Friends with Friends with EveryoneEveryone

Friends with Friends with EveryoneEveryone

Acts 2: 41-47 (TNIV)Acts 2: 41-47 (TNIV)

““Those who accepted his message were baptised, and Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that about three thousand were added to their number that day.   day.   

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.”miraculous signs were done by the apostles.”

Acts 2: 41-47 (TNIV)Acts 2: 41-47 (TNIV)

““All the believers were together and had everything in All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Acts 2: 41-47 (TNIV)Acts 2: 41-47 (TNIV)

Boldness and authorityBoldness and authority Church activitiesChurch activities

•Teaching; fellowship; communion; prayer

Signs and wondersSigns and wonders Sharing everythingSharing everything Meeting togetherMeeting together Numerical growthNumerical growth

Super-size me!Super-size me!

McDonald’s 3 times McDonald’s 3 times a day for 30 daysa day for 30 days

Gained 13% body Gained 13% body mass index and mass index and over 2 stones in over 2 stones in weightweight

Growth in the ChurchGrowth in the Church

Pre- PentecostPre- Pentecost Acts 1: 12 Acts 1: 12 11 Disciples + women + Mary + Jesus’ brothers11 Disciples + women + Mary + Jesus’ brothers Acts 1: 15Acts 1: 15 around 120 including Matthiasaround 120 including Matthias

Pentecost Pentecost Acts 2: 41Acts 2: 41 3,000 believe and baptised3,000 believe and baptised

Post Pentecost Post Pentecost Acts 4: 4Acts 4: 4 5,000 men minimum5,000 men minimum

Churches grow…Churches grow…

Church plantsChurch plantsMarketing and promotionMarketing and promotionPeople movementPeople movement

• Relocation• Dissatisfaction/reputation

Beware of elitist Beware of elitist motivationmotivation

Growth v. GodlyGrowth v. Godly

Teaching, fellowship, Teaching, fellowship, communion, prayercommunion, prayer

Expectation of God moving in Expectation of God moving in powerpower

Preferring and servingPreferring and serving Forgiveness and receiving itForgiveness and receiving it More prayer – specificMore prayer – specific ‘‘Body ministry’Body ministry’ Helping the disenfranchisedHelping the disenfranchised Community involvementCommunity involvement

Our MissionOur Mission

Acts 2: 46Acts 2: 46

“…“…having the goodwill of all the having the goodwill of all the people”people”

Acts 4: 33Acts 4: 33

“…“…much grace was upon them all“ much grace was upon them all“ Living by God’s standardsLiving by God’s standards Distinctive – attitudes, motives, Distinctive – attitudes, motives, valuesvalues Holding fast Holding fast

Power & FavourPower & Favour

““... the one who is in you is ... the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in greater than the one who is in the world ”the world ” - 1John 4:4 (NIV)- 1John 4:4 (NIV)

““Jesus grew in wisdom and Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with God stature and in favour with God and men”and men” - Luke 2: 52 (NIV)- Luke 2: 52 (NIV)

“…“…as far as it depends on you, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” live at peace with everyone” - - Romans 12: 18 (NIV) Romans 12: 18 (NIV)

Power & FavourPower & Favour

Jeremiah 29: 7 (NIV)Jeremiah 29: 7 (NIV)““... seek the peace and prosperity of the ... seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper ”it prospers, you too will prosper ” Jeremiah 29: 7 (NCV)Jeremiah 29: 7 (NCV) “…“…do good things for the city where I do good things for the city where I sent you as captives. Pray to the Lord for sent you as captives. Pray to the Lord for the city where you are living, because if the city where you are living, because if good things happen in the city, good good things happen in the city, good things will happen to you also.” things will happen to you also.”

Our MissionOur Mission

Numerical growth is a by-Numerical growth is a by-product of a godly churchproduct of a godly church

Our ‘targets’Our ‘targets’•Those who don’t know Jesus yet

•The ‘unattached’•Family members

Prayer is vital – it’s intentionalPrayer is vital – it’s intentional

The ChallengeThe Challenge

1 new Christian per 1 new Christian per time periodtime period

After 5 = 16After 5 = 16

After 10 = 512After 10 = 512

After 15 = 16,384After 15 = 16,384

After 20 = 524,288After 20 = 524,288

After 25 = After 25 = 16,777,26616,777,266

5050

800800

25,60025,600

819,200819,200

26,214,4026,214,4000

838,860,8838,860,80000