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. The book of acts tells the story of the beginning of the church of jesus christ. As the saying goes, you plan the work and work the plan. This is an especially crucial matter to the hermeneutics of the historical narratives, 126 like the book of acts. According to mcgavran and ann, this is a universal truth which, when properly interpreted and applied, contributes significantly to the growth of churches and denominations. So, when you see god bless your church with growth, dont be surprised to experience resistance, sometimes even from within. For an example of one church growth writers use of acts, see c.
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 was. A witness is somebody who tells what he has seen and heard acts 4. Acts records the beginnings of the church and reveals the steps one must obey to become a christian. The book of acts contains important information for all today. Share with a person who will keep you accountable and pray for you. Rainer green valley baptist church birmingham, al 35226 wth the exception of m. 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. It might appropriately be called some of the acts of some of the apostles since it does not try to describe all of the acts of all the apostles. Lyle schaller, considered one of the best church consultants in the world, states in his book, the very large church, that the two most comfortable church sizes are under 45 people and under 150 people, likely making them two of the hardest thresholds to pass through, in addition to the 800 mark. Church growth in the book of acts 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. In the past, people looked to the west for examples of growing a church. Paul and the early church were not at odds with the laws of the old testament. Acts of the apostles executable outline study resources. And he will grow his church as we apply the biblical churchgrowth principles we see in the book of acts.
If we echo the actions of the early church, we can expect gods blessing on our church as much as those ancient leaders saw a blessing on the church in jerusalem. This is a theologically solid, albeit basic, survey of church growth principles. Whereas the old testament depicts evangelism as people coming to god, the lucan perspective demonstrates that gods servants will go to his people. In some cases, rainer was prophetic, anticipating what church life would be like in the 21st century. Even with persecution designed to stop growth, the number of believers grew 9. Amershamonthehill, eng scripture press, 1987, c1986 bv3790. By juxtaposing evangelism and church growth in that era of the church to evangelism and church growth in the contemporary church. It can happen today principles of church growth from the. Evangelism and church growth are inexorably linked by a directly proportional relationship in the book of acts, so that, as evangelism was practiced, the church grew. Church growth church growth is a very popular topic that even nonchristians heard of this term before.
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. We know the first part of this work as the gospel of luke. Feb 04, 2012 even with persecution designed to stop growth, the number of believers grew 9. Outline studies in the book of the acts of the apostles. In some cases, rainer was prophetic, anticipating what church life would be like in the. We will accent what builds scriptural churches, not what inflates by human ingenuity. The book of acts the church of christ in zion, illinois. The acts of peter and philip the evangelist are recorded here as well. 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 statements in the book of acts barnes bible charts 2. If the book was just before or after pauls release, then it was likely written around 63 a. 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. 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. T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. Good leadership will develop a good plan for growth and how to use new members and existing members in the work of the church. Outline of the book of acts floral heights church of christ.
Phil sanders, instructor 4 nsop church growth, fall 2003 a study of the growth of the church in early church history acts 2. Purpose of the book as indicated previously, the original purpose of both the gospel and acts may have been to assist. Commonly called the acts of the apostles, it is simply titled acts in some of the oldest manuscripts. The record from the book of acts couldnt be clearer. Ludlow 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. The design of his book revolves around 1 key persons. 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.
Oct 15, 20 when you look at the book of acts, you find at least eight characteristics of the early church that positioned them for this kind of blessing from god. The book of acts is a vital link between the gospels and the epistles. In fact, three times luke underscores the large numbers 11. The growth of the first century church was both spectacular and constant 1. From a small group of persecuted refugees, the church in antioch saw large numbers of people come to christ. Phil sanders, instructor 1 nsop church growth, fall 2003 syllabus for church growth the study of church growth encompasses both a study of scripture and the methods of our time that lead to spiritual and numerical growth of the kingdom of god. If we were to employ these same factors, we too, can have church growth. The acts of the apostles the book of acts acts provides an eyewitness account of the early beginnings of the church and gives an accurate record of the birth and growth of the christian church life application study bible, 1991. Stay tuned for second half of this post where we will address 5 more key principles of church planting from the book of acts. Divine empowerment of the early church movement and rapid growth in the apostolic age exegetical analysis of the book of acts xavier becerra using an aspect of exegetical sociorhetorical criticism, this paper identifies four principles of empowerment found within the book of acts in chapters 1, 2, 4, 6 and 15 that are very different. Persecution arose at jerusalem, and the disciples had to leave for safety. Philips only requirement was that the man believe the message philip proclaimed to him. Its initial chapters describe the churchs founding and early years. 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.
To my knowledge, however, no church growth book with a complete focus on acts has been written. Frank stagg has described the book of acts as the story of an unhindered gospel. David shenk and ervin stutzman write extensively in their book creating communities of the kingdom about the importance of acts for church planting. When strong members remember their duty toward the weak a. Pdf evangelism and church growth in the book of acts.
Jesus had shown himself alive by many proofs for 40 days. A history of the early church gene taylor2an outline of the book i. Professor of new testament studies acadia divinity college, wolfville, nova scotia. Principles of church growth second edition paul young publications of paul young. The five most important church growth principles by gary. The exemplars discussed here, though not exhaustive, may. Acts shows what the early church believed and practiced. 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. The book of acts church of christ in zion, illinois. But in the book of acts there is a verse that speaks of growth, and factors are named there that helped this growth occur 3.
Verse 42 lists four of the activities to which the church devoted itself. Interpretation through the exegesis of acts 1 and 2. This article presents the concept of church growth alongside evangelism mainly in the book of acts. Later, believers were the more added to the lord, multitudes both of men and women acts 5. Acts of the apostles 4 imprisonment in rome are 6062 a. Moreover, acts is the connecting link between christs life and.
I am sure there were many factors, probably some that we have no way of knowing of today. The book of acts is the only historical record of the birth and early days following christs establishing his church. But the reason this church experienced such remarkable growth was not that the leaders employed the latest church growth principles. Church growth, church growth principles, church growth factors. There is real and needed place for organization in the church. When you look at the book of acts, you find at least eight characteristics of the early church that positioned them for this kind of blessing from god. Amershamon the hill, eng scripture press, 1987, c1986 bv3790. The book of acts records the amazing growth in spite of huge obstacles after the disciples were filled. Principles of church growth from the book of acts bontrager, edwin on. 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. At nearly twenty years of age, the book has become dated in places, yet many principles still apply. The life and travels of the apostle paul are followed. Without this historical record, little would be known about the expansion of the church.
Acts syllabus and course overview ministry development. But the reason this church experienced such remarkable growth was not that the leaders employed the. It is a truth of god which leads his church to spread his good news, plant church after church, and increase his body1977, p. Fee and stuart helpfully outline six general principles for interpreting historical narratives in order to get at whether luke is describing or prescribing. 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. Applying church growth principles for effective ministry in the seventhday adventist church. Commission there will be a tremendous increase in church growth.
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