Church growth and evangelism in the book of acts chapter 2

When the day of pentecost came, they were all together in one place. A church will only become strong when it is an integral and natural part of the people. For an example of one church growth writers use of acts, see c. The book of acts is pivotal in understanding gods kingdom economy and transition from israel to the revelation of the church. The resistance to the way and indignation against it had reached a climax. As we study acts 1 and 2, we will learn how to prepare ones life for god to use. Within the acts of the apostoloi there are theoretical and practical exemplars which the contemporary church may pattern to navigate a pathway to fruitful evangelism and sustainable growth. The stores about why luke, james, peter, john, and jude wrote their letters set dramatic. Abstract the purpose driven church, the simple church, good to great, and the natural church are just a few of the models todays clergy are looking to in order to define their ministries. Our goal is 1 to understand personal evangelism in a new and fresh way, so as to overcome the obstacles that keep us from receiving the blessings associated with bringing gods good news to others, and 2 to actually bring the gospel to someone in need. Church growth in the book of acts a church of christ can and will grow spiritually and numerically when it is faithful to the word of god. Dec 06, 2016 an acts 2 church will perform the functions of the church outlined by luke in the book of acts. The biblical approach to church growth through personal.

The book of acts records the mighty works of god for and through his church in its early years, and clearly connects them to unified, corporate prayer. It is the duty of all christians to preach the gospel to the world. In these two chapters, we see the obvious work of the holy spirit. Evangelize through your most natural relationships. They had been following jesus and were witnesses of the many miracles he had performed. This article presents the concept of church growth alongside evangelism mainly in the book of acts. This is the herod before whom paul will stand trial a little later in the book of acts acts 25. Repentance, nature of many in the church conversion, nature of revival, corporate. In the book of acts, we see nothing short of explosive, exponential growth. Pdf evangelism and church growth in the book of acts.

The book of acts and church growth paperback june 1, 1990 by f. The third major section of acts describes how the gospel expanded beyond the borders of the promised land, to the ends of the earth, as it was known in that day, beginning with the advance of the gospel in phoenicia, cyprus and antioch in chapter 9 verse 32 through chapter 12 verse 25. The acts of the apostles camp hill church of christ. Evangelism in the book of acts the church of christ in the book of acts was an evangelist church. Acts records the origin of the spiritual body which we designate as the church. During christs lifetime, the spreading of the gospel was. Principles of church growth second edition paul young publications of paul young cape town, south africa. It completely amazes me how anyone can read the second chapter of the book of acts and firmly say that a person doesnt have to be baptized in order to be saved. The growth of the kingdom in phoenicia, cypress and antioch. The recipe for church planting from the book of acts. A study of the acts of the apostles page 5 lesson two the beginning of the church christianity a. Elmer towns reveals the relevance of the new testament books of acts, hebrews, james, the two books of peter, the three books of john and jude for todays living and learning.

The gospel, because of the power of prayer, spreads unhindered. Soon the followers of christ reached five thousand 4. Well, it falls to me and its a joy to kind of open up our conference and draw your attention to why every true calvinist must affirm a biblical ecclesiology and reject church growth theory. When the church prays the priority of praying together. There was no such thing as an unbaptized christian in the early church. Dec 11, 2009 in his book understanding church growth, he began by saying that church growth is faithfulness to god, no mere sociological process, and basically a theological stance. Stephen preached to the jews in chapter seven and was subsequently stoned to death. So the church throughout all judea and galilee and samaria enjoyed peace, being built up. Ludlowthe book of acts was written by luke after his gospel as the. The theme or key to the book of acts is found in 1. Understanding any case of growth or non growth involves three important sets of factors. Evangelism in the book of acts walnut street church of christ. Jesus said, go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. As with his previous books, elmer towns wrote praying the book of acts in poetic style, combining modernday language with a lyrical twist.

In each case, prime uses the theological truth of the bibles teaching as the foundation for the very practical advice he gives in each chapter. The book of acts is gods divine book on the subject of church history. Schwartzs book natural church development and its application to the new testament ministry system being studied from acts chapter 2 in this seminar. And today the life blood of the church is evangelism. Hence such words as pastor, evangelist, minister, overseer, father of the flock. Later, believers were the more added to the lord, multitudes both of men and women acts 5. Church growth and evangelism in the book of acts monergism. To prove this point, let us take a quick look at church growth in the book of acts, with a special view to the church in jerusalem. Biblical strategy and shift to spiritual driven church growth. In his book, unchristian, david kinnaman reports that 84 percent of the people he. Transforming a church the acts 2 way influence magazine. This was the start, and the rest of the book of acts tells the story of an exciting, expanding fellowship of men and women who witnessed to jesus christ with power and abandon. Rick rasberry the call of christ, as he stated in matthew 28.

