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NASB | Acts 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 2:41 So then, those who accepted his message were baptized; and on that day about 3,000 souls were added [to the body of believers]. |
Bible Question: Our congregation has been told that we need to increase the size of our facility to accomodate the projected growth of the church. Since May, we have had an increase of 20 percent in our worship services and almost 50 percent growth in the children's ministry. Is church growth measured by numbers in the pews? Many people are coming to the church, but few are coming forward. Any comments? |
Bible Answer: Momma: You ask if church growth is measured by the numbers in the pews. According to human beings, that is often the case. It seems that in your case the number of people attending your church is on the rise. I don't know if basing new building construction on "projected growth" is terribly wise, however. It sounds a little like the parable of Jesus in Luke 12:16-21 where we have the guy building bigger storehouses for his grain, not knowing that his life will be taken from him. The point of the parable is in the final verse: "So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." --Luke 12:21 So I guess the question would be whether the church is being presumptuous in whether this growth is of God (as in a true increase in numbers due to more people responding in repentance and faith to the gospel of Christ) or to people simply liking something "extra" (neat contemporary something-or-other or the fact that their ears are tickled by something any unsaved person would delight in as well). I too am in a church that has experienced a great deal of growth recently, and I praise God that it is not because of any "cosmetic changes" to the service, but apparently due to the faithful proclamation of the whole counsel of God. It isn't part of a denomination where people "come forward," but the principle is the same. The question is whether there will be as many people there in six months' time, and whether the people are there because it makes them comfortable or it makes them Christians. You are the member there, so it would be a situation your Holy-Sprit guided self can evaluate better than us. :) --Joe! |