Church growth

M10050

TITLE: The church is growing like a storm - maybe that is the problem. (The Minimum requirement for a church)

READ Acts 2:41-47

I read on a Total cereal box that the cereal inside met "All seven food recommendations of the U.S. Surgeon General." The real question is, does this church meet the Great Physicians minimum requirements to be a church.

INTRODUCTION:

A number of years ago my wife and I had the privilege of going to orientation with one of the major foreign mission agencies. It was an intensive six-week training course to prepare us for smooth functioning within the mission and to give us a look at what it is like to be on the field under extreme pressure.

We were living in Salem, OR at the time and the orientation was in the Philadelphia area. We took a fast one stop trip to the East Coast.

As we traveled, we naturally needed to eat. We noticed that almost every McDonald's had a large billboard 10 to 15 miles before their establishment. This made it easy to find them and so we usually stopped to eat at McDonalds.

As we traveled, we noticed that no matter what state we were in we were receiving the same identical food. Once in awhile we would get a coke that had a chlorinated taste, but the food was identical. We enjoyed that because we are creatures of habit and like what we like.

It amazed us that in so many different states, and in so many different establishments, and in so many different cultures, the food was the same.

I was reminded a few years ago of this when we were trying to determine where we might settle for a local church in Wyoming. As believers we should be able to go cross-country and attend a local Fundamental Bible church and expect certain similarities. Instead we find that there are few similarities and many differences in the churches that we visit.

Just what should we be able to expect as we go into a church?

The government has established minimum daily requirements for vitamins.

They have established minimum standards for building.

They have established minimum standards for water.

They have established minimum requirements for physical exercise.

They have established minimum requirements for aviation safety.

They have established minimum requirements for worker safety.

In fact they have established about everything that they can with the exception of freedom from taxes.

We as believers follow these government guidelines, but I fear we ignore God's guidelines for a church.

WELL, maybe we'd better get back to the church. What basic minimum requirements might we expect for a church? Should we be able to enter a church and not feel uncomfortable because we find things that are not correct?

Let's take a look to see what we should be able to expect.

I personally believe that God has set some minimum church requirements, that are not necessarily being met today in America’s churches.

In trying to determine what the church should be, we should look into the book of Acts and the rest of the New Testament to see what the Lord has told us there, to pattern ourselves as a local church after.

If all churches were patterning themselves after the New Testament principles, then the churches of our nation should be of the same basic order.

We should be able to go to the East Coast and choose a Bible church to attend on vacation and feel that we would walk into a church that would fulfill the basic requirements of a church.

This will be a brief look at what the church should be. It should be a MINIMUM of what the church should be.

Let us see what the Word says. We will get the unpleasant one out of the way first and talk about giving.

1. GIVING: Turn to I Cor 16:2. Let's get our priorities straight right away. Giving is an integrated part of the local church and as such should be considered. "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."

Let me say at this point "as God hath prospered him" is a formula for your giving. Now, you don't stand back and look at all the things that you have acquired and give according to that. You don't look at your paycheck and give according to that. The proper thought behind this is to look at your eternal destination before God intervened and then look at what God has done since, and give according to that.

I trust that you see the difference in those methods of seeing how God has prospered you.

The New Testament mentions offerings--giving is an offering thus can and should be worship. If we are entering a church for worship, then we certainly should be involved in giving.

So, giving is a minimum requirement.

2. WORSHIP: In Acts 2:46 we see that evidently the early church continued to worship as the Old Testament Jews had worshiped. We see from this text that they continued to worship in the temple for a time. "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house did eat their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people."

So, worship is also a minimum requirement.

3. PRAYER: Acts 3:1 shows us that the church leadership prayed. The church as a whole is shown as a praying people in the New Testament. "Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer..."

The latest pole that I have seen concerning prayer among Christians listed the average "Evangelical" pastor spending five minutes per day in prayer. The average church prayer meeting runs about 10% to 15% of the Sunday worship service attendance. In one church in the Midwest the prayer meeting crowd was about 7% of the Sunday morning attendance.

I recently spoke with a man from a large church in Nebraska. He was excited about his church, and well he should be - his church was running about 30% at prayer service. Prayer should also be viewed as a minimum requirement.

