Co- Laborers With Christ/ Church Growth

1 Cor 3:9-13 NIV ….For we are Co-workers in God’s service ; you are God’s field, God’s building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.

This morning i want to share with you a message on what Elements are needed to Build a Thriving Church…. now

There are To many to bring up now and There are Some that i wont mention for times sake and for knowledge sake e.g i don't have all the Answers….

Im not claiming to be an Expert on Church Growth All i have is 15 years experience and watching the Growth of our Church, and the leadership; WithThat Being said I Believe that ( The Commitment of our Leadership Is one of the Greatest Determining Factors of our Growth)

as A Senior Pastor This is something i Concern myself with and also i believe at this point were In A Plateau mode ( Maintaining) here in V O Reno and i believe were in This place for a number of Reasons

1st off the buck stops Here for sure some of it has to do with the Pastors Leadership

But The Pastor cant Build a Church By Himself…. So i Asked myself what do we need to Go forward, To go to the next level… So let me share with You what I believe are The Elements needed to Continue Growing….

Let me add that I Believe these are The Elements Needed for any Church To Grow

We need first of all (The Right Atmosphere one of Love and Acceptance) Prov 19:22 Says every man and Woman are looking For Love its the desire that every Human Heart Being people must feel Welcomed; and im not Just talking about welcoming signs But ‘Welcoming people” From the Parking Lot to The Children's Ministry

Ive been to alot of churches with welcoming signs but once i got in the Church i was on my Own People are Looking for That “ Im at Home kind of Feeling”

We also need an Atmosphere where there is (Freedom To Worship God) but that freedom must be lived out from the Front Row 1st….

Each person in the congregation is an Atmosphere Setter and is critical to the atmosphere of the church services; When New people Walk into our services if their sitting next to a stiff cold Person during Worship it will stifle the Atmosphere

A Spirit of Worship is Contagious” an Atmosphere of Worship Creates an atmosphere where God "moves in" with His presence and power, drawing people to be touched, healed, forgiven, and saved.

Worship is the right response to the presence of God, a personal and biblical response., (Praise and Prayer must be The ambiance of the Church) …. Worship, Praise and Prayer are The Fruit of A Grateful People.

“A Worshipping Church”

Also for our Churches to Grow there must be an (Emphasis on Prayer) ; it must be part of the Churches Culture we must create an opportunity for there to be corporate Prayer before Church services; Have a Weekly Prayer Night, Some do it Before Work at The Church… It Must Be Happening if we want to see Growth and Transformation in the Lives of People!

The Word of God Must be Preached Doctrinally and Balanced; we are A Vision Driven Ministry But we are also A Bible Based Bible Teaching Ministry, But there must also be Vision Casting “Without it The People Perish”

Proverbs 29:18.

“ A Man With No Vision Always Returns To His Past”

The Church nor its Leadership can compromise The Word of God ; Truth is Always The Truth and Sin is Always Sin… No Compromise

Thats the Basic stuff now lets get to where we were Headed at the start; Ive Found some things that must be happening with the Lay Leadership “The Co-Workers/ Laborers” in The church;

For The Church To Grow and to Sustain its Growth; Here are some things That Must be Happening with The Co-Workers in Gods Service…

We need Workers that are willing to Work and Sacrifice ….. Sacrifice is Worship Work is a 4 letter word But its Not a Bad Word… The Bible Teaches That we were all created for Good Works ; When Adam was Placed in The Garden he was Placed there to WORK Gen 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to take Ownership of It.