toHow to Grow a Church
Matthew 16:13-19
Introduction: God wants His church to be fruitful. He wants and expects growth, both spiritual growth and numerical growth. But the sad reality is that that according to one survey 81% of America’s churches reported stagnant or declining membership. Actual annual church growth in America was on average, less than 2 new members for every 5 churches. If we are to be obedient to our commission from Christ we must grow. Let’s look at what it takes to grow a church.
I. Growth requires the Lord to build.
A. Matthew 16:18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
B. Psalm 127:1 “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”
C. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, known as "the prince of preachers," felt he delivered his sermon so poorly one Sunday that he was ashamed of himself. As he walked away from his church, the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, he wondered how any good could come from that message. When he arrived home, he dropped to his knees and prayed, "Lord God, You can do something with nothing. Bless that poor sermon."
In the months that followed, 41 people said that they had decided to trust Christ as Saviour because of that "weak" message. The following Sunday, to make up for his previous "failure," Spurgeon had prepared a "great" sermon -- but no one responded. Spurgeon's experience underscores two important lessons for all who serve the Lord. First and foremost, we need the blessing of God on our efforts. Solomon said in Psalm 127:1, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it." And second, our weakness is an occasion for the working of God's power. The apostle Paul said, "I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor. 12:10). – taken from Our Daily Bread, May 18, 1992.
II. Growth requires prayer
A. Matthew 17:19-21 “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."
B. Prayer is an unspoken confession of our utter dependence upon God. Prayerlessness is an unbroken testimony of our dependence on the flesh. – Randy Sprinkle, International Mission Board prayer coordinator
C. A little boy was tugging on a big rock, and doing his best to lift it. He was grunting and pulling but it wouldn't budge. His father came along and asked him if he was having any trouble. He said, "Yes, I am trying and trying, but I can't move this rock." The father said to him, "Well son, are you using all available energy?" The boy replied, "Yes father, I think I am." Then his dad looked at him and said, "No, son, I don't think you are, for you haven't asked for my help." - copied
D. Matthew 7:7-8 " Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
E. The practice of prayer is required for spiritual growth individually and corporately. It is required for numerical growth as a church. The First Church of Jerusalem continued steadfastly to learning the apostles’ doctrine, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer; and the Lord added to the church daily.
F. A survey was done about 20 years ago to try to determine what makes churches thrive and grow. That survey found that 71% of so-called "breakout churches" (formerly plateaued or declining churches now growing) report an increased emphasis on prayer in the past several years. Another survey taken about the same time by a completely different group found the same thing to be true: among rapidly growing churches, prayer was consistently pointed out as the "foundational ministry of the church." - C. Kirk Hadaway, Church Growth Principles, Broadman 1991, p. 164
G. Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”
H. Live churches move ahead on prayer and faith; Dead churches work only on sight!
III. Growth requires preparation through separation
A. Proverbs 24:27 “Prepare your outside work, Make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterward build your house.”
B. Before a field can be properly planted it must be first cleared of rocks and weeds. If we want God to use us we must clear ourselves of everything that would hinder us.
C. 2 Timothy 2:19-21 “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”
D. The Lord is looking for clean, sanctified vessels that He can use for His glory.
E. Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us”
F. In the New Testament, separation and sanctification are two aspects of the same attitude of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Separation indicates that he is set apart or separated from everything that is evil: Sanctification connotes being set apart to God and to all that is good
IV. Growth requires cultivation and propagation
A. For a farmer to obtain his cash crop there are steps he must take before the planting even takes place. He must prepare for the planting by studying the field, knowing what kind of soil he’s working with, and what he is going to have to do to keep the crop growing. Is it going to take more fertilizer than the field 10 miles to the south? Is he going to have to water more? Weed more? After studying and learning what he must do, he will then be able to work his ground. He will understand what he has to do differently than the field to the south, because they are different fields. They may produce the same crop, but the work he must do to sow the field is different. Our work for the kingdom is no different. –(copied) But doing all the prep work doesn’t mean a thing if he doesn’t sow the seed.
B. Proverbs 20:4 “The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing.”
C. Ecclesiastes 11:4 “He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.”
D. "He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else." – Benjamin Franklin
E. Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.”
F. You cannot reap if you do not sow.
G. Psalms 126:6 “He, who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
H. Someone has said, “PROPER seed PLANTED in PROPER GROUND under PROPER CONDITIONS produces a PROSPEROUS HARVEST.”
V. Growth requires nutrition and hydration
A. Growth is not instantaneous. It is a process. The seed is sown, germinates, and begins to grow but must receive nourishment through fertilization and watering for sustained growth.
B. 1 Corinthians 3:6-8 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”
C. The seed alone does not produce fruit on a tree; it is only after its growth and development from its time in the sun, the water and fertilizer, and its care and cultivation that brings about its bountiful harvest.
D. It takes time to grow a soul. The planted seed does not bear fruit in a day. Souls mature when by exercise of time, study and experience they come to discern between good and evil (Heb.5:12-14). Soul winning often takes many months of fellowship, teaching, and thinking. Cultivating souls for the Lord is not wasted time. – Phil Sanders, Nashville School of Preaching
VI. Growth requires perseverance
A. Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
B. The owner drove a tunnel a mile long through the strata he thought contained gold, spent one hundred thousand dollars on it, and in a year and a half had failed to find the gold. Another company drove the tunnel a yard further and struck the ore. So the gold of life may be but a short distance off. There are countless failures in life due to not going far enough. Keep on—the reward may lie but a yard ahead.—Exchange in The Sunday School Banner.
C. A farmer sows his field in faith, trusting that all of his efforts will lead to a bountiful harvest and that all his labor and toil will be worthwhile.
D. Matthew 16:18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I WILL build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
