Biblical Church Growth
Chad Johnson
April 15, 2011

But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen. II Peter 3:18 KJV

We live in a day of tremendous pressure to have the largest number of people our church membership.

I am not saying that we should not desire to have our church houses full. The great commission of our Lord Jesus Christ tells us to go unto all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature and God will bless that.

I am afraid that we have sacrificed Biblical church growth for “church growth.” The average church has toned down its message to satisfy a worldly church membership. The church is constantly bombarded with church growth programs on how to grow a church.

The tragedy is that these programs have very little to do with the Word of God.

Preaching has been pushed to the side and the crowds are growing, but the church is dying.

Many churches have left the preaching of God’s word, especially on Wednesday nights. They have some worldly entertainment for the youth. They throw a little Jesus into it and call it church growth.

Many older folks I talk to have quit going on these nights because there is nothing for them.

The Bible tells that God chose the foolishness of preaching to save those that believe. This generation of preachers are very foolish to think that they can change God’s plan for church growth.

Our text verse tells us to first grow in grace. The previous two verses are warnings about those who twist the scriptures to their own destruction.

We are also told in verse 17 to beware that we not be led away and entangled in this twisting of scriptures. To prevent this, we must grow in grace. We are told at the beginning of the epistle to add one grace to another.

Grace is unmerited favor that God has bestowed on his people. We must grow in that and learn about what that grace really means in our life. We should consider all the grace that God has shown sinful man.

When we look at our sin, oh what a stain. What can wash it away? The blood of Christ can cleanse every stain.

We are also told to grow in knowledge of our Lord. We should labor to know Him and the power of His resurrection. You will never grow in knowledge unless you study the word.

True church growth is to grow in the knowledge of the scripture. It is very possible that your attendance can decrease and your church be growing than it ever has.

This kind of growth will bring glory to the name of Jesus Christ both now and forever.

I ask all pastors who read this, are you trying to grow a crowd or trying to grow a church? God is not worried about what size, but what sort of church we have. Amen!