2. INTRODUCTION What type of church growth pleases God?
Numerical growth: Acts 6:7
Spiritual growth: Rev. 2 & 3; 2 Pet. 3:17-18
My fervent desire is for Westside to grow in both ways!
My desire is based on God’s desire: 1 Tim. 2:3-4
Souls are precious! Matt. 16:26
Judgment is coming! 2 Thess. 1:7-9
Alone I cannot make Westside grow; it requires a mutual effort by all of us.

3. Let’s Make Westside Grow!
Let’s Make Westside Grow!
1 Corinthians 3:5-11

4. Emphasize faithfulness to Christ, not numerical results
We are to be faithful seed sowers and let God give the increase: 1 Cor. 3:6-9
Spiritual strength is not measured by numbers or quotas: 1 Cor. 3:6-9; 1 Chron. 21:1-4, 7, 14; Judges 7
Watering down medicine makes it more palatable, but renders it ineffective to cure the disease: Acts 2:37 (v. 23); Jn. 16:8; Mk. 9:42-48; Matt. 5:3-4; 7:13-14
Let's Make Westside Grow!

5. Emphasize the power of the gospel to save
Entertainment, food, fun and frolic attracts great numbers, but those so attracted are attracted by the carnal not the spiritual: Rom. 1:16; 10:17
Such “growth” is a “false growth”; when hard teaching comes they will be nowhere to be seen: Matt. 19:9; Lk. 8:13-14
Whatever is used as an “attractant” must be continued or “converts” will not stay: Jn. 6:26-27, 66; Acts 3:1-8, 11; 2 Thess. 2:13-14
Teaching the pure gospel must always be our first priority: Rom. 10:17; Lk. 8:11-15; 2 Tim. 4:1-4
We must not measure success in human terms (i.e., numbers): 1 Cor. 3:6-9; Isa. 55:11
Let's Make Westside Grow!

6. Let's Make Westside Grow!
Each member takes responsibility and commitment to help the church grow
Every member has something to contribute to the work at Westside: Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Cor. 12:12-29
Viewing yourself as an object to be served by the congregation is WRONG! Mk. 9:35
God uses ordinary people to achieve extraordinary things! 1 Cor. 1:26-31
We need a keen sense of our great need for one another! Gal. 6:2; Neh. 4:6
Let's Make Westside Grow!

7. Work for the Lord, not for self
Our work here is not about me, not about you, not about anyone except God!
Just pitch in! Who cares where the credit goes?! Jas. 3:16-18
We are one and we glorify God as one: Rom. 15:5-6
No matter how much we might do, it is still God working through us: 1 Cor. 4:7
Let's Make Westside Grow!

8. Prepare yourself to help the church grow
Prepare yourself to teach others: Col. 4:5-6; 1 Pet. 3:15; 2 Tim. 2:15
Current adult Bible classed designed to better prepare us for this work.
The principle of “multiplication”: 2 Tim. 2:2
Rely on experienced teachers: Acts 18:26
Let's Make Westside Grow!

9. Cultivate a deep love for the souls of others
We have a great responsibility to our neighbor: Mk. 12:28-31
Remember the “watchman” principle: Ezek. 33:7-9
Let us take ownership of the Great Commis-sion: Mk. 16:15-16; 1 Cor. 3:6-9; 1 Cor. 1:26
Let all of us seek prospects for the gospel; let us use our “sphere of influence.”
Let's Make Westside Grow!

10. Let's Make Westside Grow!
Prayer
May be the most important thing for all of us to do! Jas. 5:16-18
Let each of us pray:
That “doors of opportunity” might be opened for us: Acts 14:27
That we all might be diligent and courageous enough to share the gospel with others.
That God might guide us in finding those with “noble and good hearts” who would believe and obey the gospel: Lk. 8:15; Acts 17:27
Let's Make Westside Grow!

11. Each member sets a good example
We are the “salt of the earth” and a “light of the world”: Matt. 5:12-16
Any of us can singlehandedly destroy the good influence of this church with just a moment of ungodly behavior or indifference.
Let's Make Westside Grow!

12. Let's Make Westside Grow!
CONCLUSION
We can grow if we all pitch in and do the work: Eph. 4:16
God gives the increase, not man (1 Cor. 3:6-7), but we have to sow the seed (1 Cor. 3:9).
Numerical growth is carnal without spiritual growth.
Let’s work in such a way that what was said of the church in Thessalonica can be said of Westside: 1 Thess. 1:7-8
Let's Make Westside Grow!