4. TEACHING AND PREACHING: Acts 5:42 tells us that the early church was a preaching and teaching church. "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

Notice however that this was not only in the homes where they met, but it was also in the temple where they worshiped. Since they had meetings in the homes for their own edification, we are left to assume that part of the teaching and preaching, if not all of it, in the temple was for the purpose of evangelism.

When is the last time that any of your church members preached and taught the lost? This may take a number of forms in the local church. It may be in door to door visitation where you talk to people about spiritual things. It may be in the work place. Teaching can go on anywhere. We don't need a classroom with chalkboard! It may be on the street. Street preachers are becoming more and more accepted in our cities. I have seen several in American cities.

I met an Irish pastor that did street preaching every week. He and a few of his young people would go out onto the down town streets of Limerick, Ireland, where they would sing and preach. A number would gather and listen. Some are saved through this ministry.

I think that we can all agree that teaching and preaching is a minimum requirement, and that teaching and preaching should be in the local assembly, but also in the highways and byways.

We won't start on missions today, but that is what Paul's preaching was about - REACHING THE LOST.

5. FELLOWSHIP: Acts 2:42 tells us that the church was a fellowshipping church. "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."

Did you notice that along with fellowship, in the same verse, in the same sentence Luke mentions "prayer" and continuing in the apostles doctrine. OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD - PRAYER - FELLOWSHIP!

Don't forget the trio. We tend to want only that fellowship, but all three are involved.

Along with fellowship there should be at times the teaching of the Word, and prayer. Indeed, this is what most churches attempt to include within their prayer meetings and prayer breakfasts.

So, it would seem that we should add the Word and our obedience to it, prayer and fellowship to our minimum requirement list.

6. SINGING AND SUBMITTING: Along with all of the above there is singing and submitting. Turn to Eph. 5:19,20. Here we see again, one of those things we really like to do at church linked directly with another of the not so pleasantries that we are also to do. Not only are we to be a singing people, but we are to be a submitting people. "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."

Submitting ourselves one to another. A sermon in itself! There are other thoughts here beside submitting and singing. The text also mentions making melody in your heart, which would seem to indicate a spiritual uplifting. The text also mentions giving of thanks to the Lord and that means prayer again.

We also see fear of the Lord - the awesome respect of God. That I do not see in very many churches or believers. Most today have little respect for God.

To the list of minimum requirements we should add singing, submitting, spiritual uplifting and giving thanks.

7. THE LORD'S TABLE. It is mentioned in I Cor. 11 and some believe that the references in the book of Acts to the breaking of bread may also relate to the Lord's table observance.

The remembrance of the Lord's table is very definitely the thought of remembering what Christ has done for us as individuals. There is required in that, the fact of salvation in the life.

The minimum requirement from this text would be that the people that you will be associating within the church will be believers - brothers and sisters in Christ.

This is not to say that unsaved people won't come to your church or that they should be excluded. They ought not have a say in the direction of the church, nor in doctrine, but they can attend.

8. BAPTISM: Baptism is seen through the early part of the book of Acts, as a common occurrence in the early church so should also be an integrated part of the local church today.

Not only is there the thought of the people being believers, but also there is the thought that they have been obedient to the Lord in Baptism.

We might assume that another minimum requirement should be OBEDIENT believers.

As we look at the local church we should be able to see at least these items present. These may be arranged differently than in our church, but they are some of the BASICS that we should be able to expect in all churches that say they are following a Scriptural example.

Not only should we see these things as an integrated part of the church, but also we should see these things as integrated parts of the believers involved!

Let's just run through the list of minimum requirements that we have assembled. How does your church measures up - how do you measure up.

GIVING

WORSHIP

PRAYER

TEACHING

PREACHING

EVANGELISM

THE WORD

OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD

PRAYER

FELLOWSHIP

SINGING

SUBMITTING

SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING

GIVING THANKS

REGENERATION

OBEDIENCE IN BAPTISM

Let's consider the thought of the minimum requirements as being a part of the individual lives. It should be the natural thing for all believers to have these items as part of their lives.

Today, do we see believers vitally interested in GIVING? If the whole of Christianity would only tithe, we would have ample funds to fund all missionary work that is desired and do away with all of the church debts across the nation, and have money left over.

