PREAMBLE: For a church to experience continuous growth,
some key factors must be observed. These vital keys must not be ignored
by any serious minded church seeking quantitative, as well as qualitative
growth. Of course, the topic in view presupposes that the church has
already been planted or constituted, and therefore seeking avenues of
growth. The following factors and keys are therefore necessary.
GROWTH FACTORS
1. Holy
Spirit: After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, who is the owner
of the church, He commissioned Holy Spirit to sustain the act of salvation and
perpetuate the church Matthew 16, John 16, Acts 1:8.
2. The
Pastor of the Church: The Pastor must desire the growth of the church,
and be willing to pay the price. Pastor Wagner said “The average pastor
is a burdened man. Although painfully aware that his church should grow
in membership, spiritual vitality, evangelistic outreach, and outgoing service,
he is often burdened and lost as to how to do it”.
3. Witnessing
and outreach: Quantitative growth can only be achieved
through witnessing and outreach. Door-to-door witnessing or open-air
crusade is very crucial here.
4. Discipleship
Training: Any act of witnessing without discipleship training as a way of
Follow-up and conservation is a waste of time, energy and resources.
Discipleship training deepens the spiritual lives of older members.
5. Dynamic
worship: Worship must be dynamic, lively, vibrant and well planned.
Music, prayer, and the Word must be appropriate always.
6. Church
Organizations: As Baptists, we cherish church
organizations. A serious and growing church will use them for
evangelistic and church growth purposes. A Sunday school department
should have an outreach arm that goes to the motor parks every Sunday morning to
reach out to and pray for travelers. There are other places.
7. Church
Planting: A growing church must be reproductive. It must engage in
planting other churches. Church Planting should not be expensive.
8. Divine
Strategies: A growing church should have a strategy committee
or group to think and fashion out divine strategies for growth. Time of
worship or weekly activities could be rescheduled to suit the convenience of
members.
9. Discovering
and use of Spiritual Gifts: This factor is very vital. A one-man or few
people show church is out-dated. Let the whole body of Christ discover
their spiritual gifts and use them to build the church.
10. The spiritual gifts in I Corinthians 12:8-10.
1. Message
of wisdom
2. Message
of knowledge
3. Faith
4. Healing
5. Miracle
Power
6. Prophesy
7. Distinguishing
between spirits
8. Speaking
in tongues /others tongues
9. Interpretation
of tongues
10. Apostleship
11. Teaching
12. Helping others
13. Administration
14. Service
15. Encouragement
16. Leadership.
CONCLUSION: You must assess your church today if it is
growing in the following manners.
1. Numerical:
More people joining the church
2. Spiritual:
The people must grow up in the Lord.
3. Financial:
Financial increase is part of growth
4. Physical:
The structures are important
5. Social:
The Church must be a community church
6. Material:
The material resources are essential.
7. Extension:
New churches must be plant
8. Stewardship:
The people must use their God-given resources for divine purposes.
9. Health:
The Church must not be sick.
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