Principles of Church Growth

Committed Disciples

“They committed themselves.”  (Acts 2:42a – Message)

Apostolic Teaching

“to the apostles’ teaching.”  (Acts 2:42b)

Loving Fellowship

“to the fellowship.”  (Acts 2:42c)

Christ-centred Worship

“to the breaking of bread.”  (Acts 2:42d)

Passionate Prayer

“and to prayer.”  (Acts 2:42e)

Powerful Presence

“Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” (Acts 2:43)

Financial Generosity

“All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to everyone as he had need.”   (Acts 2:44-45)

Purposeful Gatherings

“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.”  (Acts 2:46)

Amazing Favour

“Praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people.” (Acts 2:47b)

Overflow Evangelism

“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47c)

How to start a (thriving) church from nothing

1. Right Foundation

“In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken into heaven.” (Acts 1:1-2a)

2. Right Preparation

“after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave them many convincing proofs that he was alive.” (Acts 1:2b-3a)

3. Right Vision

“He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3b)

4. Right Timing

“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised.” (Acts    1:4)

5. Right Territory

“…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

6. Right Resources

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” (Acts 1:8)

7. Right Prayer Base

“They all joined together constantly in prayer.” (Acts 1:14)

8. Right Leadership

“In those days Peter stood up…” (Acts 1:15)

“the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:26)

9. Right People

“the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty).”   (Acts 1:15)

10. Right Signs

“Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven…all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”    (Acts 2:2,4)

“When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language…Amazed and perplexed they asked, ‘What does this mean’.”  (Acts 2:6-12)

11. Right Preaching

Bold

“Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd.” (Acts 2:14a)

Personal

“Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.” (Acts 2:14b)

Relevant

“These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning.” (Acts 2:15)

Biblical

“This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.” (Acts 2:16)
“David said about him.” (Acts 2:25)

Christ-centred

“Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God… God has made this Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”   (Acts 2:22-36)

Heart-searching

“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers what shall we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Repent’… with many other words he warned and pleaded with them.”        (Acts 2:37- 40)

Life-transforming

“Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” (Acts 2:41)