"GETTING READY TO GROW"

INTRODUCTION
  1. Not all churches are prepared to grow in number and in spirit...
    1. Consider the church at Laodicea - Re 3:15-19
    2. Even if a successful evangelist had come and converted many, how many would have remained faithful in a spiritual environment such as that?
  2. For churches to grow, they must look beyond their evangelistic efforts...
    1. For the mortality rate of new converts is often high
    2. Unless a congregation is prepared to assimilate and nurture new converts, any success in evangelism may be short-lived
  3. To have real, enduring growth, we must get ready to grow!
    1. Preparing ourselves as a congregation
    2. Preparing ourselves as individuals members of a congregation

[What is necessary in "Getting Ready To Grow"? First, allow me to suggest...]

  1. WHAT WE MUST DO AS A CONGREGATION
    1. OFFER ASSEMBLIES THAT EDIFY...
      1. The first exposure many have to the gospel is by visiting a local congregation
        1. What do they see and hear? Do they see love? - cf. Jn 13:34-35
        2. Does it draw them closer to God? - cf. 1Co 14:25b
        3. Do our visitors experience courtesy, warmth, and interest in spiritual matters?
        -- Not all churches provide the right environment conducive for worship and spiritual growth - e.g., 1Co 11:17; 14:26b
      2. New converts often depend heavily upon the spiritual nourishment provided by the assemblies, and rightly so - cf. He 10:24-25
        1. Excited by their new-found faith, anxious to grow quickly, they attend all the services of the church
        2. What do they find? Half-hearted services? Sparsely attended by older members?
      3. If we are serious about growing...
        1. Those who lead us in our assemblies will take their tasks seriously
          1. Coming prepared to serve their role
          2. Doing so gladly and with enthusiasm
        2. Every member will do what they can to make our assemblies edifying to all
          1. Arriving early to welcome and visit with visitors, other members
          2. Participating whole-heartedly in the singing, prayers, etc.
          3. Staying around and visiting afterward
    2. ASSIMILATE AND NURTURE NEW MEMBERS...
      1. As valuable as our assemblies may be, they are not always adequate by themselves
        1. New members may remain "on the fringe"
          1. Left out of the "family life" of the congregation (activities that members do together)
          2. Remain "on the fringe" for long, and they may begin looking elsewhere
        2. Babes in Christ often require special attention and nurturing
          1. New converts often bring with them many personal problems
          2. They need the concern and care of interested, mature Christians - Ro 15:1-3
          3. Otherwise they may soon "wither away"

          [What does it take for a congregation provide such things? It begins with what we are willing to do individually, for a congregation is no stronger or ready to grow than its members are willing to be. Let me therefore suggest...]

  2. WHAT WE MUST DO AS INDIVIDUALS
    1. STRENGTHEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD...
      1. Why is this so important?
        1. Others must see in us the blessings of walking with God - not simply the pride of knowing about the Lord!
        2. We cannot share what we do not have!
      2. No matter how strong our relationship with God, we can always improve
        1. Paul recognized this in his own life - Php 3:12-15
        2. Peter wrote that our spiritual growth must always be increasing - 2Pe 1:5-8
      3. Therefore we must continue to add to our faith virtue, to virtue knowledge...
        1. Much of this is accomplished through personal and daily devotions - Ps 1:1-3
        2. But personal efforts must be accompanied by frequent assembling - He 10:24-25
    2. STRENGTHEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER...
      1. Why is this important?
        1. Our love and unity is a powerful witness for Christ - Jn 13:34-35; 17:20-21
        2. A strong network of Christians is essential to assimilate and nurture new Christians
      2. No matter how strong our relationship with one another, we can always improve
        1. As Paul exhorted the Thessalonians - 1Th 4:9-10
        2. As Peter wrote to Christians in general - 1Pe 1:22
      3. Therefore we must seek out opportunities to strengthen our bond in Christ...
        1. Regular attendance is certainly a great help - He 10:24-25
        2. And so is simple hospitality (both offered, and accepted) - 1Pe 4:8-9
    3. DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE LOST...
      1. Why is this important?
        1. Light must shine in darkness to be of much value - Mt 5:14-16
        2. If people are sick, those with the cure must be willing to be among them - cf. Mt 9:10-13
        3. The right example can prepare people to receive the Word - cf. 1Pe 3:1-2
        4. Relationships with the lost can serve as the basis for continued relationships with them after they are saved
      2. Developing relationships with the lost is an on-going process
        1. If an effort to share the gospel is not well-received, we may need to move on - Mt 7:6
        2. Just as Jesus could not stay in one place, we cannot limit our outreach to just a few friends, relatives, and neighbors - cf. Lk 4:42-44
      3. Therefore we must always be on the lookout for new relationships with the lost...
        1. Simple hospitality will go a long way (both offered and accepted) - cf. Mt 9:9-13
          1. Matthew extended hospitality to his friends soon after Jesus called him
          2. Jesus accepted the opportunity to eat and be with the lost
        2. Inviting the lost to our assemblies can be very profitable
          1. Giving them an opportunity to meet other Christians
          2. With whom they may also develop relationships
CONCLUSION
  1. To be useful to the Master, an individual must prepare himself - 2Ti 2:21-22
  2. The same is true regarding churches...
    1. A congregation that has prepared itself will be used by the Lord
    2. Just as the Lord was willing to provide an open door for the church in Philadelphia - Re 3:8
  3. As we have seen, we must prepare ourselves both as a congregation, and as individuals...
    1. But the onus rests mostly upon us as individuals
    2. For a chain is no stronger than its weakest link
    3. If we as individuals fail to do our part, any effort by the congregation as a whole is greatly weakened, if not mortally wounded!

Do we really want to grow? As with the physical body, the only alternative to growth is gradual decay and death.

Shall we be like the church at Laodicea, or the church at Philadelphia? The answer may very well be found on whether we are "Getting Ready To Grow"!

Note: The main idea and several thoughts from this lesson were taken from a lesson by Gary Henry. The URL for his web site containing many excellent articles and sermon outlines is: http://www.wordpoints.com