The Five E’s Of Church Growth
Acts 2:40-47
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
I. Church growth is not an option.
A. Church growth is a necessity.
B. The church was not called to survival mode but revival mode.
C. We have been given a commission.
Mark 16:15-16
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
D. This scripture is considered to be the “great commission”.
I. So what is a commission?
a formal written warrant granting the power to perform various acts or duties b: a certificate conferring military rank and authority; also : the rank and authority so conferred
E. We have been granted power and authority to tell others about this great truth.
I. Jesus has conferred His rank and authority to us.
F. Witnessing needs to become a compulsion to us.
G. Church growth ought to be second nature for us.
H. I’m afraid we ask the wrong question when it comes to church growth.
I. Too many ask, “what will make our church grow?”
II. We need to ask, “what is keeping our church from growing?”
I. It is not that we need to add anything else to our already busy schedules.
J. We need to see what we can do to modify and improve an already dynamic church to be the greatest church!
II. So, tonight, we want to look at the five E’s of church growth.
Acts 2:40-41
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
A. Evangelism is the first E we want to deal with.
B. We have a responsibility to our society to bring the best news they’ve ever heard to them.
C. Evangelism is the heartbeat of God.
D. Evangelism should be the heartbeat of the Church.
E. Evangelism is a crusading zeal.
F. Evangelism is the driving force behind true church growth.
G. The whole purpose of Christ being on the earth was for evangelism.
Luke 19:10
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
H. Our work of evangelism needs to put a curiosity and hunger in those we work with.
There was a little fellow who was returning home from a store with a pail of honey in his hand. A gentleman who walked beside him saw him slip one finger down into the pail. Then, because his mother had told him never to wipe his sticky fingers on his blouse or trousers, it found its only logical destination, his mouth. It really tasted good. After he had done this several times, the gentleman approached him and said, "See here, Sonny, what have you in that pail?" "Some honey, sir." "Honey-is it sweet?" "Yes, sir." "How sweet is your honey?" "It is very sweet, sir." "Well, I do not understand you. I asked you how sweet your honey was, and you have not yet told me. How sweet is it?" "Why, it is very, very sweet, sir." "Well, you are a funny little fellow; I asked you how sweet your honey is, and you just tell me it is very, very sweet. Now, can’t you tell me really how sweet your honey is?" The little fellow was impatient by this time, so he stuck his finger down into the honey, and holding it up said, "Taste and see for yourself."
I. The product of our evangelism is those wanting a taste will come and taste and see the Lord, He is good.
III. E number two for church growth is, encourage.
Acts 2:42
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
A. Fellowship is the mainstay of the church.
B. This is why we go to the pantry.
I. Not for the food but the fellowship.
C. The fellowship is encouraging and fun.
D. Skating parties, get together’s, picnics, etc...
I. All these functions help us bind together and grow closer and gain strength.
E. Our new converts need the fellowship of the saints of God.
I. As ACTS grows, our clients need us to provide places and times of fellowship.
II. Fellowship provides a way of changing playmates, playgrounds, and playthings.
IV. Edify is another E of church growth.
A. Edify literally means, to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge.
B. We need Bible studies and church services if we are to grow.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together,...
Proverbs 15:28
28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
C. Edification is not an option.
D. Our hunger for the Word of God should be infective and cause growth in our church.
V. Exaltation is a powerful E of church growth.
Acts 2:42
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
A. Praying is a form of exalting the Lord.
B. Praising is a form of exalting the Lord.
Psalm 34:3
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Isaiah 25:1
O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
C. Has the Lord done anything good for you?
I. We need to exalt Him!
D. Every testimony service, we exalt Him.
E. Every song we sing, we exalt Him.
F. Every time we raise our hands, we exalt Him...etc.....
VI. The last E of church growth is equip.
A. If we don’t equip each other for the work of church growth, we fail our society.
Revised Standard Version
Ephesians 4:11-12
11 And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
B. You cannot build a building without the proper equipment.
C. You cannot pave a highway without the proper equipment.
D. You cannot have telecommunications without the proper equipment.
E. We cannot have church growth without the proper equipment.
F. We need to be equipped for the last days we live in.
G. The only way we will be equipped is if we follow all the other E’s of church growth.
Evangelism, encourage, edify, exalt.....then we are equipped
