theological foundation of church growth

Theological FoundationTheological Foundationof Church Growthof Church Growth

Entering Jesus’ MissionEntering Jesus’ Mission

Entering into Jesus’ MissionEntering into Jesus’ Mission

• Jesus & the Great CommissionJesus & the Great Commission– Five OccurancesFive Occurances

•Mt. 28:18-20Mt. 28:18-20

•Mk. 16:15-16Mk. 16:15-16

•Lk. 24:46-49Lk. 24:46-49

• Jn. 20:21-23Jn. 20:21-23

•Acts 1:8Acts 1:8

• Sending Motif of JohnSending Motif of John


• Important concepts from Great Important concepts from Great CommissionCommission– Command to goCommand to go– Sent as Jesus was sentSent as Jesus was sent– Every ethnic group importantEvery ethnic group important– Make disciplesMake disciples– Teach all Jesus commandedTeach all Jesus commanded– God is with those who goGod is with those who go– Mission to continue till Christ returnsMission to continue till Christ returns


• Limited commission as an exampleLimited commission as an example– Mt. 10:5-15; Mk. 6:7-13; Lk. 9:1-6Mt. 10:5-15; Mk. 6:7-13; Lk. 9:1-6

•Target groupTarget group

•Stay with receptiveStay with receptive

•Don’t force the non-receptiveDon’t force the non-receptive

•Rely on the peopleRely on the people

•Harvest principleHarvest principle

•Pray for workersPray for workers

•Preach the gospelPreach the gospel

•Preach repentancePreach repentance


• Seven principles from Jesus’ missionSeven principles from Jesus’ mission– Search – Have a desire for the lostSearch – Have a desire for the lost– Harvest – Have a deep will to make Harvest – Have a deep will to make

disciplesdisciples– Fruit – Work for the spread of God’s Fruit – Work for the spread of God’s

kingdomkingdom– Quantitative – Seeking numerical growthQuantitative – Seeking numerical growth– Qualitative – Deepening spiritual growthQualitative – Deepening spiritual growth– Kingdom – Value of God’s ruleKingdom – Value of God’s rule– Judgment – Preparing for eternityJudgment – Preparing for eternity


• Principle one – SearchingPrinciple one – Searching– Mt. 18:10-14, not wishing any to parishMt. 18:10-14, not wishing any to parish– Lk. 12:6-8, desires all to confess JesusLk. 12:6-8, desires all to confess Jesus– Lk. 15, searching parablesLk. 15, searching parables


• Principle two – HarvestPrinciple two – Harvest– Jn. 4:35, white unto harvestJn. 4:35, white unto harvest– Mt. 9:37-38, harvest in plentifulMt. 9:37-38, harvest in plentiful– Mk. 4:26-29, parable of growing grainMk. 4:26-29, parable of growing grain


• Principle three – FruitPrinciple three – Fruit– Mt. 7:15-23Mt. 7:15-23– Mt. 13:1-9, 18-23, parable of the sowerMt. 13:1-9, 18-23, parable of the sower– Mt. 21:33-46, parable of the wicked Mt. 21:33-46, parable of the wicked

tenantstenants– Mt. 25:14-30, parable of the talentsMt. 25:14-30, parable of the talents– Lk. 13:6-9, bearing fruit is the purpose Lk. 13:6-9, bearing fruit is the purpose

of the fruit treeof the fruit tree– Jn. 15:1-11, Christ the true vineJn. 15:1-11, Christ the true vine


• Reasons for Bearing FruitReasons for Bearing Fruit– We are told by Christ to bear fruit (Jn. We are told by Christ to bear fruit (Jn.

15:16)15:16)– Being fruitful glorifies God (Jn. 15:8)Being fruitful glorifies God (Jn. 15:8)– Being fruitful is pleasing to God (Col. Being fruitful is pleasing to God (Col.

1:10)1:10)– Jesus is not please with unfruitfulness Jesus is not please with unfruitfulness

(Mt. 21:19)(Mt. 21:19)


• Principle four – QuantitativePrinciple four – Quantitative– Mk. 1:17; Lk. 5:8-10 fishers of menMk. 1:17; Lk. 5:8-10 fishers of men– Mt. 13:47-52 Parable of the DragnetMt. 13:47-52 Parable of the Dragnet– Mt. 13:31-32; Mk. 4:30-32 Parable of Mt. 13:31-32; Mk. 4:30-32 Parable of

Mustard SeedMustard Seed– Mt. 13:33-35 Parable of LeavenMt. 13:33-35 Parable of Leaven– Incorrect use – 1 Chron. 21:1Incorrect use – 1 Chron. 21:1– Correct use – Nu. 1:17-19; 26:1-4Correct use – Nu. 1:17-19; 26:1-4


• Reasons for Counting for God’s PurposeReasons for Counting for God’s Purpose– To know if someone is lostTo know if someone is lost– To acknowledge God’s blessing of growthTo acknowledge God’s blessing of growth– Check fruit bearingCheck fruit bearing– To know what resources God has given us To know what resources God has given us

to accomplish His missionto accomplish His mission

• Wrong reasons to countWrong reasons to count– For our own prideFor our own pride– For the sake of numbers onlyFor the sake of numbers only

Entering into Jesus’ MissionEntering into Jesus’ Mission• Principle four – QualitativePrinciple four – Qualitative

