Category Archives: Church Life

If we experienced the conversion growth of the Early Church, would we be ready? To be sure, the rapid, and even daily, growth in the Early Church was a phenomenon of its beginning days. That, of course, doesn’t mean we can’t see regular conversion growth in our churches today. For that to happen, though, we must observe two points about their growth:

1. The Church fostered an environment conducive to such growth (Acts 2:42-47a).

2. God was the One who “added daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47b).

God isn’t going to entrust us with more if we aren’t faithful with what we have. In Jesus’ Parable of the Talents, we read that those who faithfully invested what their master gave them received more. — “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” (Matt. 25:14-30)

Questions to Ask about Our Readiness for Conversion Growth

We can’t have an occasional outreach efforts and expect regular conversion growth in our churches. We must devote ourselves to that which is conducive to such growth. We must be ready for it. Based on what Acts 2:42-47 tells us about what the Early Church devoted themselves to, here are some questions to ask about our readiness for God to regularly add to our churches those who are being saved. (Clicking on links below each question will take you to online equipping to become more ready in that area.)

• Is our teaching and shepherding ministry ready to take those whom the Lord adds to the next step … to help people grow spiritually, becoming more and more Christ-like through equipping, discipling, mentoring, etc.?

Christian Education Ministry
Shepherding Ministry
Teaching Ministry

• Do we have an ongoing plan for assimilating people into fellowship … to help them find belonging as members of His family?

Body Life

• How devoted are we to praying for and with people … to help them rely on His power as they commune with Him?

Prayer Ministry

• Are we willing to share of our time and resources with people in their times of need, struggles, crisis, etc. … to help them know first hand the love of God toward them?

People Helping Ministry

• Is our worship truly about the Lord … to help people glorify Him, causing them to stand in awe of Him?

Worship Ministry

Church leaders, click this link for more to consider about: Church Growth

Let’s be clear right from the start. Salvation is a work of God (Eph. 2:8-9). He will use us in the process of leading people to Himself but ultimately it is about what HE does, not what we do.

God brings the growth yet as seen in 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, we have a part in the planting process and in the watering of that seed. We are “God’s co-workers” who will be responsible for how we build on what God is doing (1 Cor. 3:9-15).

More Thoughts to Help Us Reconcile Our Part in Outreach Versus What God Does

The Conclusion about the Outreach Process

Salvation truly is a work of God. Yet, we do not merely sit back when it come to outreach and do nothing. We have a part but it still gets back to God. We work in cooperation with Him through His power as we follow His lead. Let’s remember the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:10 —

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

For Help, Go To: Outreach Resources

What brings people to Jesus Christ and then to become a part of the local church? What will draw them in and keep them there?

What Might We Depend on to Attract People?

Nice Facilities?

First impressions do matter.  But, what if you can’t afford to renovate or build?  Certainly you can keep your rooms attractively decorated and clutter free. Is that enough?

Innovation?

If you want to reach people where they are, you need to be willing to change.  Adapting to people without losing the content of the truth we proclaim requires lots of insight.  But, is being on the cutting edge enough?

Good publicity?

How will people know what you have to offer if you don’t communicate?  Both verbal and written communication are at the core of salvation as “faith comes by hearing” (Rom. 10:14-17).  Communication is at the core of our educational or discipleship efforts in the church as it is knowing the truth that will set people free (Jn. 8:32).  Is simply letting people know what you have to offer enough?

Dynamic Leadership?

While a leader with a charismatic personality does seem to draw people in, it take various types of leaders to bring balance, health, and growth to the church.  If this kind of leadership team is in place, will that be enough?

What Truly is the Greatest Draw in Outreach?

While all of the above factors, plus others, will contribute to the big picture, none of them can be singled out as the greatest draw in outreach. None of these means alone, or combined, are enough because the greatest and absolutely essential drawing factor is God Himself. Jesus said,

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (Jn. 6:44)

God doesn’t need our strategic efforts. He can draw people to Himself with or without us. He may choose to use us in the process but a person’s salvation is not dependent on what we do or don’t do. If God did not draw people to Himself, all our efforts would be in vain.

Implications for Our Outreach Efforts

1) Intercessory prayer needs to be made an absolutely vital part of outreach.

Without God in and behind all of this, we will simply have a nice building, great ideas, motivational tools, and skilled people running the church. Be encouraged to stop right now and examine what you are relying on to lead others to the Lord and bring them in to your local church.

Strategies and programs may have a place but Acts 2:42-47 reminds us that our devotion should not be to our methodology but to God Himself and to those things that put us in touch with Him and demonstrate a dependence on Him — like prayer. Of the early church we are told, “They devoted themselves to . . . prayer. . . . And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Intercessory prayer is vital.

2) Make outreach about Him, not us.

The Outreach Ministry Manual, based on the outreach section of this site, has a sub-title that says what outreach needs to be about — “Turning the Spotlight on Jesus.” We must look hard at our outreach practices. Are we showcasing Him or ourselves?