In our times of mega-churches and bigger building facilities for gatherings, it is very easy and convenient for church leaderships and management teams to get caught up with “numbers”.
The irony of “numbers” is, the more you want it, the more you become afraid of losing it.
The greatest fear and nightmare of mega-churches … mass exodus of members.
Here are lists of some modern ways of attracting more numbers to the church –
1) Social activities
2) Entertainment
3) Facilities
Any others things which will involves space, manpower, resources and lots of extra financing … thus as the modern day churches grow in numbers, more expenditures and costing are incurred till it become a burden and liability.
Let’s pause a moment, scan though what we read in our Bible; look for past records of proven sustainable church growth examples which does not give us that extra burdens and liabilities.
Yes we do have an example from the Apostle Paul –
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:6)
Paul and Apollos were at that time Christianity was expanding consistently.
Paul was at that time of history when Christianity was fruitful and multiplying.
What was Paul planting?
What was Apollos watering?
Discipleship Impartations Passing on of values
It was a fact, the Early Christians for hundreds of years till Emperor Constantine, were not into the practices of building new buildings and facilities for church and fellowship.
Not that they did not want to or without resource. But the Early Christians were being practical and being committed on these three things –
Discipleship Impartations Passing on of values
They just made used of existing facilities. They met in Synagogue till they were kicked out. They met in the market place, out in the park, by the river side, and mostly ….. in the house.
The Early Christians were known for house-church fellowship and the important point was, they were very focus and committed to these three important things
Discipleship Impartations Passing on of values
Let’s think of that as “quality control in micromanagement”.
As Paul said … God gave the increase
What Paul and Apollos did fulfilled what Jesus commanded –
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Jesus was telling us to keep focus on the discipleship progress and process.
And as Paul said … God gave the increase
Paul was not talking theory; Paul himself was a missionary with proven track records of real church growth!
Paul was telling us what he saw, what God did through his discipleship work.
Paul was eye witness how God grew His church!
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:6)
When modern day churches try to increase the numbers by every human means, we risk losing the numbers through every other human means. People who are attracted to the church due to social activities, entertainments and facilities, the same will leave for the same reasons elsewhere.
When God gave us the increase as according to what Paul and Apollos did, these are the same who will regenerate and multiply of their own under God’s will, plan and purpose.
On the other hand, modern day churches that have all the space and facility but are not focused not committed on these three
Discipleship
Impartations
Passing on of values
… simply waste of resource.
The key point of sustainable church growth, do what Jesus wanted …
Discipleship Impartations Passing on of values
NOTE: This article has been published through the permission of the blogger David Z. David is a passionate blogger who has a deep heart for the areas of discipleship, prayer, and a sustainable church growth. You may find his reflections and writings at his website on followchristtoday.com.
SOURCE OF ARTICLE: https://followchristtoday.com/2016/10/15/sustainable-church-growth-001-quality-control-in-micromanagement/
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