in the bible king james version. Feb 04, 2012 even with persecution designed to stop growth, the number of believers grew 9. Barnabas and paul were trained by the jerusalem church apostolic team acts 4. Acts 1011 cornelius prayer surrounded every aspect of the crossing over of the gospel to the gentiles a new people group. Frank stagg has described the book of acts as the story of an unhindered gospel. To my knowledge, however, no church growth book with a complete focus on acts has been written. Look for the general principles and lessons which can be learned. Principles of church growth in the early church ezinearticles. This article presents the concept of church growth alongside evangelism mainly in the book of acts. The signs and preaching at samaria which resulted in the conversion of the samaritans. The principles and patterns from the book of acts for.
In trying to narrow that down into usable numbers a similar search was performed on church growth strategies. There have been multiple strategies put forward to remedy the struggles and deficiencies associated with drawing people to jesus and his churchand then growing them into fully. Principles of organization the local church from the book. The small church growth strategy handbook represents a compilation of research, resources, stories, and information designed for small congregations to meet the needs as identified by both the standing commission for small congregations and the church in small communities legislative bodies over the past six years. The book of acts is a key historical record of what the early church believed and practiced. As such it answers the question many firstcentury observers would have. Pdf evangelism and church growth in the book of acts. Principles of organization the local church from the book of acts vasile filat 08 june 2009 answers from the bible 99 while i was teaching the session revelation that took place in ukraine, one of the pastors asked me which are the principles of organization of the local church from the new testament. Acts tells us how the christian movement came into beginning. To prove this point, let us take a quick look at church growth in the book of acts, with a special view to the church in jerusalem. Particular situations and events occurred not as a pattern but as fulfillment of a prophecy, ie signs to the jews or. Ludlowthe book of acts was written by luke after his gospel as the second part of a great twovolume work on jesus christ and the early christians.
Apr 29, 2016 apostolic church planting is a followup to paynes discovering church planting intervarsity, 2009. They had not ventured out as jesus had commanded in acts 1. The church growth movement has divided devout christians. They had been following jesus and were witnesses of the many miracles he had performed. David shenk and ervin stutzman write extensively in their book creating communities of the kingdom about the importance of acts for church planting. Peter and the original apostles were trained for more than three years under the chief apostle, our lord jesus. Unfortunately, this seems to be a pervasive attitude among. Intro to acts biblica the international bible society.
Greens evangelism in the early church,l the subjects of evangelism and church growth in the book of acts have been unaccountably neglected in recent years. Church growth and evangelism in the book of acts doc. I took interest in the whole field and became a student of church growth. Acts has been called a transitional book because it serves as a bridge between the gospels and the epistles. Church on fire a sixweek series on the first cycle of acts.
We will have the power the early church experienced when we pray like the early church prayed. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. The objective of this type growth is found in ephesians 4. The book of acts provides a detailed, orderly, eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel immediately after the resurrection of jesus christ. Ludlowthe book of acts was written by luke after his gospel as the. Peters sermon at pentecost in acts 2 explains passages from joel and the psalms to substantiate his claim that jesus is the prophesied messiah.
If you look at acts, youll notice that the first section covers peter acts 112 and the second section covers paul acts 28. Now that we have scriptural leadership in this congregation it is appropriate to begin talking about growth. The book of acts is the second book written for theophilus by luke, and takes up the story where lukes gospel account finished luke 1. But in the book of acts there is a verse that speaks of growth, and factors a re named there that helped this growth occur 3. These 3000 christians, who took part in the birth of the church, continued in the apostles doctrine, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer according to acts 2. Bible study quiz questions set 2 acts facts book of acts. Philips only requirement was that the man believe the message philip proclaimed to him. The spread of christianity the six parts of the book of acts. For an example of one church growth writers use of acts, see c. Acts begins with jesus teaching the apostles about the kingdom of god outside jerusalem, and ends, about thirty years later, with paul teaching gentile christians about the kingdom of god in rome. Expansion growth is the numerical growth of a local congregation. Apr 06, 2012 as a church growth consultant, i also propagated some of those principles for many years. Besides linking the gospel narratives on the one hand and the apostolic letters on. Church growth statements in the book of acts barnes bible charts 2.
Written by luke, the book of acts has a prominent missionary theme because it details the rapid growth of the early church and the first missionary efforts. Todays passage from the book of acts describes the expansion of the firstcentury church, but the steady growth it portrays applies also to what happened in the second century and beyond. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. The geographical, political, cultural, social, and religious aspects of firstcentury jewish palestine are all explored in order to throw light on lukes account of the palestinian origins of early christianity. Later, believers were the more added to the lord, multitudes both of men and women acts 5. Its initial chapters describe the churchs founding and early years. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt.
It completely amazes me how anyone can read the second chapter of the book of acts and firmly say that a person doesnt have to be baptized in order to be saved. Even though rainer is an advocate, his aim here is to present an objective view of the movementits history, the theology associated with it, and the principles which seem to separate churches that grow from those that dont. Nelson is also the founding and lead pastor of the journey church, with locations across new york city and in san francisco and boca raton, fl. Oct 15, 20 fortyeight times in the book of acts, it says, they prayed. After they prayed the place they were meeting was shaken.
