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Dynamic Growth In The Church
Everyone understands that growth in the church was dynamic in the first-century world. The question is, why did they grow so fast at a time when being a follower of Jesus could cost you your life.
We also recognize that the church is not growing dynamically today. In fact, we see a decline in attendance at small to medium churches. I do not follow mega-churches, but I would be surprised if they are not also losing attendees.
The Jewish religious leaders wanted to eliminate all followers of the way. So they were well organized and financed to gather all believers and imprison or kill them. The Jewish leaders appointed men like Saul to go from village to village and round up believers.
Rome controlled the whole world. They had their own religions, including emperor worship. Believers in Jesus were a problem because they considered their allegiance to Jesus more important than their allegiance to Rome. And they did not fear death.
Upside Down
Believers were so dynamic and spiritually militant that the Jews accused them of turning the world upside down. Paul and his party were preaching Jesus to the Jews and Greeks. One day while in the synagogue at Thessalonica, the Jews who did not believe led a riot to stop them.
They could not find Paul, so they grabbed Jason, one of the Christians seen with Paul, and took him before the city rulers.
Scripture tells us, 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the city’s rulers, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Acts 17:6 NKJV
I find this statement to be a great compliment to the church leaders. Just think what it would be like if people had reason to accuse today’s Christians of “turning the world upside down.” We need that. We need preachers committed to God. Preachers who are not afraid to teach the Bible without watering it down. We would see growth in the church if our leaders were fearless.
The early church grew because they had a risen Savior who was alive to them. Fortunately, many of them had seen Jesus after He rose. His resurrection enforced his promise of eternal life.
Thousands Saved
Jesus had instructed the Apostles to wait until the Holy Spirit came upon them before going out. They obeyed Him, and once the Spirit came, they began to tell the story of Jesus. They shared who He was, how He had died for our sins, and that He had risen again.
The people were amazed by the power of their preaching. It was not just the message; at Pentecost, they heard it in their own language. Moreover, because Passover brought Jews from everywhere to Jerusalem, they could return with the message to their respective countries.
On the first day, three thousand accepted Jesus as their Savior. The Scripture says, “41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. Acts 2:41 NKJV
Opposition
Believers were never without opposition. The Jewish religious leaders wanted to stop them before everyone started believing and became a follower of Jesus. They saw it as a threat to their position and finances, which was more important to them than the truth.
Many of them had studied and worked for years to get a position of leadership and respect. Yet, when they saw Jesus, they saw a man from Galilee without earthly credentials. He did not wear the proper robes or hang with the right people.
Yet even though they had killed Him, He would not go away. On the contrary, those He had appeared to keep on testifying that He was not only alive but also the Messiah. He had come to save those who would accept Him.
Growth in the Church was continuous. Every day more were saved, Scripture tells us, 4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. Acts 4:4 NKJV The growth was not without strong persecution for long.
Great Persecution
During the following weeks, the church continued to grow. Luke tells us, And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, Acts 5:14 NKJV
Can you imagine what this did to those trying to protect their positions and fight against the idea of Jesus being the Messiah? The high priest and the Sanhedrin had taken a stand against Jesus and His teaching. They had even created a trumped-up trial, so they could charge Him and ask for His death.
His followers were on fire with the message of salvation through this same Jesus the Jewish leaders had insisted Rome kill. Many Jewish men believed they were doing right, even serving God, in fighting against the disciples.
Saul was one of those men. He stood and watched the stoning of Stephen and believed he was doing a good thing. He then went on to actively persecute the believers.
Luke tells it like this.
8 Now Saul was consenting to his death.
At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
Why Did They See Such Growth In The Church?
The church should not have grown faced with such strong opposition from the religious leaders of the day. But instead, the Church not only succeeded but grew rapidly.
Faced with constant persecution from the Jewish temple, they were scattered and witnessed wherever they went. So you might say that the opposition promoted the expansion of the church.
Scripture says in Acts 8:1-3 NKJV , 3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Saul’s actions did cause the church to scatter. At first, it may have looked like the Sandhedian would succeed. But instead, it had the opposite effect.
Scripture tells us they were scattered, but they went on preaching and continued to reach the lost. In Acts 8:1-4 NKJV it says, 4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. Instead of the church in Jerusalem growing, it grew throughout the Roman Empire.
Three Reasons For Growth In The Chruch
There are three reasons why the early Church continued to grow and expand into the known world. It is these same three reasons why strong Bible Churches expand today.
The early Church did not bribe people to come and did not provide special entertainment before, during, or after the services. But, too often, numbers are essential to ministers and church leaders instead of souls being won and put into Christian service.
First, the early church leaders preached the simple gospel message with faithfulness and zeal. They knew that God sent Jesus to offer Himself as a sin offering for the world. He died on a cross for our sins, He was buried, and on the third day, He rose from the dead, as foretold by the Prophets.
We are told in Acts 4:12 NIV that 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
They were not ashamed to tell others that Jesus saved them and lived in their heart. Jesus was real to them, and their salvation was something for which they were thankful. They had to tell others about Him! Growth in the Church was automatic due to their love of Jesus.
Second, they were willing to defend the gospel message without fearing what others might say. They knew that those of the Jewish faith and the pagan religions were willing to kill them for preaching Jesus. However, their zeal for God was so great that they shared it anyway.
Early Christians were not worried about what others thought. Instead, they wanted to share the great blessings that they had received when they accepted Jesus.
Third, they lived their faith daily. They understood that they were a part of what God was doing through Jesus. Jesus said to go into all the world, and they intended to do just that. He said to teach what He had taught, and they did.
Our Lord Said
Our Lord Jesus said to go and make disciples! They applied the following Scripture to their lives. We must do the same!
Matthew tells them in Matt 28:18-20 NKJV, 18 Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
These three things are still enough today. Over the centuries, nothing has changed. People have been the same through the ages. Sin still invades our lives and brings death and destruction. What worked in the past still works today.
Our testimony is still the most powerful tool we have to share with others. Sharing what Jesus has done for you and how knowing Him has changed your life is the best testimony you can give someone. People don’t want theory. They want what works. Telling them how it has worked for you gives them hope.
Growth in the Church is what happens when we allow ourselves to trust in what Jesus has told us. When we believe and accept what Jesus says it transforms our lives. Then when we share what He has done for us the church grows.
Conclusion
The early church was not a social club. Worldly thinking or man’s imagination did not form it. Nor was it worship in a worldly manner under the banner of Jesus Christ.
The Church is the body of Christ, and as that body, it functions as Jesus did. Christians are totally committed to Jesus and to serving Him. We are one body in Him, and His mission was to save the world from sin. Therefore, the Church’s mission, if we are to be a part of Jesus, is to proclaim salvation through Jesus to the world.
Listen to what Paul says in Ephesians 4:4-6 NIV: 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Dynamic growth in the Church is only possible when Jesus is the Head of our lives and the Church. As long as the Church tries to continue as it is, it will die. Therefore, we must return to preaching the unadulterated Gospel in our Century.
Jesus does not change!