Church growth always has been and always will be commensurate with the amount of teaching of the Word. Paul said, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase” (I Corinthians 3:6). You show me a church that is not growing, and I will show you a church that is not sowing. You show me a church that is not growing, and I will show you a church that is not going.
One has but to read the Book of Acts to see that the early church grew. I know that people want to cite that things were different then. The thing different then from now may be that they allowed nothing to stop them, persecution nor displacement, from preaching and teaching the Word of God. Brethren, that is what was done by godly people through the power of the Word in the first century, and it can and should be done in our generation.
The parable of the sower offers further evidence for the necessity of church growth (Luke 8:4-15). The parable tells of one who sowed good seed in various types of soil and circumstances. The message that God has for us is that the seed is the gospel, and that if we plant enough, some will fall on good and honest hearts and bring forth a great harvest of souls. We will not convert every person we teach, but at the same time, we must expect to convert many and reap a great harvest of souls. Jesus said, “the fields are white unto harvest” (John 4:35).
There is a great need to convince all brethren that every Christian is obligated to strive to bring others to Christ (II Timothy 2:24).
Barry Elliot
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