Today, do we see believers vitally interested in joining in on the WORSHIP services? Many churches would double in size if their members all showed up on the same Sunday.

Today, do we see believers that are vitally interested in PRAYER?

Today, do we see believers vitally interested in having a part in the TEACHING & PREACHING ministry of the church? One church's teachers have one week per month off to rest and be feed.

Today, do we see believers that are vitally interested in EVANGELISM? Several years ago we were involved in an evangelism conference. It was a two-day get together put on by a fundamental Baptist church. They had three missionary speakers with messages and seminars geared to teach and challenge people towards evangelism. The first session on Friday evening was attended by the churches missions committee, the pastor and his wife and maybe 15 people. This church had an attendance of nearly 200. They had sent invitations to every fundamental church in the area.

The next day there were the usual missions committee and pastor and wife plus two people. We are not interested in evangelism in this country.

Today, do we see believers that are vitally interested in OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD? One of our friends was pastoring in Nebraska and some of the youth were involved in a very bad car accident. The wreck was caused by alcohol that was secured from the liquor cabinet in one of the youth's homes - a church member's home. The pastor went to confront the man about what had happened and the pastor was told in not very nice words to leave - what the man did in his own home was his business - certainly not the pastors.

Boy do we see believers that are vitally interested in FELLOWSHIP! Of course it is not necessarily the spiritual fellowship that the Scripture teaches, but we do enjoy our fellowship!

I have observed that many people only attend when the fellowship dinners are being put on. This is not necessarily bad, for it may draw them into the assembly, but to attend potlucks only is not a sign of real spirituality.

Today, we seem to get along quite well with the SINGING aspect of our church services, although singing is to bring honor and glory to God, not to the performer. We were in a worship service and a young blonde was the special singer. She did her very loud song with the hard beat with her toes tapping and her hand slapping her thigh. When she finished she walked down the aisle and was very disgusted with the people. She verbally told us that we were dead.

Music is becoming very divisive in the church today. The contemporary versus traditional music. Two services are the answer to some, but I am not sure why we would want to separate the people of our church that are supposed to be a unit.

Today, do we see believers that are vitally interested in SUBMITTING to one another and the church leadership?

One of the main problems on Christian College campuses is the lack of submission to authority. The young people have not been required to, nor learn to submit to authority in the home or church, so why should we think that they would when they get out into the world?

Today, most believers are stuck on the SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING that they gain from the church. Yes, the uplifting should be there, however each believer should be involved in uplifting others as well.

Quite often people see the church as where they are fed, uplifted and nurtured, but they never view themselves as giving anything of that nature back to the church. The church is where we all benefit from one another.

Today, do we see people that are vitally interested in GIVING THANKS to God for what He has done? Quite often it isn't "thank you Lord," but its "GIVE ME MORE!"

Today, do we see people that are vitally interested in knowing if another person has experienced REGENERATION? Normally the only time we worry about this is when the person comes to join the church.

I would encourage you to ask people if they are Christians, and when they say yes, as most will do, ask them how they came to know the Lord. That will begin to let you know if they know what being a Christian really is. Personal testimonies are neat, uplifting and very special.

Today, do we see people that are vitally interested in OBEDIENCE IN BAPTISM? Baptism is an item that we should not press, yet it is an item that is commanded and we should be instructing people about baptism.

It is a very important step in the spiritual life. We tend to fail to talk to new converts about it, when that is the very time that we should bring it up. In the Scripture baptism seems to have been the natural second step of the spiritual life after salvation.

When teaching a class in theology we covered baptism and one of the students came to me after class and spoke of never having been baptized. She had never been taught how important it was to the believer and to the Lord. She immediately took steps to be baptized. She came from a good Bible believing church - just had never been taught.

God set the pattern for the early church. He was Central in everything. The people were there to praise HIM, not themselves. The people were there to learn of HIM, not of everything under the sun. The people were there to sing of HIM, not all the philosophical lyrics that we hear today. The people were there to give to HIM, not to all of the benefits that come along desiring the church to join in. The people were there to PRAY to HIM, not to be entertained. The people were there to fellowship around the Word, not to just sit talking about the news, weather and sports. The people were there to hear the WORD OF GOD taught, and not to hear of the latest book or New Evangelical author that will titillate their fuzzy spiritual center.

