Real Church Growth

We live in a church culture that equates church growth with spiritual maturity.  Unfortunately, that isn't a good measure of what spiritual maturity looks like as an individual or corporately as a congregation!  For example, just because somebody is present on Sundays and Wednesdays, doesn't mean that have a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.  The elderly man that has been in the church for 50 years, served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and on 433 committees yet cusses like a sailor and drinks heavily 4 nights a week isn't any spiritually stronger because of his affiliation with the church.  It makes me think about Jesus' blunt words to the Pharisees in Matthew 23.  Sometimes the church, instead of reproducing holiness and a disciple-making process, regurgitates religious activity that some consider to be the benchmark for spiritual growth!  Spiritual growth, instead, must be measured in the fruits that the life possesses!  These are the fruits of the Spirit!  Is the believer demonstrating love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?  Is the believer spending time in God's Word, in prayer, in worship, in ministry, and in disciple-making themselves?  To me, this is the plumb line of spiritual maturity.  And according to this definition, neither age or tenure have any place in our human judgment of spiritual maturity!

The early church is the best church growth model because, fortunately, at that point corruption wasn't running rampant in the Church as a whole.  Acts 2:42-47 demonstrates a great model for church growth.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.  And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.  And all who believed were together and had all things in common.  And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.  And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

 Good Biblical teaching and preaching lead to real church growth.  Join that good doctrine to Biblical fellowship, worship/prayer,  and ministry, then your church can't help but grow!  It's like a garden's recipe for success.  Good seed (Biblical teaching, preaching), plus water (worship), plus adequate sunlight (fellowship/prayer), and fertilizer (ministry), your garden will be good!  Obviously there will be some weeding out in the process!  Churches should remember that we often have to weed out our motives and ministries that aren't bringing God glory or edifying the church!  

Real church growth is fluid!  Don't get caught up in thinking that the biggest church is the most Biblical!  In fact, our culture craves an easier word that will only compound their sinful state.  Scripture says they will flock to false teachers.  Size isn't any indicator of spiritual maturity!  However, I am convinced that a doctrinally strong church will be a seeking church!  God will bless their efforts! 

Last but not least, remember that it is God who brings real church growth and real spiritual growth!   It is the Holy Spirit's work in our life and in the life of the corporate Body that brings us into full unity and maturity!  Let's never minimize God's part!