Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Question rephrased | Acts 2:47 | Reformer Joe | 52446 | ||
You wrote: 'Perhaps the better question is “What does the Bible say about growing a congregation?”' You have definitely asked the "better question" here. Here is the command God gave the apostles: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." --Matthew 28:19-20 So we have disciple making by means of baptism and teaching. We then can look at other verses such as this one: "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." --Acts 2:42 Again, we see the teaching of the apostles (which we have today in written form), fellowship, the breaking of bread (the Lord's Supper), and prayer. what was the result of such "mundane" activities? "Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved." --Acts 2:46-47 It takes some careful discernment to figure out why a congregation is dwindling. Many people assume that churches lose members because they are perceived as "out of touch" with the world around them, and the result of such thinking normally becomes trying to be more like the world in order to bring in more people. The problem with such thinking is that the church is NOT supposed to be like the world, and many people are leaving churches in droves precisely because there is no discernible difference between the values of the church and the emptiness of its messages, and the emptiness and lies which they hear from the world. There is the crazy scheme for church building that some people call evangelism. Not some neat-o musical program or drama team or laser light show or hard rock band, but the proclamation of God's unchanging truth, the whole counsel of God, to a lost and dying world. A lot of times church growth needs to start by focusing on the spiritual growth of its members rather than the numerical growth of its congregation. To do otherwise is to put the cart before the horse. The result of the dumbing-down of the church is twofold: shallow, self-centered, theologically-ignorant, perhaps only nominal Christians filling the pews with cries of "Bless ME"; and the departure of members who realize that the power of God lies not in its theatrics, but in the message of Christ and Him crucified (Romans 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5). If your church is involved in the Alpha Course, there are some serious doctrinal problems involved as well... --Joe! |
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2 | Question rephrased | Acts 2:47 | EdB | 52465 | ||
Joe There is a another reason a church dwindles. Many people don’t want to hear the truth they want to hear things that tickle their ears. 2 Thes. 2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, I believe this verse is telling us what we are seeing in the church today. People drifting from the truth to a lie. If a man stands up and tells a congregation that God wants them happy, rich, and healthy he will have more people next week. If a man stands up and says there are going to trials and tribulations come into your life but God is more that sufficient to see you through them people will not be back. Pick up your cross and follow me is not a very popular teaching today. Most people want to hear Jesus was filthy rich and you can be also. EdB |
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3 | Question rephrased | Acts 2:47 | Reformer Joe | 52474 | ||
You are right about people wanting to have their ears tickled, Ed. However, I do not think that established congregations, with years and years of solid, Bible-based, God-centered worhip and teaching under its belt, are likely to face the dwindling of its membership to any significant degree if they stick to the God-ordained means of His grace. It certainly is possible, but if people know that they can come to that fellowship and drink of the pure spiritual milk of the word of God, those who are thirsty most likely will continue to come and drink. Now if Benny Hinn were to suddenly get his theology straight, then I would expect to see a sudden drop in attendance at his gatherings! --Joe! |
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4 | Question rephrased | Acts 2:47 | EdB | 52538 | ||
Joe Your right most grounded and established Christians would not get lead astray. However I feel safe in saying most churches are made up of people that are not that grounded or established. I think a Barna survey showed that most so called evangelical Christians never read their Bible. I think with that thought in mind many don’t really know what they believe. In Florida (where I live) we see people jumping from one church to another. When asked most will tell you they are looking for the programs for their children/teens and teaching that make them feel good about themselves. What they are really seeking is baby sitters for the children, someone that who will straighten out 13 years of no parental guidance for their teens and someone to tell them they aren’t all that bad and are really doing a pretty good job with the kids. That the real problem is society, that has corrupted their kids, and it is not the fact they sought baby sitters rather than being involved in the children’s life’s EdB. |
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