Theological Foundation of Church Growth

1. Theological Foundationof Church Growth Entering Jesus’ Mission

2. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Jesus & the Great Commission • Five Occurances • Mt. 28:18-20 • Mk. 16:15-16 • Lk. 24:46-49 • Jn. 20:21-23 • Acts 1:8 • Sending Motif of John

3. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Important concepts from Great Commission • Command to go • Sent as Jesus was sent • Every ethnic group important • Make disciples • Teach all Jesus commanded • God is with those who go • Mission to continue till Christ returns

4. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Limited commission as an example • Mt. 10:5-15; Mk. 6:7-13; Lk. 9:1-6 • Target group • Stay with receptive • Don’t force the non-receptive • Rely on the people • Harvest principle • Pray for workers • Preach the gospel • Preach repentance

5. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Seven principles from Jesus’ mission • Search – Have a desire for the lost • Harvest – Have a deep will to make disciples • Fruit – Work for the spread of God’s kingdom • Quantitative – Seeking numerical growth • Qualitative – Deepening spiritual growth • Kingdom – Value of God’s rule • Judgment – Preparing for eternity

6. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Principle one – Searching • Mt. 18:10-14, not wishing any to parish • Lk. 12:6-8, desires all to confess Jesus • Lk. 15, searching parables

7. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Principle two – Harvest • Jn. 4:35, white unto harvest • Mt. 9:37-38, harvest in plentiful • Mk. 4:26-29, parable of growing grain

8. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Principle three – Fruit • Mt. 7:15-23 • Mt. 13:1-9, 18-23, parable of the sower • Mt. 21:33-46, parable of the wicked tenants • Mt. 25:14-30, parable of the talents • Lk. 13:6-9, bearing fruit is the purpose of the fruit tree • Jn. 15:1-11, Christ the true vine

9. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Reasons for Bearing Fruit • We are told by Christ to bear fruit (Jn. 15:16) • Being fruitful glorifies God (Jn. 15:8) • Being fruitful is pleasing to God (Col. 1:10) • Jesus is not please with unfruitfulness (Mt. 21:19)

10. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Principle four – Quantitative • Mk. 1:17; Lk. 5:8-10 fishers of men • Mt. 13:47-52 Parable of the Dragnet • Mt. 13:31-32; Mk. 4:30-32 Parable of Mustard Seed • Mt. 13:33-35 Parable of Leaven • Incorrect use – 1 Chron. 21:1 • Correct use – Nu. 1:17-19; 26:1-4

11. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Reasons for Counting for God’s Purpose • To know if someone is lost • To acknowledge God’s blessing of growth • Check fruit bearing • To know what resources God has given us to accomplish His mission • Wrong reasons to count • For our own pride • For the sake of numbers only

12. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Principle four – Qualitative • Mt. 5:4-11 Beatitudes • Mt. 7:24-27 Two foundations • Mt. 28:20 Teaching them to observe all commanded • Mt. 19:7-10 Hand causes you to stumble • Mt. 19:15-17 Going to a brother • Lk. 7:41-43 Parable of the Two Debtors • Lk. 10:30-37 Parable of Good Samaritan • Lk. 14:7-11 Parable of the Lowest Seat • Lk. 18:1-8 Parable of the Persistent Widow

13. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Principle five – Kingdom • Mt. 13:44 Parable of the Hidden Treasures • Mt. 13:45-46 Parable of Pearl of Great Price • Mt. 21:28-32 Parable of the Two Sons • Mt. 6:10 Thy kingdom come, will be done

14. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Principle six – Judgment • Mt. 7:21-23 Those who do the Father’s will • Mt. 20:1-16 Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard • Lk. 19:11-27 Parable of the Ten Minas • Mt. 22:1-14 Parable of the Wedding Banquet

15. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Pattern of Church Growth in Acts • People sent out • Guided by Holy Spirit • Message proclaimed • People hear • People respond • Believers form into a church • Community appeal • Worship, service, fellowship, edification, ministry, evangelism

16. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Areas of Church Growth – Acts 2:41-47 • Growing in knowledge: continued steadfastly in the apostles teachings • Growing together: fellowship and the breaking of bread • Growing in service: had all things in common • Impacting the community: finding favor with all people • Growing numerically: Lord added to the church daily

17. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Acts Missionary Journeys • Sent out to make disciples (Antioch) • Breaking new ground (unreached) • Proclaiming the gospel (Christ centered) • Planted churches (Community emphasis) • Nurturing churches (Christian living teaching) • Leadership instillation (Responsibility for church) • Leadership development (Maturation process) • Churches sent out workers (Mother churches)

18. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Paul’s Missionary Letters • Paul was contextually sensitive • Paul planted church that fit the community • Paul followed up on planted churches • Paul provided theological teaching • Paul provided practical Christian living teaching • Paul kept contact with church leadership • Paul encourage local leadership • Paul trained leaders • Paul continued to have contact with churches • Paul continued his own mission work (Spain?)

19. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Paul & Church Growth • Need for preaching the gospel • Power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:14-16) • Need for people to believe (Rom. 10:8-15) • The message preached to save (1 Cor. 1:21-25) • Ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-21) • Word of reconciliation • Ambassadors for Christ • Begging people to be reconciled

20. Entering into Jesus’ Mission • Paul & Church Growth • Growth from God (1 Cor. 3:5-11) • Paul planted • Apollos watered • God gave the growth • God’s fellow servants in ministry • Christians are God’s field and building • Jesus is the foundation of the building (v. 11)