Interested in Church Growth? Before putting all sorts of complicated systems and strategies in place, start with the three basic ways to grow the Church as seen in Ephesians 4:16. Follow God’s design.
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
By church growth we’re not just talking about numbers, though numerical growth often becomes a part of it. We’re talking about growing “to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Eph. 4:15).
Basic #1 for Church Growth: Acknowledge and Align with the Head of the Church
After referring to Christ “who is the head” in verse 15, we read “From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows …” (Eph. 4:16). Elsewhere Jesus said, “apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). The number one way to grow the Church must be to acknowledge and align with the Head of the Church.
Jesus, not our programs, leaders, technology, buildings, or strategies, must have first place in our churches. He is the greatest draw in outreach. — “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” (Col. 1:15-18)
We do more, however, than merely point people to Jesus. We align with and depend on Him for without Him, the Church isn’t properly held together.
Basic #2 for Growing as a Church: Love God and One Another
Notice how the Body “grows and builds itself up in love” (Eph. 4:16). When people believe we truly care about them, it motivates them to want to be a part. Even more, when we help them know and rely on the love God has for them, they in turn love others (1 Jn. 4:16-19).
Jesus identified loving God with all of who we are and loving others (Matt. 22:37-40) as the greatest commandments. How can love, then, not be a part of the growth equation? Let’s purpose to love. It’s one of God’s ways to grow the Church.
Basic #3 of Ways to Grow the Church: Encourage and Equip People to Do Their Parts
The Body “grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Eph. 4:16). God designed the Church to function interdependently, not as a spectator sport. He also provides the empowerment needed to do our parts. — “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Pet. 4:10)
Teach about spiritual gifting and God’s design for the Body using something like the Everybody Has a Part Curriculum, to encourage people to do their parts. Also, however, equip them to serve effectively. Provide ministry training. — “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Eph. 4:11-13)
Let’s follow God’s ways to grow the Church.
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