8th Jun 26 | 14:45
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Church growth
📖 Acts 16:04-05
Acts 16 - Series 01/Episode 12 - Thu, 05th June 2026 - Church growth - Acts 16:01-05 - THE INDUCTION OF TIMOTHY - Acts 02:47
Acts 16:4-5 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. (5) So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
The churches were growing in their faith in God through obedience to the word of God, which was preached and taught to them. As this was happening, the church's membership continued to grow daily.
When the message of God, in the enablement of the Holy Spirit, was preached, there was conviction and repentance. Acts 2:37-38 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (38) Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Those who repented received Jesus into their lives, which was followed by baptism. Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
Those who were baptised grew in the word and in the fellowship of God's people. Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
There was oneness in the fellowship of God's people. They had a profound impact and influence on the people around them. The Lord was adding people to the church every day, those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, (47) praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Peter preached from the portico of Solomon's temple. Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, As he preached, the leaders were greatly disturbed. Acts 4:1-3 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, (2) being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. (3) And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.
Even though Peter and John were arrested and put in custody, people believed in the Gospel. Acts 4:4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
Signs and wonders were happening through the hands of the apostles. Multitudes of people were being added to the church. Acts 5:12-16 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. (13) Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. (14) And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, (15) so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. (16) Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Is it not the work of God to see multitudes joining the church? Yes, it is! Are we seeing ourselves in this manner today? We seem content to run church as a standard practice. The church does not exist to remain satisfied with its activities and programmes. The church exists to bring multitudes of people into the church.
A crisis in the church resulted in a great growth in the number of disciples added to the church. Is this how we are witnessing the turnaround of crises in our churches today?
Acts 6:1-7 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. (2) Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. (3) Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; (4) but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." (5) And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, (6) whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. (7) Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
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