God's Plan for Growing the Church

PASSING THE BATON

When on the high school track team we ran the one-mile relay. There were four of us and we each would run around the track once, a quarter of a mile, and carry in our right hands a baton, a small aluminum pipe about a foot long. After circling the track we had to pass the baton to the next runner without dropping it. Technique was everything. It had to be done within a delineated area. Both runners had to be moving at the time of transition. The guy in front would hold his right hand open behind him as the runner behind firmly placed the baton into his hand. Sometimes the baton would drop and clank around on the track surface.  

It seems today that the baton of the Gospel has been dropped. The strength of the previous generations has fallen and is rolling about on the ground and we are fumbling around trying to pick it up so we can finish the race.  The task of bringing the Gospel to the lost and the deeper truths of God's word to fellow believers is now squarely upon the shoulders of the current generation.  

GOD'S PLAN FOR CHURCH GROWTH IS THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE PLAN

Why is God’s plan for church growth the only acceptable plan?  His plan is exclusively authorized by God in His word.  Any approach to church growth apart from that which God directed is futile.  In His prelude to the Great Commission, Jesus said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth (Matt 28:18).”   Afterwards, Jesus tells the disciples what they must do, based on that power, or authority, He possessed.

This word, power, which Jesus used is also found in another familiar and much loved passage of the Bible;

Rom 9:20-21  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus?  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

The potter has power over the clay. At Old Sturbridge Village, a re-creation of small town American life in the 1830s, the potter, in his little shop, uses a foot pump to make his turntable spin. Then he plops a glob of clay on the table, dampens it with water, and with his bare hands, he forms this blob of nothing dug from the earth and turns it into a useful vessel.  Whatever is in his mind is what he makes.  That lump of clay could go in many directions but the potter is the one who decides what to create.

Likewise, Jesus was given all power, all authority, to tell believers how to grow the church.  He is the Great Decider of how the church is to grow. If we try to grow the church in any other way that contradicts God’s plan for church growth then it’s just not going to work right.  No other plan for church growth is authorized by God.

GO TO THE LOST

Due to the persuasive general relativism of American culture, we have lacked the courage and internal fortitude to reach out to our lost world the way we should.  Reaching out are the operative words here because Jesus told us to move toward them, not wait for them to come to us; "Go ye therefore" (Matt 28:19).  How many of us try to work the gospel into our conversations with the lost?  Do we go to them?  Do we witness to them?  Do we pray for them?  Kindness will do wonders and some may even come to church upon our invitation.  But, overwhelmingly, most people within our own communities have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ.  God wants us to take it to them.  But we must remember, the way we say it is just as important as what we say (speak the truth in love).

Luke 11:33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth [it] in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.

TEACH THE BIBLE

Just as important as passing the baton for the salvation of lost souls is the need for encouraging spiritual growth among believers.  "Teach all nations," Jesus said.  But teach them what?  Jesus continued, teach them "to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matt 28:20).   Once we go to the lost, teaching them how to get saved, some of them may surrender to Christ.  But then what?  That's when the hard work begins.  They need to be grounded and grow in all the truths of God's Word. 

This grounding of God's word is essential to help believers stand against the wiles of the devil, who, "as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8).  If you don't know what the truth is (from the Bible), then you're susceptible to being led astray like a sheep wandering from the fold.

REACH AND TEACH

Church should always be a place where a lost soul can come find out how to become a Christian.  But primarily, the church is for the already-saved.  We should be sensitive to unbelievers who may come to our services but the primary focus in church is worship, prayer, fellowship, and edification.  Contrary to today's popular evangelical movements, the purpose for church is not to institute a marketing plan, attract a crowd with secular enticements, and figure a certain percentage will "stick".  God is not so much concerned with what size a church is, but rather, what "sort" it is (1 Cor 3:13).

There are limited days on earth for all people.  At some point in their lives, they need to here the simple gospel message.  All the world's religions preach a works-based salvation.  True Christianity is based on grace.  Christianity is based on the Christ who paid for the sins of the world.  Yet most try to work and earn their own salvation by their own might.  They need to hear the truth!  Will you be the one to reach down, pick up the baton, and pass it on?  Ask God to let you be a blessing to other people in this way.  Usually, a forceful throw-it-down-their-throat approach doesn't work.  Ask God for sensitivity, leadership and help today.  Don't delay, relay.

