A Growing Church 2

A Growing Church 2

By Apostle Felix

21  From then on Jesus began to clearly reveal to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer injustice from the elders, leading priests, and religious scholars. He also explained that he would be killed and three days later be raised to life again. 

22  Peter took him aside to correct him privately. He reprimanded Jesus over and over, saying to him, “God forbid, Master! Spare yourself. You must never let this happen to you!” 

23  Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get out of my way, you Satan! You are an offense to me, because your thoughts are only filled with man’s viewpoints and not with the ways of God.” 

Matthew 16: 21 – 23

The building of the church depended solely on Jesus’ death

Jesus’ disciples were following Jesus all for political reasons. So, when they heard Jesus talk about building His church upon His revelation, their political hopes were stimulated. They thought Jesus was referring to overthrowing the Roman government and establishing His government and appointing them as part of the earthly government. They were greatly disappointed when Jesus started talking about death. The Jews were anticipating a Messiah who would emancipate them from the foreign domination. Peter pulled Jesus and rebuked Him for suggesting His own death. Even after His resurrection, the disciples’ political hopes were revived, and they hoped that Christ would go ahead to free Israel from the Roman domination. But Jesus did not come to establish such kind of a church. He came to establish an Ekklesia that is an embassy of the kingdom of God on earth. Not a political movement with an earthly agenda.

6  Every time they were gathered together, they asked Jesus, “Lord, is it the time now for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
7  He answered, “The Father is the one who sets the fixed dates and the times of their fulfillment. You are not permitted to know the timing of all that he has prepared by his own authority.
8  But I promise you this—the Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will be filled with power. And you will be my messengers to Jerusalem, throughout Judea, the distant provinces—even to the remotest places on earth!” 

Acts 1: 6 – 8

The church has been founded on this truth…

The kingdom of God is founded on the message of Christ that He died, buried and rose from the dead. There is no other message that is greater than that. A church that grows and lasts the test of time is one that is founded on that truth. Jesus gave a parable of two men who had built their houses on two different foundations. One build his house on the sand and the other on the rock. Both men used almost the same material to build their houses but only the foundations were different. Both houses looked the same. They were both beautiful to behold. But when the storm, the house that was built on the sand collapsed and great was its fall. But he house that was built on the Rock remained standing. When we address the subject of a growing church, its not just in terms of numbers but also in terms of the gospel preached in the church.

1  Dear friends, let me give you clearly the heart of the gospel that I’ve preached to you—the good news that you have heartily received and on which you stand. 

2  For it is through the revelation of the gospel that you are being saved, if you fasten your life firmly to the message I’ve taught you, unless you have believed in vain. 

3  For I have shared with you what I have received and what is of utmost importance: The Messiah died for our sins, fulfilling the prophecies of the Scriptures. 

1 Corinthians 15: 1 – 3

12  The message we preach is Christ, who has been raised from the dead. So how could any of you possibly say there is no resurrection of the dead? 

13  For if there is no such thing as a resurrection from the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 

14  And if Christ has not been raised, all of our preaching has been for nothing and your faith is useless.

1 Corinthians 15: 12 – 14

One foremost characteristic of a healthy Church is one founded on the revelation of Christ.

How does it look like:

1. First and foremost, its mission and purpose is Christ-centred. It is Christocentric in its mission and purpose. The mission and purpose of the church is to make Christ known to the world, through the preaching of the gospel.
2. The church that understands that every believers’ mission and purpose is to win souls. Every believer’s purpose on earth is to win souls. So then, a career is not your purpose, but an assignment with your purpose as a means to an end. Do not turn your assignment into your purpose.
3. Christ Jesus is the pillar and foundation of the church. The doctrine of the church is Christ, and its emphasis is the finished work of Christ. The preaching is one that removes veils from people’s faces.