Church growth principles in the book of acts timeline

This is especially necessary when reading the book of acts because it portrays the early church rather than the old testament people of god. 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. This article presents the concept of church growth alongside evangelism mainly in the book of acts. 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. It shows how the early church coped with pagan and jewish thought, the roman government and hellenistic society. 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. Amershamon the hill, eng scripture press, 1987, c1986 bv3790. To help students state a principle taught in acts 9. Well also attempt to date the nt books, the deaths of the 12 apostles the disciples. At a certain point, the timeline would get cluttered.

I read a pile of books and attended most of the big churchgrowth. Church growth its no surprise that american evangelical congregations are concerned about size. Well set our scope on the period between jesus ascension and john the apostles death. Barnabas and paul were trained by the jerusalem church apostolic team acts 4. Whereas the old testament depicts evangelism as people coming to god, the lucan perspective demonstrates that gods servants will go to his people. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. First, we will explore the prominent pattern of repeated summary statements. Church growth principles acts of the apostles christian church. Its narrative supplies a bridge connecting the life and ministry of jesus to the life of the church and the witness of the earliest believers. Principles of church growth from the book of acts bontrager, edwin on.

Schwartzs book natural church development and its application to the new testament ministry system being studied from acts chapter 2 in this seminar. The book of acts displays many structural patterns, but for the sake of time we will focus on two facets of the structure of acts. Within the acts of the apostoloi there are theoretical and practical exemplars which the contemporary church may pattern to navigate a pathway to fruitful evangelism and sustainable growth. Lets begin with the way luke used summary statements. Persecution arose at jerusalem, and the disciples had to leave. One finds embedded in acts a record of christian defenses made to both jews e. As with his previous books, elmer towns wrote praying the book of acts in poetic style, combining modernday language with a lyrical twist. The exemplars discussed here, though not exhaustive, may.

Paul and the early church were not at odds with the laws of the old testament. In the spring, paul writes to the roman church from corinth and sends the letter of romans with a delegation of people led by phoebe to rome. Five reasons the early church grew acts 4 forthright. Second, we will look into the pattern of church growth that appears in acts. If we were to employ these same factors, we too, can have church growth. 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.

The church growth movement started with a passion for the great commission, and seeing people come to christ. Donald mcgavran, a seminal figure in this movement asserted that it is gods will that women and men become disciples of jesus christ. Timeline of the book of acts dates reference events books written historical events roman emperors c. For an example of one church growth writers use of acts, see c. The growth of early church mirrored the growth of modern organizations in many ways. It can happen today principles of church growth from the. Jan 12, 2012 this is especially necessary when reading the book of acts because it portrays the early church rather than the old testament people of god. While there are some areas of great detail of the acts of the apostles, many times you must use cross references to the gospels of matthew, mark, luke and john as well as some other epistles in the new testament to get the full picture of what was. When the church prays the priority of praying together. The expansion of the church reformed bible studies. A basic overview of the structure for the book of acts. Philips only requirement was that the man believe the message philip proclaimed to him. Applying church growth principles for effective ministry in the seventhday adventist church. Stay tuned for second half of this post where we will address 5 more key principles of church planting from the book of acts.

The church growth movement is a movement within evangelical christianity which aims to grow churches based on research, sociology, analysis, etc. Through the book of acts, youll notice that both apostles perform miracles through the power of the spirit, see visions, suffer, preach powerfully, and were imprisoned and later miraculously set free. Amershamonthehill, eng scripture press, 1987, c1986 bv3790. The vine and the branches more biblical principles on living the christian live christ in the psalms series of messages on messianic psalms series on the exchanged life in romans index of current messages by wil pounds links to christian resources home. Independent groups such as san franciscos creating a sober world organization were also instrumental in bringing a. There is real and needed place for organization in the church. As people went forth to preach christ, converts were won throughout the roman empire. Mcgavran was a thirdgeneration christian missionary to india, where his observations of how churches grow the title of another of his books went beyond typical theological discussion to discern sociological factors that affected receptivity to the christian gospel among nonchristian. Church planters were nurtured first under apostolic church leadership.