– Mt. 5:4-11 BeatitudesMt. 5:4-11 Beatitudes– Mt. 7:24-27 Two foundationsMt. 7:24-27 Two foundations– Mt. 28:20 Teaching them to observe all Mt. 28:20 Teaching them to observe all

commandedcommanded– Mt. 19:7-10 Hand causes you to stumbleMt. 19:7-10 Hand causes you to stumble– Mt. 19:15-17 Going to a brotherMt. 19:15-17 Going to a brother– Lk. 7:41-43 Parable of the Two DebtorsLk. 7:41-43 Parable of the Two Debtors– Lk. 10:30-37 Parable of Good SamaritanLk. 10:30-37 Parable of Good Samaritan– Lk. 14:7-11 Parable of the Lowest SeatLk. 14:7-11 Parable of the Lowest Seat– Lk. 18:1-8 Parable of the Persistent WidowLk. 18:1-8 Parable of the Persistent Widow


• Principle five – KingdomPrinciple five – Kingdom– Mt. 13:44 Parable of the Hidden Mt. 13:44 Parable of the Hidden

TreasuresTreasures– Mt. 13:45-46 Parable of Pearl of Great Mt. 13:45-46 Parable of Pearl of Great

PricePrice– Mt. 21:28-32 Parable of the Two SonsMt. 21:28-32 Parable of the Two Sons– Mt. 6:10 Thy kingdom come, will be Mt. 6:10 Thy kingdom come, will be

donedone


• Principle six – JudgmentPrinciple six – Judgment– Mt. 7:21-23 Those who do the Father’s Mt. 7:21-23 Those who do the Father’s

willwill– Mt. 20:1-16 Parable of the Workers in Mt. 20:1-16 Parable of the Workers in

the Vineyardthe Vineyard– Lk. 19:11-27 Parable of the Ten MinasLk. 19:11-27 Parable of the Ten Minas– Mt. 22:1-14 Parable of the Wedding Mt. 22:1-14 Parable of the Wedding

BanquetBanquet


• Pattern of Church Growth in ActsPattern of Church Growth in Acts– People sent outPeople sent out– Guided by Holy SpiritGuided by Holy Spirit– Message proclaimedMessage proclaimed– People hearPeople hear– People respondPeople respond– Believers form into a churchBelievers form into a church– Community appealCommunity appeal– Worship, service, fellowship, edification, Worship, service, fellowship, edification,

ministry, evangelismministry, evangelism


• Areas of Church Growth – Acts 2:41-47Areas of Church Growth – Acts 2:41-47– Growing in knowledge: continued Growing in knowledge: continued

steadfastly in the apostles teachingssteadfastly in the apostles teachings– Growing together: fellowship and the Growing together: fellowship and the

breaking of breadbreaking of bread– Growing in service: had all things in Growing in service: had all things in

commoncommon– Impacting the community: finding favor Impacting the community: finding favor

with all peoplewith all people– Growing numerically: Lord added to the Growing numerically: Lord added to the

church dailychurch daily

Entering into Jesus’ MissionEntering into Jesus’ Mission• Acts Missionary JourneysActs Missionary Journeys

– Sent out to make disciples (Antioch)Sent out to make disciples (Antioch)– Breaking new ground (unreached)Breaking new ground (unreached)– Proclaiming the gospel (Christ centered)Proclaiming the gospel (Christ centered)– Planted churches (Community emphasis)Planted churches (Community emphasis)– Nurturing churches (Christian living teaching)Nurturing churches (Christian living teaching)– Leadership instillation (Responsibility for church)Leadership instillation (Responsibility for church)– Leadership development (Maturation process)Leadership development (Maturation process)– Churches sent out workers (Mother churches)Churches sent out workers (Mother churches)

Entering into Jesus’ MissionEntering into Jesus’ Mission• Paul’s Missionary LettersPaul’s Missionary Letters

– Paul was contextually sensitivePaul was contextually sensitive– Paul planted church that fit the communityPaul planted church that fit the community– Paul followed up on planted churches Paul followed up on planted churches – Paul provided theological teachingPaul provided theological teaching– Paul provided practical Christian living Paul provided practical Christian living

teachingteaching– Paul kept contact with church leadershipPaul kept contact with church leadership– Paul encourage local leadershipPaul encourage local leadership– Paul trained leadersPaul trained leaders– Paul continued to have contact with churchesPaul continued to have contact with churches– Paul continued his own mission work (Spain?)Paul continued his own mission work (Spain?)


• Paul & Church GrowthPaul & Church Growth– Need for preaching the gospelNeed for preaching the gospel

•Power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:14-16)Power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:14-16)

•Need for people to believe (Rom. 10:8-15)Need for people to believe (Rom. 10:8-15)

•The message preached to save (1 Cor. 1:21-The message preached to save (1 Cor. 1:21-25)25)

– Ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-Ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-21)21)•Word of reconciliationWord of reconciliation

•Ambassadors for ChristAmbassadors for Christ

•Begging people to be reconciledBegging people to be reconciled


• Paul & Church GrowthPaul & Church Growth– Growth from God (1 Cor. 3:5-11)Growth from God (1 Cor. 3:5-11)

•Paul plantedPaul planted

•Apollos wateredApollos watered

•God gave the growthGod gave the growth

•God’s fellow servants in ministryGod’s fellow servants in ministry

•Christians are God’s field and buildingChristians are God’s field and building

• Jesus is the foundation of the building (v. 11)Jesus is the foundation of the building (v. 11)

theological foundation of church growth

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