Church growth principles in the book of acts chapter 11

The beautiful, amazing, powerful, weak, dysfunctional church a chapterbychapter bible study of the book of acts 9 4. These references are all to groups of elders plural, and again we see no reference to a. Growth religious awakenings hand of god additions progress gods hand. Principles of church growth from the book of acts scottsdale, pa. Good leadership will develop a good plan for growth and how to use new members and existing members in the work of the church. Second, in acts chapter 27 verses 21 through 26, luke described pauls. But in the book of acts there is a verse that speaks of growth, and factors a re named there that helped this. They should be applied not in order to grow a big church, but in order to reach gods dearly loved children, and.

Ludlowthe book of acts was written by luke after his gospel as the second part of a great twovolume work on jesus christ and the early christians. Pdf the depiction of church growth in acts ben wilson. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. From a small group of persecuted refugees, the church in antioch saw large numbers of people come to christ. For an example of one church growth writers use of acts, see c. He defends himself by relating at large the whole business concerning cornelius, romans. I am convinced also that you will come to believe, as i do, that there is hope for mankind, but only as we reconnect to the source of creation and our creators original concepts for life on planet earth. Eight overarching principles in the book of acts form the foundation for a church that honors christ and takes ground to make disciples in jerusalem, judea, samaria and the world. As the saints are equipped for the work of the ministry, they grow into maturity. One finds embedded in acts a record of christian defenses made to both jews e.

Peters account is close to what we read in chapter 10, with a few additions. Notes for acts chapter 11 johns title for chapter 11. Acts tells us how the christian movement came into beginning. The principle of unified prayer, or prayer with one mind and purpose, is a. Ludlowthe book of acts was written by luke after his gospel as the second.

For the rest of chapter 4 and through the first part of chapter 5, we again get an inside. We have been studying in chapter 10 four weeks in a row, that one ch. These 3000 christians, who took part in the birth of the church, continued in the apostles doctrine, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer according to acts 2. Church growth principles acts of the apostles christian church. Acts 11 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the. Up to this point, the book of acts recounts the churchs growth among jews in jerusalem and judea. Whereas the gospel of luke focuses on the life and ministry of jesus christ, the acts of the apostles builds upon what jesus did and taught see acts 1. If we echo the actions of the early church, we can expect gods blessing on our church as much as those ancient leaders saw a blessing on the church in jerusalem. Our story starts off where the gospel of luke left offjesus is back now that hes resurrected, jesus decides to hang out and chat with his disciples whom luke calls apostles for forty days. Church growth statements in the book of acts barnes bible charts 2. While there are some areas of great detail of the acts of. Second, we will look into the pattern of church growth that appears in acts.

This is about principles not techniques for healthy church growth. It shows how the early church coped with pagan and jewish thought, the roman government and hellenistic society. Church growth in the book of acts a church of christ can and will grow spiritually and numerically when it is faithful to the word of god. Employing the principles that this church followed will not necessarily result in numerical growth, since god does not always grant numerical. Principles of evangelism from the book of acts truthonlybible. This is the plan for church growth spoken of in ephesians 4. Acts begins with jesus teaching the apostles about the kingdom of god outside jerusalem, and ends, about thirty years later, with paul teaching gentile christians about the kingdom of god in rome.

Commission there will be a tremendous increase in church growth. In these two chapters, we see the obvious work of the holy spirit. This commentary on acts 11 treats peters defense of his outreach to gentiles and the emergence of. Then we read that the number of the disciples was multiplied acts 6. It completely amazes me how anyone can read the second chapter of the book of acts and firmly say that a person doesnt have to be baptized in order to be saved. The african church is dismissed as a mile wide and an inch deep which implies that other parameters other than numbers account for church growth.

Acts chapter 11 commentary northwest college of the bible. The proper meaning of this name is, a follower of christ. Whereas the old testament depicts evangelism as people coming to god, the lucan perspective demonstrates that gods servants will go to his people. It can happen today principles of church growth from the. At the end of acts 2, luke gives another picture of the church life. Up to this point, the book of acts recounts the church s growth among jews in jerusalem and judea. Mar 22, 20 welcome to ivy baptist church s bible study on demand before beginning this study, please take an opportunity to download the worksheet for this bible study. The book of acts is a story of mission, church planting and church growth and underlines that growth through the church is a significant. Peter laid all things before them so he did not take it ill to be questioned, nor desire to be treated as. To prove this point, let us take a quick look at church growth in the. The ministry of the holy spirit in the apostles and the early church the value of acts is also seen in that it provides the historical. Verses 118 are about the christianjews reacting to the news that peter converted a gentile.