Bible study overview of the book of acts an overview of the. As the saying goes, you plan the work and work the plan. The book begins with the ascension of jesus into heaven acts 1. Our remarks for this article will come from acts 4.

Up to this point, the book of acts recounts the churchs growth among jews in jerusalem and judea. Acts shows what the early church believed and practiced. 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. As the gospel was scattered abroad where these disciples went, the church flo urished 3. As such, it provides us with a valuable account of how the church was able to grow and spread out from jerusalem into the rest of the roman empire. To my knowledge, however, no church growth book with a complete focus on acts has been written. If you look at acts, youll notice that the first section covers peter acts 112 and the second section covers paul acts 28. For example, the apostle john was considered a pillar in the early church, but his activity in acts is always tied to peter. Acts is the only biblical book that chronicles the history of the church immediately after jesuss ascension. The purpose of this timeline is to give a detailed account of christianity from the beginning of. It would appear that the apostle luke was trying to point to what is to come later in the book of the acts of the apostles. Frank stagg has described the book of acts as the story of an unhindered gospel. The book of acts tells us on that day the god of heaven launched the church of christ.

Its initial chapters describe the churchs founding and early years. The church growth movement began with the publication of donald mcgavrans book the bridges of god. Church growth statements in the book of acts barnes bible charts 2. They had not ventured out as jesus had commanded in acts 1. The inclination is going to be much stronger to pattern ourselves after what we see in acts. Pdf evangelism and church growth in the book of acts. In only three decades, a small group of frightened believers in jerusalem transformed. So, when you see god bless your church with growth, dont be surprised to experience resistance, sometimes even from within.

But in the book of acts there is a verse that speaks of growth, and factors are named there that helped this growth occur. 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. Peter and the original apostles were trained for more than three years under the chief apostle, our lord jesus. Help students state a principle taught in acts 2 by asking. The antioch church is founded, it was there that the term christian was first. The book of acts provides a detailed, orderly, eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel immediately after the resurrection of jesus christ.

As with his previous books, elmer towns wrote praying the book of acts in poetic style, combining modernday language with a. But not the kind of growth that would simply satisfy our craving for more members, but the kind of growth that is the result of saving souls. In the first few chapters of acts we are told how the early church centered her ministries in the city of jerusalem. They had not ventured out as jesus had commanded in. A look at the book introductions, outlines and charts on each book of the bible. Acts 812 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Council of jerusalem and the apostolic decree, acts 15. And he will grow his church as we apply the biblical churchgrowth principles we see in the book of acts. Acts 89 highlights the labors of the apostles in judea and samaria. The record from the book of acts couldnt be clearer. Approximate chronology of the acts regarding the chronology of acts, henry halley writes in his book, halleys bible handbook, there are not enough data given to form an exact chronology, but sufficient to approximate most of the dates.

The book of acts is a key historical record of what the early church believed and practiced. Bible study overview of the book of acts an overview of the book of acts a timeline. A socialrhetorical texture analysis of the book of acts reveals three themes or stages in the early church. 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. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. The 120 were gathered in an upper room praying in one accord when pentecost comes acts 1. Acts 12 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Good leadership will develop a good plan for growth and how to use new members and existing members in the work of the church.

Todays passage from the book of acts describes the expansion of the firstcentury church, but the steady growth it portrays applies also to what happened in the second century and beyond. Independent groups such as san franciscos creating a sober world. Lets start by examining lukes stated purpose for writing the book of acts. These themes are also experienced as growing pains in modern organizations. Now that we have scriptural leadership in this congregation it is appropriate to begin talking about growth. The apostle paul as a model for church growth and evangelism.

Professor of new testament studies acadia divinity college, wolfville, nova scotia. The book of acts records the mighty works of god for and through his church in its early years, and clearly connects them to unified, corporate prayer. While the historicity of the gospel accounts is questioned to some extent by. Persecution arose at jerusalem, and the disciples had to leave for safety. T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a.