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Getting Ready To Grow
INTRODUCTION
1. Not all churches are prepared to grow in number and
in spirit...
a. Consider the church at Laodicea - Re 3:15-19
b. Even if a successful evangelist had come and
converted many, how many would have remained faithful in a spiritual
environment such as that?
2. For churches to grow, they must look beyond their
evangelistic efforts...
a. For the mortality rate of new converts is often high
b. Unless a congregation is prepared to assimilate and
nurture new converts, any success in evangelism may be short-lived
3. To have real, enduring growth, we must get ready to
grow!
a. Preparing ourselves as a congregation
b. Preparing ourselves as individuals members of a
congregation
I. WHAT WE MUST DO AS A CONGREGATION
A. OFFER ASSEMBLIES THAT EDIFY...
1. The first exposure many have to the gospel is by
visiting a local congregation
a. What do they see and hear? Do they see love? - cf. Jn 13:34-35
b. Does it draw them closer to God? - cf. Heb
7:18-19
c. Do our visitors experience courtesy, warmth, and
interest in spiritual matters?
-- Not all churches provide the right environment
conducive for worship and spiritual growth - e.g., 1 Co 11:17
2. New converts often depend heavily upon the spiritual
nourishment provided by the assemblies, and rightly so - cf. He 10:24-25
a. Excited by new-found faith, anxious to grow quickly,
they attend all the services of the church
b. What do they find?
Half-hearted services?
Sparsely attended by older members?
3. If we are serious about growing...
a. Those who lead us in our assemblies will take their
tasks seriously
1) Coming prepared to serve their role
2) Doing so gladly and with enthusiasm
b. Every member will do what they can to make our
assemblies edifying to all
1) Arriving early to welcome and visit with visitors,
other members
2) Participating whole-heartedly in the singing,
prayers, etc.
3) Staying around and visiting afterward
B. ASSIMILATE AND NURTURE NEW MEMBERS...
1. As valuable as our assemblies may be, they are not
always adequate by themselves
a. New members may remain "on the fringe"
1) Left out of the "family life" of the
congregation (activities that members do together)
2) Remain "on the fringe" for long, and they
may begin looking elsewhere
b. Babes in Christ often require special attention and
nurturing
1) New converts often bring with them many personal
problems
2) They need the concern and care of interested, mature
Christians - Ro 15:1-3
3) Otherwise they may soon "wither away"
II. WHAT WE MUST DO AS INDIVIDUALS
A. STRENGTHEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD...
1. Why is this so important?
a. Others must see in us the blessings of walking with
God - not simply the pride of knowing about the Lord!
b. We cannot share what we do not have!
2. No matter how strong our relationship with God, we
can always improve
a. Paul recognized this in his own life - Ph 3:12-15
b. Peter wrote that our spiritual growth must always be
increasing - 2 Pe 1:5-8
3. Therefore we must continue to add to our faith
virtue, to virtue knowledge...
a. Much of this is accomplished through personal and
daily devotions - Psa 1:1-3
b. But personal efforts must be accompanied by frequent
assembling - He 10:24-25
B. STRENGTHEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER...
1. Why is this important?
a. Our love and unity is a powerful witness for Christ
– Jn 13:34-35; 17:20-21
b. A strong network of Christians is essential to
assimilate and nurture new Christians
2. No matter how strong our relationship with one
another, we can always improve
a. As Paul exhorted the Thessalonians - 1 Th 4:9-10
b. As Peter wrote to Christians in general - 1 Pe 1:22
3. Therefore we must seek out opportunities to
strengthen our bond in Christ...
a. Regular attendance is certainly a great help - He
10:24-25
b. And so is simple hospitality (both offered, and
accepted) - 1 Pe 4:8-9
C. DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE LOST...
1. Why is this important?
a. Light must shine in darkness to be of much value - Mt
5:14-16
b. If people are sick, those with the cure must be
willing to be among them - cf. Mt 9:10-13
c. The right example can prepare people to receive the
Word - cf. 1 Pe 3:1-2
d. Relationships with the lost can serve as the basis
for continued relationships with them after they are saved
2. Developing relationships with the lost is an
on-going process
a. If an effort to share the gospel is not
well-received, we may need to move on - Mt 7:6
b. Just as Jesus could not stay in one place, we cannot
limit our outreach to just a few friends, relatives, and neighbors - cf. Lk 4:42-44
3. Therefore we must always be on the lookout for new
relationships with the lost...
a. Simple hospitality will go a long way (both offered
and accepted) - cf. Mt 9:9-13
1) Matthew extended hospitality to his friends soon
after Jesus called him
2) Jesus accepted the opportunity to eat and be with
the lost
b. Inviting the lost to our assemblies can be very
profitable
1) Giving them an opportunity to meet other Christians
2) With whom they may also develop relationships
CONCLUSION
Do we really want to grow? As with physical body, the only
alternative to growth is gradual decay and death.
Shall we be like the church at Laodicea,
or the church at Philadelphia?
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