But in the book of acts there is a verse that speaks of growth, and factors are named there that helped this growth occur. To record the establishment and early growth of the church. All the gentiles have to do is change there way of. In acts, we see the foundations of the church and how we should love god, love people, and push back darkness. To my knowledge, however, no church growth book with a complete focus on acts has been written. The gospel goes to gentiles, part 2 acts 11 the gentile challenge. In fact, three times luke underscores the large numbers 11. Within its pages are found the establishment of the church, the conversion of one of christianitys most ruthless. The good success of the gospel at antioch, and the parts adjacent. In acts 9, the name bearer, saul of tarsus, was chosen of god to bear the new name before gentiles, kings and children of israel. But the reason this church experienced such remarkable growth was not that the leaders employed the latest church growth principles. To my knowledge, however, no church growth book with a complete focus on acts has been.

Stay tuned for second half of this post where we will address 5 more key principles of church planting from the book of acts. Jesus teaches us in the book of john that healthy christianity is lived by the principle. So the church throughout all judea and galilee and samaria enjoyed peace, being built up. This study of the book of acts takes a look at the similarities between the early church s challenges in the face of opposition and todays trials in non church related workplaces. All the events are relayed either as peter experienced them his vision, acts 11. Dec 11, 2009 pauls church planting principles using the book of acts introduction the working of the holy spirit and the expansion of gods kingdom from jerusalem, judea, and samaria and to the ends of earth called for a radical transformation not just in apostle pauls life but to the direction of mission as a whole. Acts begins with jesus teaching the apostles about the kingdom of god outside jerusalem, and ends, about thirty years. As the saying goes, you plan the work and work the plan. The conversion of cornelius is a milestone in the church s history. There is real and needed place for organization in the church. An analysis of dissertations on church growth published. However, it doesnt settle the troubling issues of the proper. Chapter 11 god grants the gift of repentance to the gentilesthe disciples are first called christians at antiochthe church is guided by revelation.

Leaders in the church dedicate themselves to building strong, healthy christians. And he will grow his church as we apply the biblical churchgrowth principles we see in the book of acts. The church in antioch recognizes the authority of the jerusalem leadership in the case of settling controversies such as this one. Church growth could also be seen as an application of biblical, anthropological, and sociological principles to congregations, denominations and their communities in an effort to disciple the greatest. In acts 8 we read about philip, one of the seven leaders called to assist the twelve see acts 6. Church growth principles free download as text file. Peters necessary vindication of what he did in receiving cornelius and his friends into the church, from the censure he lay under for it among the brethren, and their acquiescence in it. Acts 11 commentary peters defense of his gentile mission. The book of acts tells the story of the beginning of the church of jesus christ.

To prove this point, let us take a quick look at church growth in the book of acts, with a special view to the church in jerusalem. Our study takes us this morning to the 11th chapter of acts. After the judgment of ananias and sapphira in chapter 5 verses 11 through. Many believed the word of the gospel, repented, baptized, and added to the church 2. Verses 1215 who returned to jerusalem to waitand what did they do while they waited. After reading this book, you will be equipped with the knowledge to answer some of the questions listed above.

Most researchers have still accepted unintentionally these common church growth. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of. Acts 11 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Peter recounts the story of the great sheet vision and how cornelius saw an angel. If we were to employ these same factors, we too, can have church growth. So, when you see god bless your church with growth, dont be surprised to experience resistance, sometimes even from within. As the saints are equipped for the work of the ministry, they grow into maturity, and do their ministry, and it causes growth of the body. Blauws thesis is that a centripetal missionary consciousness becomes in acts a centrifugal missionary activity. Acts is the story of the first easter season, the weeks and months that followed the resurrection, as well as the first 30 years of the church.

Philips only requirement was that the man believe the message philip proclaimed to him. Study guide for acts 11 by david guzik blue letter bible. The book of acts is the first history of the christian church. In fact, we often find different applications of the same principle even in the book of acts itself. Acts 11, new international version niv the bible app. Oct 15, 20 when you look at the book of acts, you find at least eight characteristics of the early church that positioned them for this kind of blessing from god. It was indispensably necessary that a foundation should be laid. This article presents the concept of church growth alongside evangelism mainly in the book of acts. The first seven chapters deal with the spread of the gospel in.

During this time, the jews were regarded as a favored people and. It traces christianity from its beginnings in jerusalem, following jesus resurrection, to the arrest of the apostle paul in rome, the heart of the. The book of acts was penned by the apostle paul and teaches many concepts. Principles of church growth from the book of acts bontrager, edwin on. Philips only requirement was that the man believe the message. Peter returns to jerusalem, and is accused of having associated with the gentiles, romans 8. Acts chapter 11 starts with peter going back to jerusalem after he preached the gospel to a gentile centurion named cornelius. For instance, he wrote of external growth through peters successful ministries in lydda, sharon and joppa in acts chapter 9, the conversion of cornelius and many other gentiles in acts chapter 10, and the successful evangelistic ministry of barnabas and others in antioch in acts chapter 11. Acts thus affords the preeminent picture of church growth in the nt, and so it is. Acts has been called a transitional book because it serves as a bridge between the gospels and the epistles. The five most important church growth principles these outreach principles work. The five most important church growth principles by gary.