How Do You Grow a Church? (Acts 2:42)

In today’s lesson, we're finishing up our study of Acts chapter 2. We’ll look to the early church’s example to answer the question: How do you grow a church? --The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [e-mail] Now --Today we're finishing up our study of Acts chapter 2. Can you believe it took us 5 weeks to get through this chapter? This won't happen for every chapter throughout our study. In fact next week we're going to cover all of chapter 3 in 1 week. but today we finished the chapter with a glimpse into what the early church was like. In particular, we get to see the secret sauce for church growth. We're going to answer this question: How do you grow a church?Church growth statistics:As of 2020, there were approximately 2.3 billion Christians worldwide, making up about 31% of the global population.Pentecostalism and Charismatic movements are among the fastest-growing Christian denominations globally.Africa and Asia are experiencing significant growth. Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to have the largest number of Christians by 2060.In the United States, weekly church attendance dropped from about 39% in 2013 to around 29% in recent years.Headed in Europe’s direction?In the Netherlands, regular church attendance fell from approximately 50% in the 1950s to below 10% by the early 2000s.United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark: regular church attendance at or below 5%.Note: “church attendance” doesn’t capture the whole picture, but it gives us an idea. Truth is, many attendees aren’t even Christians! (stats don’t include house churches or nature Christians)Share about our history/vision at Alpine Church for growthInclude some videos and photos?Today we're going to try to learn from the early church to see what they did to grow…. I see 7 marks of healthy church growth; if you’re a pastor, leader, attender, consider how you do in each of these areas.Seven Marks of Healthy Church Growth:BaptismsActs 2:41 (NLT) 41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.(Pillar New Testament Commentary) The population of Jerusalem at the time is estimated to have been between 180,000 and 200,000. Even 3,000 converts in the temple precincts would have been 'a distinct minority of the crowd.'Principle: Healthy church growth is conversion growth, not transfer growth.Jesus: “Go make disciples…” meant something different than what it means in most churches today. (Pursuit)Biblical Teaching(NLT) 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching,(Expositor's Bible Commentary: Abridged Edition (2 Volumes)) "The apostles' teaching " refers to a body of material considered authoritative because it was the message about Jesus of Nazareth proclaimed by accredited apostles. It undoubtedly included a compilation of the words of Jesus (cf. 20:35), some account of his earthly ministry, passion, and resurrection (cf. 2:22-24), and a declaration of what all this meant for humanity's redemption (cf. 1Co 15:3-5)--all of which was thought of in terms of a Christian "tradition" that could be passed on to others (cf. 1Co 11:2; 1Th 2:13; 2Th 2:15; 3:6).1 Corinthians 15:3-5 (NLT) 3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve.2 Thessalonians 2:15 (NLT) 15 With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.Authentic Community42 (NLT) and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper)(Pillar New Testament Commentary) to the fellowship (tē koinōnia). The koinōn- words in Greek normally mean 'to share with someone in something' above and beyond the relationship itself, or 'to give someone a share in something.' The sharing in this case could simply refer to material blessings, as described in vv. 44-5, where we are told that the believers had everything in common (koina).This is key for our Church. (expand)Small groupsMens/women’s groupsStudent groupsFriend groupsCommitment to Prayer42 (NLT) and to prayer.(Pillar New Testament Commentary) Finally, they devoted themselves 'to the prayers' (tais proseuchais). The plural form with the...