CHURCH GROWTH

CHURCH GROWTH R.D.Ice

We live in a much different world than Campbell and Stone. Our world is more like the pagan world faced by the early Christians. Sin and evil and unbelief is rampant! But - God is still on His throne. The Gospel is still true.

"The modern pagan is like the pagan Peter & Paul knew centuries ago, and is unlikely to be reached by a words only Gospel. He wants to see signs and evidences of the message we declare. Barry Kissell shows how effective the early Christians were when their witness flowed from a renewed church life and from a truly worshipful congregation." [Renewal #54 Dec. 1974]

"It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught by God. Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me." [John 6:45]

"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." [John 12:32]


GENERAL GOALS Luke 24:44-49

1. To be a congregation of people serving Christ and helping others. The church is a community of life which shares this new life with the world.

2. To establish a ministry that will effectively bring people to Christ and convince them to "obey the gospel." Mark 16:15-16,19-20.

3. To provide a worship service based on praise and joy, which will meet the spiritual needs of the worshipers in a way which most pleases God. John 4:21-24; Col. 3:16.

4. To provide a Bible School which meets the needs of those who attend. Teaching each on their level of under- standing. 2 Timothy 2:2.

5. To offer each member an active place of service that will bring them a sense of fulfillment and lead the lost to Christ. Ephesians 4:11-16.

6. To make an organized effort to build the image of the church in the eyes of the community. Some will judge the Gospel by what they see in us.

7. To build a sense of community among the membership and to encourage a vital fellowship with each other and with sister congregations. 1 John 4:20-21.

8. Success is rarely an accident. If we don't expect much to happen - then it probably won't. We ourselves must set the wheels in motion.

9. The times we live in demand a Gospel stripped of cultural coloration and presented in the pure form of the New Testament. Paul would say: I kept my bearings in Christ, but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every kind of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. [1 Cor. 9:19-22]