For example, on the day of pentecost, about 3,000 people were added to the church in acts chapter 2, many more were added after the healing of a lame man by peter in acts chapters 3 and 4, membership in the church grew to around 5,000 when john and peter were jailed in acts chapter 4, and many jewish priests were added to the church in acts. Verse 42 lists four of the activities to which the church devoted itself. Influence magazine transforming a church the acts 2 way. With the introductory words, about that time, luke links the events of chapter 12 to those of chapters 10 and 11. I read a pile of books and attended most of the big churchgrowth conferences. Understanding any case of growth or nongrowth involves three important sets of factors. The book of genesis records the origin of the physical universe. Forest hills bible chapel exists to glorify god through worship, edification, evangelism, and social action. At this point in the early church, as described in acts and 14, we see three significant. Evangelism in acts happened when people went out from the church and into the world. Solutions to hindrances for a steady church growth as found in acts 2 having addressed some of the issues that might hinder the growth of a church, we will now look into the very practical examples, given to us in acts chapter 2, through which we can help improve the churches, as they help us to solve those previously mentioned issues. They are bewildered and frightened but all that changes on the day of pentecost.

In it is story after story of the lords hand in the growth of the church through missions and church planting. In his book understanding church growth, he began by saying that church growth is faithfulness to god, no mere sociological process, and basically a theological stance. The unique aspects of these books of the bible are vividly presented through contemporary illustrations and poignant prayers. Oh, how we rejoice in just the privilege of a study of your precious word. What pleased many in this early church was to give all of it to the. Whereas the gospel of luke focuses on the life and ministry of jesus christ, the acts of the apostles builds upon what jesus did and taught see acts 1. An acts 2 church will perform the functions of the church outlined by luke in the book of acts. The 120 were gathered in an upper room praying in one accord when pentecost comes acts 1. The book of acts the book of acts, also called the acts. Jul 20, 2008 active evangelism is divided into 10 chapters. Acts 2 new international version niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost. Evangelismproperly defined evangelism is a glorious essential of the christian life.

Luke gives more information about this practice in the early church in chapter 4. The exemplars discussed here, though not exhaustive, may. In the preface of his book, church growth mind, sunghoon myeong points out that as the church has focused on growth in terms of the numerical aspect, the church planters misunderstand what it means to grow a church. But ye shall receive power, after that the holy ghost is come.

The apostle paul as a model for church growth and evangelism. In acts chapter 1, there are 12 disciples and 120 believers. Up to this point the apostles had been through a lot already. The book of acts challenges the church in another aspect of persuasion. The beginning of the church and its growth t he book of acts records the growth and progress of the church in the first century. The you are there narration provides deep insight and understanding of the times in which the acts of the apostles and the general epistles were written. Acts refers to the numerical growth of the young movement in the face of external and internal problems. Principles of evangelism from the book of acts truthonlybible. These 3000 christians, who took part in the birth of the church, continued in the apostles doctrine, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer according to acts 2. Acts 2 niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost bible. Father, thank you for this time that awaits us, as we look in the book.

If we are ever to understand new testament christianity we must have knowledge of the beginning and growth of the church. The work of evangelism what then is the evangelistic task of the canadian church. Church growth statements in the book of acts barnes bible charts 2. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Some would suggest that growth out in service to meet the pressing temporal needs of the world is fully evangelism. The book of acts records the amazing growth in spite of huge obstacles after the disciples were filled with the. To my knowledge, however, no church growth book with a complete focus on acts has been written. Acts chapter 2 verses 1 through 4 contains this account of the outpouring of the holy spirit on the church. As we study acts 37 we will learn how to grasp and share the gospel itself. Most pastors and they would say that they desire the church of acts 2.

To use another analogy, lukes description of the church in acts 2 is. The book of acts 1 personal evangelism the book of acts. And the lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Ludlowthe book of acts was written by luke after his gospel as the second part of a great twovolume work on jesus christ and the early christians. Luke and acts together make up about 28% of our new testament. Chapter 6 indicates a turn to more difficult times for evangelism in jerusalem.

Whereas the old testament depicts evangelism as people coming to god, the lucan perspective demonstrates that gods servants will go to his people. The church must worship, connect, grow, serve and go. Six men were chosen to help serve the widows in the church and also teach publicly. The book of acts records the beginning of the church, the birth of the church. The recipe for church planting from the book of acts the book of acts is the closest thing we have to a manual for church planting and missions in the new testament. Gentile evangelism would occur in acts 10 and 11, and especially in chapter and. The problem of the contemporary churches lies in their tendency to rely on. To carry out this mission the authors church held evangelism mobilization sunday, through which every church member could participate in evangelism and realize the importance of training. With the example of sung dong church members, this thesis shows the close relationship between personal evangelism and church growth. It moves from peters ministry in jerusalem with the jewish believers chapters 1 12 to pauls ministry in antioch chapters 28 now including gentiles along with jews. As we study acts 812 we will learn how people come to christ and are changed through conversion. Growth religious awakenings hand of god additions progress gods hand. As the process moves forward, a new believer will find a place to belong connect, be transformed through holy spirit discipleship grow, express adoration to god worship, develop its ministry to god and the church serve and fulfill its.