I am appalled at some of the advertisements that I am seeing from good publishers concerning some of the more prominent authors. I saw one from Moody Press about one of the famous preachers that stated that he was a man that could make the Bible live! Hog wash! The Bible is the Living Word of God! There is no mortal - not even the famous four or five that can make it live! God made it live!

I just stated that God sets the standard, however I fear that the world sets the pattern for the church in many cases today.

Indeed, some in the church are indicating that this should be the norm. Let me read a quote for you. "Established churches tend to do church the way many fast food chains sell burgers. They come one way, have it 'my way' or don't have it. We need to think church the Burger King way, 'Have it your way.' By doing church so secular people can understand, we gain an opportunity to present the priceless truths of Scripture. This priceless truth can bring redemption to this different generation. If we do not invite them to have church 'their way' they may never hear the good news of Jesus Christ." (CB Northwest newsletter 1996; I CHANGED MY MIND by Dwane Shockley, Executive Director, CB Northwest)

Apply that thinking to a strong Catholic neighborhood and they would want you to have mass so the people could have it their way - EXTREME - Yes, but that is the logical end to the thinking.

NO, THEY AND WE SHOULD HAVE IT GOD'S WAY - NOT THE WAY THE LOST WANT IT! GOD SETS THE STANDARDS - NOT YOU - NOT ME - AND CERTAINLY NOT THE LOST!

God is a side light in the average American Christian home. Where is family unity? Where is church unity? Where is the obedient Christian? Where is the powerful church? Where is the fruitful church? Where is the sharing church? Where is the sacrificial, dedicated, persecuted, holy, forgiving church?

In history basically. A few exist, but not many in America as a rule.

We have to go back to the above standard, the standard of the Word of God before we can expect results.

We recently saw a bumper sticker: "If you're far from God you need not wonder who moved." We have to get back to God.

How do we change?

1. Realize we are empowered by the Holy Spirit within us.

2. Realize this power is for us to use.

3. Realize God wants us to change for His glory.

4. Realize that we have the guide for a proper church in the New Testament, and that God expects us to follow that guide.

5. Realize that without Him we cannot do it.

6. Ask God to help us change. We needn't flounder in trouble - we only have to say "Lord take over."

GOD IS IN THE BUSINESS OF CHANGING LIVES

HE CAN CHANGE SINNERS TO CHRISTIANS:

The Gospel is the good news of Christ. It is good news because He can save us from a life of sin and from the eternal punishment that awaits all of lost mankind.

Romans tells us that every single man woman and child is lost and on their way to eternal torment unless they accept Christ. The Word also tells us however, that all we need to do to avoid damnation is to believe a few simple facts. a. Christ was God Himself come in the flesh. b. That Christ was the perfect Lamb of God and that He died for your personal sin. c. Acceptance of these facts and the work that Christ did on the cross ushers the person into eternal life with God.

HE CAN CHANGE CHRISTIANS TO WORKERS:

There are thousands of stories of people that have committed themselves to serving the Lord in thousands of ways. Each and every believer should be desirous of serving the Master that paid the price for his or her sin.

Many churches today are only warehouses for Christians. He can change warehouses into fisheries. We are to be fishers of men! NOT Warmers of pews!

Spiritually we have the same command as Adam and Noah received. Reproduce and fill the earth with God's children.

We have talked about what the minimum requirement for a church is. I trust that we as a body of believers will never fall below that minimum requirement, and be striving to include many more Biblical requirements.

We are here to help build HIS church and not our own. He said that He would build His church -- we have only to take care of the requirements!

Many churches there are that are built to honor the people, or to honor the building, when they should be built to honor their founder and Savior Jesus Christ the Lord.

At least I hope and trust that all of you can call Him Lord this morning.

I would like to leave you with a thought.

Pulpit Helps/Aug. 1996; p5; article entitled THE USER-FRIENDLY CHURCH by

Terence D. McLean || "People often ask me 'How is your church going?' and I generally respond by saying that 'We started from scratch and we're still scratching.'

"When you start a group with no denominational affiliation and no financial backing it is not only evangelistic but also entrepreneurial, and it is not easy.

"But I wouldn't have it any other way. When you simply teach and preach the Bible with no entertainment or promotion, it is not easy.

