1. Theological Foundation of Church Growth
Entering Jesus’ Mission

2. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Jesus & the Great Commission
Five Occurances
Mt. 28:18-20
Mk. 16:15-16
Lk. 24:46-49
Jn. 20:21-23
Acts 1:8
Sending Motif of John

3. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Important concepts from Great Commission
Command to go
Sent as Jesus was sent
Every ethnic group important
Make disciples
Teach all Jesus commanded
God is with those who go
Mission to continue till Christ returns

4. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Limited commission as an example
Mt. 10:5-15; Mk. 6:7-13; Lk. 9:1-6
Target group
Stay with receptive
Don’t force the non-receptive
Rely on the people
Harvest principle
Pray for workers
Preach the gospel
Preach repentance

5. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Seven principles from Jesus’ mission
Search – Have a desire for the lost
Harvest – Have a deep will to make disciples
Fruit – Work for the spread of God’s kingdom
Quantitative – Seeking numerical growth
Qualitative – Deepening spiritual growth
Kingdom – Value of God’s rule
Judgment – Preparing for eternity

6. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Principle one – Searching
Mt. 18:10-14, not wishing any to parish
Lk. 12:6-8, desires all to confess Jesus
Lk. 15, searching parables

7. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Principle two – Harvest
Jn. 4:35, white unto harvest
Mt. 9:37-38, harvest in plentiful
Mk. 4:26-29, parable of growing grain

8. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Principle three – Fruit
Mt. 7:15-23
Mt. 13:1-9, 18-23, parable of the sower
Mt. 21:33-46, parable of the wicked tenants
Mt. 25:14-30, parable of the talents
Lk. 13:6-9, bearing fruit is the purpose of the fruit tree
Jn. 15:1-11, Christ the true vine

9. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Reasons for Bearing Fruit
We are told by Christ to bear fruit (Jn. 15:16)
Being fruitful glorifies God (Jn. 15:8)
Being fruitful is pleasing to God (Col. 1:10)
Jesus is not please with unfruitfulness (Mt. 21:19)

10. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Principle four – Quantitative
Mk. 1:17; Lk. 5:8-10 fishers of men
Mt. 13:47-52 Parable of the Dragnet
Mt. 13:31-32; Mk. 4:30-32 Parable of Mustard Seed
Mt. 13:33-35 Parable of Leaven
Incorrect use – 1 Chron. 21:1
Correct use – Nu. 1:17-19; 26:1-4

11. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Reasons for Counting for God’s Purpose
To know if someone is lost
To acknowledge God’s blessing of growth
Check fruit bearing
To know what resources God has given us to accomplish His mission
Wrong reasons to count
For our own pride
For the sake of numbers only

12. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Principle four – Qualitative
Mt. 5:4-11 Beatitudes
Mt. 7:24-27 Two foundations
Mt. 28:20 Teaching them to observe all commanded
Mt. 19:7-10 Hand causes you to stumble
Mt. 19:15-17 Going to a brother
Lk. 7:41-43 Parable of the Two Debtors
Lk. 10:30-37 Parable of Good Samaritan
Lk. 14:7-11 Parable of the Lowest Seat
Lk. 18:1-8 Parable of the Persistent Widow

13. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Principle five – Kingdom
Mt. 13:44 Parable of the Hidden Treasures
Mt. 13:45-46 Parable of Pearl of Great Price
Mt. 21:28-32 Parable of the Two Sons
Mt. 6:10 Thy kingdom come, will be done

14. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Principle six – Judgment
Mt. 7:21-23 Those who do the Father’s will
Mt. 20:1-16 Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
Lk. 19:11-27 Parable of the Ten Minas
Mt. 22:1-14 Parable of the Wedding Banquet

15. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Pattern of Church Growth in Acts
People sent out
Guided by Holy Spirit
Message proclaimed
People hear
People respond
Believers form into a church
Community appeal
Worship, service, fellowship, edification, ministry, evangelism

16. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Areas of Church Growth – Acts 2:41-47
Growing in knowledge: continued steadfastly in the apostles teachings
Growing together: fellowship and the breaking of bread
Growing in service: had all things in common
Impacting the community: finding favor with all people
Growing numerically: Lord added to the church daily

17. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Acts Missionary Journeys
Sent out to make disciples (Antioch)
Breaking new ground (unreached)
Proclaiming the gospel (Christ centered)
Planted churches (Community emphasis)
Nurturing churches (Christian living teaching)
Leadership instillation (Responsibility for church)
Leadership development (Maturation process)
Churches sent out workers (Mother churches)

18. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Paul’s Missionary Letters
Paul was contextually sensitive
Paul planted church that fit the community
Paul followed up on planted churches
Paul provided theological teaching
Paul provided practical Christian living teaching
Paul kept contact with church leadership
Paul encourage local leadership
Paul trained leaders
Paul continued to have contact with churches
Paul continued his own mission work (Spain?)

19. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Paul & Church Growth
Need for preaching the gospel
Power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:14-16)
Need for people to believe (Rom. 10:8-15)
The message preached to save (1 Cor. 1:21-25)
Ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-21)
Word of reconciliation
Ambassadors for Christ
Begging people to be reconciled

20. Entering into Jesus’ Mission
Paul & Church Growth
Growth from God (1 Cor. 3:5-11)
Paul planted
Apollos watered
God gave the growth
God’s fellow servants in ministry
Christians are God’s field and building
Jesus is the foundation of the building (v. 11)