Welcome to Worship
Services
Where Members are Always Appreciated
And
Visitors are Our Honored Guests
Church Growth- What is
the Answer?
• Church growth is a major concern today as we are
witnessing the numbers slowly, but steadily, decline
while the population continues to grow daily.
• We seek out answers to the question – “How do we
stop this trend?”
• The answer for many has become to introduce
“new and innovative” ideas, programs, gimmicks
and entertainment. In doing so the
“teaching/doctrine” of the Church has been set
aside and the Church has been weakened and we
are still declining in numbers!
Church Growth- What is the
Answer?
It would simple to say that there is one particular reason for this
decline In a way this could be true – We could simply say “we” are
NOT doing our part because God has certainly done His part –
8But
God commendeth His love toward us in that, while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall
be saved from wrath through Him.
10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God
by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we
shall be saved by His life.
11And not only that, but we shall also rejoice in God through
our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the
atonement. Romans 5:8-11
Church Growth- What is
the Answer?
And Jesus has left us an “example” to follow.
“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I
have done to you.” John 13:15
“For even unto this were ye called, because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should
follow His steps,” I Peter 2:21
Church Growth- What is
the Answer?
• We should be following that “example” in all that we do
in our Christian life – hence the term
“CHRISTIAN”
Paul write to the Corinthians regarding their Christian walk
– “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts,known and read
of all men:”
2 Corinthians 3:2
However, perhaps what others see in our lives is the very
thing that is driving our numbers down -
The World’s Bible
• There is a Hymn that goes like this -
Christ has no hands but our hands
To do His work today;
He has no feet but our feet
To lead men in His way;
He has no tongue but our tongue
To tell men how He died;
He has no help but our help
To bring them to His side.
The World’s Bible
We are the only Bible
The careless world will read;
We are the sinners gospel,
We are the scoffer's creed;
We are the Lord's last message,
Given in deed and word;
What if the type is crooked?
What if the print is blurred?
The World’s Bible
What if our hands are busy
With other work than His?
What if our feet are walking
Where sin's allurement is?
What if our tongues are speaking
Of things His lips would spurn?
How can we hope to help Him
And hasten His return?
~Annie Johnson Flint~
Church Growth- What is
the Answer?
• In some of my areas of study regarding
counseling and treatments for stress
and depression, even anxiety I have
conducted “experiential studies”
• An “experiential study” is the process
whereby one actually “experiences” a
particular activity, event, process,
treatment “in person” – personality .
Church Growth- What is
the Answer?
• Recently a minister in the Lord’s Church did an
unusual thing as the way many would look at it
to prove a point related to the theme of this
lesson.
• His name is Chris Gallagher –
• The following is what he did –
• Keeping the words of the earlier song and the
following – let us take note and examine
ourselves on this particular train of thought and
then ask ourselves if there is a needed change
in the lives of the members of the Church today.
“6 Reasons Why I Do Not
Attend Your Congregation”
6 Reasons Why I Do Not Attend Your Congregation
Posted by Chris Gallagher on Jan 26, 2012 in Christian Living,
Church Growth
This is written from the perspective of a visitor. Last year, my family
and I took the entire month of February away from local ministry
and travelled to various congregations, both near and far, and
enjoyed some time visiting. We learned much about the attitudes
of congregations towards visitors and it is reflected in the words
below.
Let the words challenge you and make you uncomfortable. If
they anger you, get up and do something about them. If you
think they are right, get up and change the way your
congregation is seen in your community.
Here they are,
“6 Reasons Why I Do Not Attend Your Congregation”
“6 Reasons Why I Do Not
Attend Your Congregation”
1. “When I visited, you asked me to full out
a visitor card, talked about how much you
appreciate visitors but no one spoke to me.”
“6 Reasons Why I Do Not
Attend Your Congregation”
2. “I saw no joy in your congregation. As
the church sang ‘To Canaan’s Land’ no
one was smiling and they sang like a
funeral. I thought Jesus was a joy not a
bore.”
“6 Reasons Why I Do Not Attend
Your Congregation”
3. “I saw a Bible, but I never saw Bibles. I
thought Christians were people who
studied the book not talked about
studying the book.”
“6 Reasons Why I Do Not
Attend Your Congregation”
4. “Your services talked about being lights
in a dark world, but I never heard of your
congregation before today. You said your
church has been around for 50+ years and I
grew up here and never knew of you.”
“6 Reasons Why I Do Not
Attend Your Congregation”
5. “I felt awkward because I had to sit on
the second row because all of your
members sat in the back and on the aisle
seat. They seemed glued to their chairs.”
Attend Your Congregation”
6. “You saw that I had children and no one
helped me find a Bible class. There were
no signs on the doors to help along the
way.”
Just some thoughts, Chris Gallagher
The World’s Bible
Verse 2 of that hymn againWe are the only Bible
The careless world will read;
We are the sinners gospel,
We are the scoffer's creed;
We are the Lord's last message,
Given in deed and word;
What if the type is crooked?
What if the print is blurred?
Church Growth- What is
the Answer?
It appears that we have some of the answers before us------What will we do with them?
But perhaps the greater and best answer is found in
Romans 1:16
“16For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it
is the power of God unto salvation to every one who
believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
Let us not be ashamed to live a life that tells the world
of Christ and the “life” He offers.
What Must You Do To Be
Saved?
•
•
•
•
•
Hear The Word Of God
Romans 10:17
Believe His Word
Mark 16:16, John 8:24
Repent of your sins
Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38
Confess your belief Romans 10:10, Acts 8:37
Be Baptized
Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38
For the Remission of Your Sins
Acts 22:16
Galatians 3:26, 27
• Live Faithfully
Titus 2:11-14 Revelation 2:10