How to Tell if You're Growing Spiritually

TAKING MEASUREMENTS

Down at the foot of the basement stairs is a growth chart recording the kids' heights.  It was always an exciting moment for them to go downstairs with dad and the tape measure to see how much they've grown.  Usually, they were not disappointed.

While our physical growth, whether upward or outward, is obvious, our spiritual growth is less easy to recognize.  We can't see our spiritual growth.  It's intangible.  So there must be another way to notice progress.

YOU CAN TELL IF YOU'RE GROWING SPIRITUALLY WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AND SEE THE ERROR OF YOUR OLD WAYS

The apostle Paul was saved dramatically on the road to Damascus (Acts 9).  The starting point for his spiritual growth occurred at the moment of salvation.  No one can mature spiritually without first being made alive in Christ.  The Bible calls this being quickened, being born again, and becoming a new creature.  All spiritual growth begins at the moment of salvation, when you admit you're a good-for-nothing low-life sinner falling far short of the mark.  But then, hopefully, you realize, with gratitude in your heart, that Jesus Christ loves you despite your total and absolute depravity even to the point of voluntarily giving up His life for you on the cross (Matt 26:53).  What great love Christ has for you!  The apostle Paul came to this realization, this starting point on the journey of progressive spiritual maturity.  Listen to the words of this changed man:

Philippians 3:7-8  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  Yeah doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

If you can look back and remember a specific moment in time when you admitted your sin, confessed your sin, and, perhaps with tears rolling down your cheeks, acknowledged the fact that Jesus gave His life to save your soul, to enable you to enter heaven when you die, not because of any good you've ever done, but because of the acceptable sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for you, then you have embarqued upon the only genuine spiritual journey.  The moment of your salvation is the starting point, the new birth.

Paul used to think he was a pretty good person.  He was one whom others esteemed, .  He was a real go-getter, building quite a reputation for himself as an esteemed Pharisee and persecutor of Christians;

Philippians 3:5-6  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

A MARK OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY IS PUTTING YOUR FAMILY HERITAGE IN PERSPECTIVE

Are you proud of the stock from which you were born?  Paul was able to look back and see a major error in his past worldly thinking.  He boasted that he was "of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin".  People without Christ today will sometimes boast of their heritage, of their ancestral roots.  It defines them.   It gives them an anchor in their communities, a place to belong.  But that anchor doesn't hold.  That anchor lacks weight and moves about in the tempestuous sea of life.  It's insufficient.  It provides no real stability or rest.  After his spiritual awakening, this was something Paul realized.  He could look back and see that he had grown from identification with his heritage to identification with Christ his Saviour. 

A MARK OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY IS PUTTING YOUR RELIGIOUS HERITAGE INTO PERSPECTIVE

Some of us have been born into a Christian heritage.  Some can look back and say, I was born and raised in a Christian family, gone to church all my life, heard God's Word spoken and preached regularly.  So that's where my confidence is, in my church, in the faith of my youth or the faith of my parents.  Tradition is what defines me.  That's what I cling to.  But that is just as weak.  You cannot place your confidence in the situation into which you were born.  You must personally call upon Christ for salvation.  No one can do it for you.

Romans 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

A MARK OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY IS DEPENDENCE UPON GOD

When we're young, no mountain is too tall to climb.  We have enormous confidence in our strength, abilities, and mental prowess.  Some people enter their Christian walks with extreme confidence still in themselves.  But Paul realized right away that any strength he could muster was not is own, but from the One who provided him his strength;

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Note that the verse doesn't just say "I can do all things."  We cannot leave out Christ.  Evidence of spiritual maturity is having a dependence upon Christ in everything we do.

HAVING A RIGHT HEART

Can you look back at past years and say, "you know, I've grown since then.  I can't believe I used to do that.  What was I thinking?"  Do you see progress?  Do you see movement in your own life from worldliness toward Godliness?  Have you left worldliness behind or are you still deep in the muck of it?  Have your wagon wheels gotten stuck?  Are you parked there and see no forward progress?  How do you get out of it?  Are you really a Christian or have you just fallen into line with your tradition?   Remember, Christianity is not centrally about performing good works.   Christianity begins by admitting you are a sinner and asking God for forgiveness.  Have you done that?

And if you are truly saved from the grip of hell then desire Godliness.  Simply ask Him for help and guidance.  He will help you. He will guide you.  But it has to start in the desires of your own heart.