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NEW MEXICO

TEXAS. ARKANSAS. OKLAHOMA.  Amarillo. NEW MEXICO.  Lubbock.  Texarkana.  Dallas- Fort Worth. LOUISIANA. Hobbs .  Seminole. El Paso . Odessa- Midland.  Austin. San Antonio . Houston . GULF OF MEXICO. MEXICO.  Brownsville. CHURCH GROWTH. CHURCH GROWTH.

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NEW MEXICO

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  1. TEXAS ARKANSAS OKLAHOMA  Amarillo NEW MEXICO Lubbock Texarkana Dallas- Fort Worth LOUISIANA Hobbs  Seminole El Paso • Odessa- Midland Austin San Antonio  Houston  GULF OF MEXICO MEXICO Brownsville

  2. CHURCH GROWTH

  3. CHURCH GROWTH Different Ideas: • Money and prestige • Community recoginition • Large numbersattending social activities.

  4. CHURCH GROWTH TO GOD The spiritual maturityof each Christian Heb 5:12-14 —2 Pet 3:18 When each member grows as he should, numbers take care of themselves!

  5. Greatest Work on Earth Saving theLost 1 Tim 3:15, Matt 28:19-20 Edifying theSaved Acts 20:28-32, 2 Tim 2:15, 4:2-3 BENEVOLENCE?

  6. NT BENEVOLENCE • It is only a supplement to THE work of saving lost souls and edifying the saved. • 1 Tim 5:3-16, 2 Th 3:10, faithful Christians How are unfaithful Christians or non-Christians involved in THE work? • 2 Cor 8:4, Work of fellowship among saints. Can saints be in fellowship with non-Christians?

  7. Many churches seek growth through church sponsored: Secular Education Entertainment Recreation Social Scripture

  8. Effects of Human Wisdom on growth • Appeal to the flesh then attempt to teach Bible. • Sermons don’t build spiritual maturity. • RESULT? • Little time for spiritual maturity. • Physical enticements need regular upgrading. • Money is wasted that could help spread the gospel. • Time is wasted that should be used to train Christians to teach the lost. • Numbers increase BUT...?

  9. Appeal To The Spiritual Not Physical • “Silver and gold I do not have”….....…..….Acts 3:6 • LOST…..Mark 16:15-16, Gal 1:11-12, Acts 13:38-49 • SAVED…………...……...……………….…....2 Th 2:15 • Human ideas—carnal…...…....……..1 Cor 3:1-3, 4:6 • Violation? ……...……………..2 John 9, 2 Th 3:6, 14 -Growth by reduction……..…......……..Acts 5:1-14 -Honest people, seeking truth don’t want to be part of a church that harbors sin. SIN IN THE CHURCH AFFECTS GROWTH!

  10. NT CHURCH GROWTH • Before Jesus’ death…...………..…….John 16:13-15 • After his death……….……………Acts 1:8, 2:1-4, 11 • Appeal to wretched condition……...…Acts 2:36-37 • Church grew by mature Christians teaching the lost, who taught the lost, etc.

  11. 2:42…….... “apostles' doctrine” 4:29-31….. “spoke with boldness” 5:42-6:1…. “disciples multiplying” 6:3-7…….. “disciples multiplied greatly” 8:1-5…...... “everywhere preaching” 9:31…....... “they were multiplied” NT CHURCH GROWTH A C T S Even in adversity!

  12. NOTE! When persecutions or false doctrines arise, it will not matter how many members a local church has. If they have not matured in the truth, they will weaken, go into apostasy, divide, become a denomination or disperse. Churches that grow without spiritual focus do so only in good times.

  13. Most important question on church growth! Are we doing all we can to be mature teachers of the gospel who can bring about the kind of growth God wants? Matt 5:13-16, 28:19-20

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