Unlocking Church Growth: The Issachar Factor and Effective Strategies for Congregational Development

2. Studying Church Growth PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

3. 1 Chronicles 12:32 And of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do… The Issachar Factor

4. Why didn’t all the congregations of Israel grow at the same rate? Family reproduction comes from God and OUR CHOICES The Choice Factor

5. NUMBERS MATTER… • Acts 2:41 - 3,000 the first day • Acts 2:47 - adding day by day • Acts 4:4 - 5,000 “men” • Acts 5:14 - multitudes added • Acts 6:1 - increasing in number • Acts 6:7 - the number of disciples increased greatly The Numbers Factor

6. Amos 9:7 Are you not as the sons of Ethiopia to Me O sons of Israel? Declares the Lord. Have I not brought up Israel from the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir? The Israel Fallacy

7. Influencing Our Growth The ISSACHAR factor, 1 Chron. 12:32 The CHOICE factor, 1 Cor. 3:6-8 The ISRAEL fallacy, Amos 9:7 The NUMBERS factor, Acts 2:41-6:7

8. 1 Corinthians 9:22 Methods change, but not the message.  To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. [22] To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

9. THREE CHORES FOR EVERY CHURCH • Think… about what we’re doing • Determine… how to do the best we can • Always abound! 1 Corinthians 15:58

10. Congregations Must Make A Choice When It Comes to… • Today’s culture • Leadership • Worship • Involvement • Outreach, and • Identity

11. Studies Indicate…. There are three main levels of organized fellowship and all three levels are necessary to a growing church.

12. 3 Main Levels of Infrastructure • Level 1- Sharing group, limited in number, avg. 5-15, stretch to 30-40, purpose? spiritual sharing • Level 2- Fellowship group, limited in number, avg. 30-80, stretch to 200, purpose? acceptance and belonging • Level 3- Assembly group, unlimited in number, Purpose? To worship, encourage, edify, proclaim Christ

13. Why Team Evangelism? Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV) Because “synergy” is biblical

14. Why Team Evangelism? Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, (Philippians 1:27 ESV) Because “team effort” is biblical

15. Why Team Evangelism? …from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:16 ESV) Because the “100% ideal” is biblical

16. Why Team Evangelism? When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. (Acts 12:12 ESV) …how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, (Acts 20:20 ESV) Because “small group meetings” are biblical

17. Numerous “Team” efforts have been proven out • Visitation groups • Door knocking teams • Cell groups • H.O.M.E. studies

18. Sooo, we’re left with the job to do • It is up to us to understand • And to make choices • And to get busy • Planting & watering