Grow Gospel Strong

Acts 16:4-5 As Paul, Silas and Timothy traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
 
MANY methods and ideas for church growth have been discussed and tried. It is a significant challenge to call people to live within a particular moral code. Our human nature wants to retort, “Don’t tell me how to live. I’ll do what I please.” What is a church to do to form and grow?
   The Bible is very sure about the pathway to a strong church: our purpose is to tell whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
   The church should not ask the world, “What do you want?” Our task – and joy – is to proclaim, “This is the truth the world must know.” God has given the church to command to confront the opposition with God’s inerrant truth. To believe in God is to believe the Spirit will use God’s Word to turn many self-centered hearts to center on Christ.
   That’s what happened in Lystra and the other towns where Paul, Silas and Timothy ministered. They faithfully delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. Remember, those decisions were to tell the people to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. (Acts 15:20). Essential to receiving the truth, “Jesus saves.” in our heart is to faithfully live the truth the Savior teaches.
   Truth strengthens us when we reject the self pleasures God forbids. Strong Christians unite to create a strong church. A strong church will grow when it welcomes the Spirit’s nourishing power.
   In Acts 2, 6, 9, 12 we learn of strong churches growing quickly. The Spirit blessed the obedient. This is God’s way. Your Father in heaven wants you to strengthen you with his blessings as you obey his commands. Acts 3:26 “When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”  It’s very simple. Receive God’s love and love Jesus. Strong, growing Christians form a strong church. This is God’s church growth plan.
 
Note: This closes the time of Paul’s and his mission team’s ministry in Asia Minor. God is about to reveal his plan to expand his church Europe.