The second section will discuss the application of church growth principles to postmodernists. It is progress in christlikeness, being more like christ each day. The book of acts tells the story of the beginning of the church of jesus christ. Biblical strategy and shift to spiritual driven church growth. Five reasons the early church grew acts 4 forthright.
The book of acts tells us on that day the god of heaven launched the church of christ. For several chapters now the record of acts will follow the work of two of the seven men appointed in acts 6. The principles of leadership longevity and tenacity in acts are certainly normative for our churches today. I glanced over scripture and conformed gods word to my ideas and those of others instead of really bowing to his word. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search.
The jerusalem church date sermon title sermon text oct. Even with persecution designed to stop growth, the number of believers grew 9. Church growth principles acts of the apostles christian church. And just imagine the effect these comments should have had on theophilus and others who read lukes book. They should be applied not in order to grow a big church, but in order to reach gods dearly loved children, and. A eunuch was on his way home from jerusalem when philip taught and baptized him. At nearly twenty years of age, the book has become dated in places, yet many principles still apply.
Whereas the old testament depicts evangelism as people coming to god, the lucan perspective demonstrates that gods servants will go to his people. The bible is one book with one story about one person. The present article investigates the ways in which the book of acts depicts the. The exemplars discussed here, though not exhaustive, may. I read a pile of books and attended most of the big church growth conferences. There have been strategies over the years for accomplishing discipleship, evangelism and church growth.
The purpose of this project is to present the biblical standards, principles, components, and methods of spiritual discipline for 21st century churches conversion from human efforts and programs oriented church growth to spiritual driven church growth like an early church. Professor of new testament studies acadia divinity college, wolfville, nova scotia. This is about principles not techniques for healthy church growth. Acts bible book with full chapters king james version.
It is the historical link that joins the life of christ with the growth of the christian church. The five most important church growth principles these outreach principles work. Here ends our study of all the places mentioned in the book of acts. In some cases, rainer was prophetic, anticipating what church life would be like in the 21st century. Church growth, church growth principles, church growth factors. Real growth always includes spiritual maturity heb. But not the kind of growth that would simply satisfy our craving for more members, but the kind of growth that is the result of saving souls. Principles from the book of acts deeds must be done by the power of the holy spirit of god jesus said without me you can do nothing the ministry of jesus was to the apostles written in 6064 a. The apostle paul as a model for church growth and evangelism. T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. Our remarks for this article will come from acts 4.
Popular church growth books meet your next favorite book. A search of for books on church growth yielded over 7,200 results. A basic overview of the structure for the book of acts. The early church is a best model as a spiritual driven church. I read a pile of books and attended most of the big churchgrowth. This section will begin with a comparison between modernists and postmodernists followed by a discussion on the cultural shifts in america. Then, church growth principles will be applied to the task of developing a missional church. Acts is not just the acts of the apostles but the empowering continuing work of jesus. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. It can happen today principles of church growth from the. In the persons of paul and silas, two of the greatest missionaries and heroes of the faith, we see all the example we need that christians are called to confront the economic abuses of the world. The summaries luke made throughout his book explain that every major section of the book of acts depicts the growth of the gospel as it spread through the witness of the early church.
The book of acts in its palestinian setting is devoted to a series of studies of those parts of the narrative of acts that are specifically set in palestine. The expansion of the church reformed bible studies. The natural growth process of this no law teaching was. Paul and the early church were not at odds with the laws of the old testament. The record from the book of acts couldnt be clearer. The beginning of the church and its growth t he book of acts records the growth and progress of the church in the first century. Whereas the gospel of luke focuses on the life and ministry of jesus christ, the acts of the apostles builds upon what jesus did and taught see acts 1. Principles of church growth from the book of acts bontrager, edwin on. Rainer green valley baptist church birmingham, al 35226 wth the exception of m. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. Bridging growth is church planting when the converts are in a different culture than those doing the evangelizing. As people went forth to preach christ, converts were won throughout the roman empire. Principles from the book of acts by douglas hilliard on prezi. I am sure there were many factors, probably some that we have no way of knowing of today.
This type of growth is developed in the body of christ. But in the book of acts there is a verse that speaks of growth, and factors are named there that helped this growth occur. Through the book of acts, youll notice that both apostles perform miracles through the power of the spirit, see visions, suffer, preach powerfully, and were imprisoned and later miraculously set free. Why does a debate about the pattern principle of the new. At onequarter of the length of his earlier work, apostolic church planting is intended to answer some questions which in the years since the larger book was published. Spiritual warfare requires the use of spiritual weapons. They see the book of acts as a church planting manual drawing a number of principles that can be useful today such as holy spirit, leadership and training, vision, prayer, cultural differences. Interestingly, verse 6 said the apostles had laid hands on these men. The book begins with the ascension of jesus into heaven acts 1.
In my former book, theophilus, i wrote about all that jesus began to do and. In fact, the book of acts does not give principles for gauging economic activity. We arent all about the numbers like some other churches. Principles of church growth from the book of acts scottsdale. The book of acts and church growth paperback june 1, 1990 by f. Acts facts the spread of christianity the six parts of. Principles of organization the local church from the book of acts.