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Church Growth (1) Introduction to Church Growth Mike Johnson What can we do to make our congregation grow? Church members often ask this question. It is essential for a church to grow. First, to even continue to exist, it must grow. A church that is not increasing over a period of time is dying. Second, […]
CHURCH GROWTH (02) Concepts of Growth Mike Johnson There are two ways a church can grow. Generally, when people speak of the growth of a church, they are talking about numerical growth. The reason for this is that we can easily observe the numerical increase, and we tend to look at this type of growth […]
CHURCH GROWTH (3) Improper Methods of Growth Mike Johnson For some congregations, numerical growth is the most crucial issue. They will do almost anything to obtain new members or retain those they already have. They take great pride in the size of their congregation, showing little concern about whether their growth methods are pleasing to […]
CHURCH GROWTH (4) Factors in Church Growth (1) Location of the Building Mike Johnson When a church does not grow, or even declines in membership, people may ask why this occurs. Why do some churches grow while others drop in numbers? Several factors can come into play. One factor can be the location of the building. […]
CHURCH GROWTH 05 Factors in Church Growth (2) “The Times We Are Living In” Mike Johnson There are many factors, which can affect church growth. Sometimes, we explain the lack of growth in a congregation by the “times we are living in.” The moral and religious climate of today can have a negative bearing on […]
CHURCH GROWTH (6) Factors in Church Growth (3) Christians Who Move into the Area Mike Johnson A church may grow for various reasons. Some churches grow because they are located in a city or in an area where many people are moving. Some of these people may be members of the Lord’s church, so the […]
CHURCH GROWTH (7) Factors in Church Growth (4) Young People Mike Johnson There are many congregations today, which have very few young people. When a group starts to dwindle, it is often left with very few children. Some young people grow up, get married, and move to another area. Others remain in the area but […]
CHURCH GROWTH (8) Why Churches Die (1) Lack of Proper Teaching Mike Johnson There are many external factors, which can contribute to a congregation’s demise. Such factors as the location of a building, the “wicked times in which we are living,” an inability to attract Christians who move into the area, and a lack of […]
CHURCH GROWTH (9) Why Churches Die (2) Not Having Needed Leadership Mike Johnson There are many external factors, which can contribute to a congregation’s demise. Such factors as the location of the building, the wicked times in which we are living, an inability to attract Christians who move into the area, and a lack of […]
CHURCH GROWTH (10) Why Churches Die (3) A Failure to Evangelize Mike Johnson There are many external factors, which can contribute to a congregation’s demise. Such factors as the location of the building, wicked times in which we are living, an inability to attract Christians who move into the area, and a lack of young […]
CHURCH GROWTH (11) Why Churches Die (4) Lukewarmness/Unfaithfulness Mike Johnson There are many negative factors, which may exist in a congregation, which pertain to the spirituality of its members. Over time, these factors will cause the congregation to die. For example, a group may die because it does not receive sound preaching and teaching. It […]
THEY WERE SIMPLY CHRISTIANS Mike Johnson If someone asked me what I am religiously, I would say, “I am a Christian.” The person might look at me in a puzzled way and ask, “But what kind of Christian are you?” Many religious groups today wear names to refer to themselves other than a name, which […]
THE CHRISTIAN AND TITHING Mike Johnson Should Christians tithe today? This question is important. Many people today speak about tithing, which involves giving one-tenth to God. But, is this practice applicable for Christians today? Tithing was a part of the Law of Moses, and there are stringent regulations concerning it found in such passages as […]
THESE NAMES Mike Johnson A few years ago, while traveling, I took particular note of signs in front of church buildings. After a period of time, I started making a list of the various names which groups called themselves. At the end of the trip, my list was quite long and also interesting. […]
THE KINGDOM AND COLOSSIANS 1:13 Mike Johnson “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love….” (Col. 1:13) The above passage reveals what God did for the Colossian Christians and those who are Christians today and contains some essential information about God’s people. […]
FOLLOWING ELDERS INTO ERROR Mike Johnson Elders have a vital function in the Lord’s church. They are to oversee the flock— they are to feed, or shepherd, the local congregation of which they are a part (Acts 20:17, 28; I Pet. 5:1-2). Elders are to watch for grievous wolves (or false teachers) who threaten the […]
Where is the Gym? Mike Johnson Many people would be surprised if they visited a large church and found out it did not have a gymnasium or something called a “fellowship hall.” Many churches today have become more like social clubs than churches. They provide events as meals, dances, bingo parties, basketball games, and other […]
The Office of an Elder Mike Johnson The Bible teaches that a local congregation is to have certain men overseeing them called “elders.” Acts 14:23 speaks of the appointment of elders in every church. It says, “And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to […]
THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH Mike Johnson The role of women in society has changed greatly in recent years. It seems that many are even pushing for an almost “gender neutral” society. Some changes that have taken place have been good but many have not been. The changes in society tend to eventually […]
“I’m All Shook Up…” Mike Johnson These words perhaps echoed from the facilities of a local congregation in Huntsville, Alabama, as they presented “A Tribute to the King of Rock & Roll.” A newspaper ad for the event pictures an Elvis impersonator. I don’t know if “Elvis” sang this song, “I’m All Shook Up,” but […]
THE CHURCH & THE INDIVIDUAL Mike Johnson Sadly, there has been much division in the Lord’s church throughout the years. One area of division involves the church-sponsored recreation and church support of human institutions (orphan homes, colleges, rest homes, homes for unwed mothers, etc.). One argument used to justify church support and involvement in such […]
Who Are These People? Mike Johnson Perhaps you are a member of the church of Christ, and you look at yourself as “mainstream” as it is said. You know that there are also people meeting in town who are supposed to be members of the Lord’s church, but you do not know much about them. […]
WAS PETER THE FIRST POPE? Mike Johnson The above question is undoubtedly a good question and needs examination. Many think Peter was the first pope. However, the Bible does not even teach that there should be a position of a pope, much less Peter being the first one. Consider just some reasons why Peter could […]
THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH Mike Johnson The Bible clearly teaches that Christ came and built His church. In Matthew 16:16-18 he said that he would build His church, and in Acts 2 we can read of its establishment. Does the church have a particular purpose for being in existence? If no purpose for the […]
The “Come as You Are” Method of Church Growth Mike Johnson Churches want to grow in number, but, sadly, many improper methods are used by churches today to increase their membership. One of these is the “Come as You Are” method. This method of growth is prevalent today in denominationalism. Slogans such as “God […]
THE “HAVE FUN” METHOD OF CHURCH GROWTH Mike Johnson Churches want to grow numerically, and there are many ways they try to accomplish this. Any method chosen must not conflict with the Scriptures. One approach, which is contrary to God’s Word, is the “Have Fun Method.” The concept of the […]
The “Believe as You Please” Method Of Church Growth Mike Johnson Most congregations want to grow, but often churches today use methods to do so, which are contrary to Biblical principles. One approach is the “Believe as You Please Method.” This method of growth does not require any […]