"When you disregard traditions and battle the infiltration of errors and outright paganism while never passing an offering plate, it is not easy.

"But I wouldn't have it any other way. Yet, I would welcome more people and so I have come up with the idea of the user-friendly church and 'No-Excuse Sunday.'

"We are putting out cots for the people who say that Sunday is their only day to rest. And for those who say 'If I go to church, the roof will fall in.' we have hard hats that meet OSHA specifications.

"The people who say the church is too cold will be asked to change places with the people who say the church is too hot, and that should solve those problems.

"The people who don't like the hypocrites who attend church will be given stones to throw, and sin will never be mentioned in the service, only love.

"Cotton balls will be provided for the use of those people who complain that the pastor is too loud, and hearing aids will be given to those who complain that the pastor speaks too softly.

"Microwave dinners will be given to those who say that they cannot attend church and cook too.

"The subject of money will never be mentioned, no offering plates will be passed and the concept that the church may have needs will never be presented.

"Much of the service will be music of the Top 40's style, with lots of very attractive people getting extremely emotional.

"There will be a special area with grass and trees and pond for the people who only feel close to God when they are fishing or surrounded by nature.

"Stenographers will be provided for the people who say the pastor goes too fast, and Bibles that have only pictures without words will be given to those who find the Authorized Version too difficult.

"And for those who stayed up too late Saturday night, the lights will be dimmed and a wooden frame will be put around the pulpit to give the illusion that you are watching television.

"Most of the messages will be about how wonderful we all are, except for some messages about all the wonderful things that God is going to do for us because we are so worthy.

"Now what more could a church do to be user-friendly?

"These accommodations should make it possible for everyone to attend and to have a great time.

"Except, of course, for those precious people who really care and want to do it right."

I trust you agree that we should do it right - we should do it God's way.

FOR YOUR FURTHER STUDY

THE CHURCH--WHAT IS IT? REALLY!

1.) Commissioned: Acts 1:8

2.) Obedient: Acts 1:4 and 1:12

3.) Born Again Christians: Acts 1:13,14

4.) Organized: Acts 1:15-26; 2:14; appointing deacons Acts 6:1ff; appointing elders Acts 14:23

5.) Empowered: (Power promised Acts 1:8) 2:1-14 (later many miracles)

6.) Preaching: Acts 2:15ff

7.) Baptizing: Acts 2:41

8.) Fruitful: Acts 2:41; 2:47; 4:4

9.) Living: Acts 2:42; 2:46

a. Christian walk 2:42; 2:46

b. Fellowship

c. Lord's supper Note: Meeting daily--we should be so

dedicated

d. Prayer

10.) Powerful: Acts 2:43; 5:12-16

11.) Sharing material things: Acts 2:44,45; 4:32

12.) Praising God: Acts 2:47

13.) Persecuted: 4:1-4; (5:17-28) 8:1-3; (II Tim. 3:12

14.) Bold: Acts 4:5-12

15.) United: Acts 4:32

16.) Sacrificial: Acts 4:32 (2:44,45)

17.) Holy (or pure): Acts 5:1-11

18.) Dedicated: Acts 7 Stephen died for Christ

19.) Forgiving: Acts 7:60

20.) Evangelizing: Acts 8:4

21.) Missions minded: Acts 8 on

PRINCIPLES FOR CHURCH GROWTH

1. Acts 2:41-47 REGENERATE CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: The church must maintain a "Christian" membership, otherwise you have unsaved, unfilled, non-led men trying to help in the church! This is not good!

If a person hasn't realized he is a sinner and that he is lost to eternal torment, then he probably hasn't received Christ and Christ has not saved Him.

2. Acts 4:1-4 PREACHING THE GOSPEL:

3. Acts 5:12-16 PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH UNITED:

4. Acts 6:1-7 ORGANIZED WITH GODLY, QUALIFIED MEN:

5. Acts 9:31 ONE ON ONE EVANGELISM:

6. Acts 11:19-21 GOING TO OTHER LANDS:

7. Acts 16:4,5 SUBMISSION TO THE WORDS OF THE APOSTLES:

8. Acts 21:20 CHURCH PLANTING IN VIEW:

9. Eph. 4:11-16 TRAINING OF THE SAINTS: