Pastor Lynn Spoon
June 4, 2023
THE ACTS OF A GROWING CHURCH
THE ACTS OF A GROWING CHURCH
“In those days Peter stood up among the believers, a group numbering about 120.” Acts 1:15
“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about 3,000 were added to their number that day.” 2:41.
"Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people, and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” 2:47
“But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.” 4:4
“Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.” 5:14
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said, “yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 5:28
“In those days when the number of disciples was increasing…” 6:1
“So the word of God spread, and the number of disciples increased in Jerusalem rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” 6:7
“Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul, “You see brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.” 21:19-20
There are eight things that we need to do, if we want to see God’s blessing on His church today like they saw in Jerusalem in that day.
1. WE MUST MINISTER WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER
“On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 1:4-5
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”1:8
The power of God is given for witnessing, ministry and for missions.
We need to be Spirit Filled, Spirit Lead and Spirit Controlled .
“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” Rom. 8:9
“For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” 1st Cor. 12:13
2. WE MUST MAINTAIN A WARM FELLOWSHIP.
“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 wondrous and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.” 2:42-44
Fellowship in the Bible is defined as Koinonia.
It means being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus.
“They were of one accord… one heart… one purpose… one spirit...
all united in thought.”
3. WE MUST MULTIPLY SMALL GROUPS.
“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 favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 2:46-47
There are four advantages…
A. It is infinitely expandable.
B. It is unlimited geographically. .
C. It is good stewardship.
D. It promotes closer relationships.
4. WE MUST MAGNIFY OUR VISION OF GOD.
“On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.” 4:23-26
“I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” . Matt. 16:18
5. WE MUST MAXIMIZE THE POWER OF PRAYER.
“After they prayed, the place they were meeting was shaken…And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” 4:31
6. WE MUST MODEL CHRISTLIKE GENEROSITY
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them.” 4:32-34a
“For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas, which means Son of Encouragement, sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.” 4:34b-37
There were amazing results because of their generosity.
There was unity in the church.
There was a powerful testimony to the community.
There were no needy people among them.
7. WE MOBILIZE EVERY MEMBER FOR MINISTRY.
“In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the Apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” 6:1-7
Seven lessons that we learn from Acts 6.
A. A growing church is Biblical.
B. Church growth causes problems.
C. Problems are always unmet needs.
D. Pastors cannot do it all.
E. The congregational ministers are to assist the pastor.
F. The pastors are to focus on praying and teaching.
G. The result of their ministry was additional growth.
We have a sit and watch syndrome!
God word says, “ Pastor you are to mobilize the people for ministry and encourage, edify and equip the flock for missions.”
8. We must Move forward with God’s mission.
All the people had the call of The Great commission
“Go into all the world and make disciples!” Matt. 28:19
“Wait for the Holy Spirit and when He comes you’ll be given His power, you’ll go be witnesses.”1:8
The problem is they didn’t do it.
God taught them to take the message to the world by Persecution.
Do we really want more of that?
“On that day a great persecution broke out against the church of Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.” 8:1
“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” 8:4
“…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
Where is life lived? In the family and the marketplace.
Christians are called to penetrate society.
Jesus said, “Go and tell.”
