The Secret To Church Growth - The Bible Is All About Jesus - Not Us!

I have watched, listened to, and read countless sermons in my 50+ years as a Born-Again Christian and I have noticed the continued increase in feel-good, self-help, multi-point motivational messages that are more focused upon fallen human beings than upon Jesus, who has become more of a motivational self-help life coach and spiritual guru rather than the holy Lord and Creator God of all things.

As a result, the growth of both established churches and new plants in the western world are predominantly a result of disgruntled and emotionally immature people who leave their current congregation to look for the perfect church because their 'needs' weren't met, a person "sat" in their seat, or the Pastor said something, or read a verse out of the Bible that offended them for whatever reason, etc., etc., etc. As the saying goes, 'If you find the perfect church don't join it because it won't be perfect anymore.'

Today, church attendance in the West is at record lows and growth is the slowest in Europe and North America. Yet, the church is growing dramatically throughout the rest of the world, especially in Asia, South America, and Africa which, in the last 15 years alone, has seen a growth rate of over 51%. That equates to an average of 33,000 people becoming a Christian each day, despite persecution and opposition! The center of Christianity has shifted to the Southern hemisphere. It is estimated that by 2050, Brazil, China, Ethiopia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines and Uganda will dominate the top 10 Christian countries, according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity.

The predominant 'denominations' taking part in this record growth are Pentecostal. They preach and teach the need for a personal relationship with Jesus as their primary focus. It is very reminiscent of the "Jesus movement" of the late 1960's and early 1970's that concentrated on the message on Jesus as the giver of life and spiritual gifts to help them live their life here on earth more abundantly.

Every denomination has their own theological idiosyncrasies, dogma, heterodox opinions and traditions, but the vast majority remain true to the essential pillars of orthodox historical Christian teaching which are the deity of Jesus, salvation by God’s grace and not by works, through Jesus alone, the resurrection of Jesus, the Gospel message of the Bible - which is the final authority, monotheism and the Holy Trinity of God - the Father, God, the Son – Jesus, and God, the Holy Spirit, which should be the focus of any fellowship with one another in order to fulfill the Great Commandment and Great Commission, rather than on their differences.

These new converts in the third world countries are experiencing a vibrant life full of God's power and supernatural gifts that are used to help encourage, edify, strengthen, and heal those they come in contact with as they take the Gospel into the community, meeting people where they live instead of expecting them to come to a church building to experience a programmatic approach to religion. They are filled with holistic enthusiasm, vitality, confidence and joy because they have experienced the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit and they want to share the Gospel message with everyone they meet.

When a person preaches from the Bible, with their audience as the primary focus, it becomes an empty narcissistic and hedonistic exercise in futility. Many churches in the West lift Jesus up and some are showing record growth. But the Jesus they proclaim is often just the “gift giver”- “blessing giver”- “wealth maker”- “peace provider” – or the “great healer.” The focus must shift from buildings, bucks, and bodies to the broken, battered, bruised, beaten and bloody body of the crucified Lord of lords and King of kings who shows by His example that one first must die before they can be revived. As long as there is the continuing attempt to meet the needs of self, there will only be the constant confrontation of personal sinfulness.

The Bible is ALL about Jesus, NOT us. Jesus said; “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (John 5:39-40 ESV). Jesus explained to the Disciples that all Scripture pointed to Him; “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27 ESV).

When our reading or preaching the Word is focused on Jesus, the heart is set on things above, and the eyes will see Him first. When a person looks for Jesus within the pages of the Bible they will come to truly know Him and find hope and peace beyond comprehension, and in doing so, they will find the true meaning of life, along with their purpose, calling, and destiny as they discover that their true identity is in Christ (Col. 3:1). The abundant life is found when “self” life is lost (Matt 10:39).