THINGS THAT HINDER CHURCH GROWTH
INTRODUCTION: "I don't think that the church should be very large. When you get above fifty
you start to have all kinds of problems." This is what a brother once told me when I had been out
of preaching school for just a few months. Well, I guess the church at Jerusalem had big
problems. It started at 3,000!
None of us in this assembly would, I think, agree with this one brother. All of us profess to
be in favor of church growth. But sometimes our actions are not consistent with our beliefs.
What are some things that hinder church growth?
BODY
I. A LACK OF LOVE.
A. Christians cannot love Christ, and not care about the church for which he, died.
1. I John 4: 10-11"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and
sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we
ought also to love one another."
2. If we really love the Lord, let us love the church and brethren for which he died.
3. John 14:15
B. Christians cannot reach out to the lost without a love for them.
1. Look at the love that Paul had for those Jews who were still lost.
a. Romans 10:1 - "Brethren, my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that
they might be saved."
2. Jude 22,23 - "And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save
with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."
C. Christians cannot have hatred, jealousy, and envy for brethren and claim to love God.
1. I John 3:14 - "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love
the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."
2. 1 John 4:20 - "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he
that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he half
not seen?"
II. A TONGUE THAT GOSSIPS.
A. Backbiting and gossiping is condemned by God's word.
1. Pro.11: 13 - "A talebearer revealth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit
concealeth the matter."
2. Proverbs 26:20 "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no
talebearer, the strife ceaseth."
3. 1 Timothy 5:11-13 'But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax
wanton against Christ, they will marry; 12 Having damnation because they have cast
off their first faith. 13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to
house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, things which they ought
not.'
B. Ten Questions about Gossip.
1. Is it accurate? Do you lmow that it is true, or have you had it passed on to you
second, third, fourth, or fifth hand?
2. Is it loving: Is it the kind of talk about someone else that shows your love and
consideration for them? Or, is it something that would cause hurt or pain?
3. Is it the whole picture? Somefimes things are heard that are taken out of context.
One does not get the whole picture. Is it right to tell something that is not accurate?
4. Is it confidential? There are some things said in confidence that simply does not
need to be spoken to others. It is a form of stealing to take something that was
spoken in confidence and spread it to others.
5. Is it damaging. Even if accurate it may be hurtful. It is never right to hurt others
just for the pleasure of passing on some tidbit of information. It may do great
damage to the one concerned and great hann to Lord's church.
6. Is it worth telling to the one conemed? Are you willing to go to the person that the
information is about?
7. Is it something you would like to have said about you? If you were the subject
instead of the talebearer, would you appreciate this information told about you to
everyone in an out of the church?
8. Is it really something that needs to be shared with those outside the body of Christ?
9. Is it really necessary? It is a good bet that most of what is preceded by "don't tell
anyone but..." probably doesn't need to be told."
10. Is it something you would be willing to tell to the Lord.
III. A NEGATIVE ATTITUDE.
A. We should not be hypercritical of everything the church attempts to do.
1 . Matt. 7:1-5
2. There was once a member who was always critical of everything the local
congregation attempted to do.The brethren thought that they could head off his
complaining by asking his opinion about a question that was before the men. His
reply was, "You just go ahead and do what you think is best, I'll pick out what's
wrong with it afterward!"
3. If we would try to speak positively of the church we would succeed in not only
putting the church in a better light, but making ourselves happier.
B. What should be our attitude toward the church?
I . Through Christ this congregation can do whatever it needs to do.
a. Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which gmgtheneth me."
2. Our God will give us the victory in our fight with the Devil.
a. I Corinthians 15:57 - "But thanks be to God, which givoth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.'
b. I John 5:4 - "For whatsoever is bom of God overcometh the world: and this is
the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
3. We thus can have confidence that our God will be there to help us in time of need.
a. I John 5:14 - "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask
any thing according to his will, he heareth us:"
b. Hebrews 4:16 - "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
IV. A SHORTAGE OF COMMITMENT.
A. The commitment needed in the church is what which puts the Lord Jesus first in our lives.
1. Matthew 22:36-38 "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus
said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy
soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment."
2. Matthew 6:33
3. Luke 9:62 - "And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and
looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
B. We are all to be living sacrifices to the Lord.
1. Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind 4 that ye may prove what is dw good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of
God.'
C. Those who are committed to the Lord -
1. Don't have to be begged to attend every service - they already know that it is what's
best for them.
2. Don't have to be begged to visit, or work in other ways outside the assembly - they
want to do them.
3. Would never say or do anything that would bring harm upon the local congregation
of the Lord's church of which they are members.
V. UNSCRIPTURAL VIEWS TOWARD GIVING.
A. Some views that have some prominence among brethren.
I . That they don't need to contribution anything to the Lord.
2. That giving to the contribution give them complete control over the way the money
is spent.
3. That giving to individuals, charitable organizations, etc. absolves them from giving
liberally to the church.
4. That the church has no right to talk about the need for money.
B. But what does the Bible say?
1. That we have an obligation to "lay by in store."
a. I Corinthians 16:1-2 "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have
given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of
the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him,
that there be no gatherings when I come."
2. That once we have given to the Lord in the contribution, that is where it stays, with
the Lord. Those funds no longer belong to me.
a. The Elders, as with other matters, have the control over how the funds of the
church are to be spent.
b. Acts 11:29-30 "Then the disciples, every man according to his ability,
determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: 30 Which
also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul."
c. While we can give input, give suggestions, even give constructive criticism to
the Elders of the local congregation concerning to use of funds, we have no right
to rebel against them, backbite, or withhold our contribution if we disagree with
them. They are watch for my soul and I am to be subject to them.
d. Hebrews 13:17 - "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:
for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it
with joy, and not with grief- for that is unprofitable for you."
3. While giving to worthy individuals and organizations is good, but it does not relieve
me from my responsibilities to the congregation.
a. In the discussions in the New Testament about giving it is in the context of to
the local congregation.
1. In I Corinthians 16:1-2 Paul talks about the giving on the Lord's day.
Why? Because the local congregation was meeting in the assembly.
2. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 the churches of Mwedonia had give above and
beyond their means for the needy saints m Jerusalem How did they have
the fimds. The Lord!s day contribution. Each Christian contributed for the
work of the local congregation.
b. We need to understand the following principle. The Lord has intended
his work to be done through the local congregation. Christians are members of
local congregations, not roving members. While several congregation can
work cooperatively to do the Lords work, the emphasis is always on the local
congregations, overseen by local elderships.
4. The local congregation not only has the right, but the obligation, to encourage the
brethren to give generously.
a. Giving is a proof of our love
1. 2 Corinthians 8:24 - "Wherefore, show ye to them and before the churches,
the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf
b. Christians are required to give, liberally.
I . 2 Cor. 9:6, 13 - "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall
reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bounffwly shall reap also
bountifidly .... Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify
God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your
liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;"
c. Christians should be taught to give willingly.
1. 2 Corinthians 9:7 - "Every man according as he purposed in his heart, so
let hiin give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerfid
giver."
d. Covetousness can cause Christians to be lost
1. Colossians 3:5-6 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the
earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil
concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which
Things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"
C. What happens if each Christian gives liberally and scripturally?
1. The church will have abundant funds to carry on the work of the local
congregation.
2. It will have funds to carry out the teaching of the Gospel to the lost
3. It will have the funds necessary to help those in need.
4. It will have the funds to help godly works in the United States and oversees.
CONCLUSION: Brethren, all these words are not intended to be a condemnation, but to serve as
an encouragement to do better. Lets examine ourselves and seek to live closer to our Master.
Lets all work together to make this congregation to kind of church the Lord desires.
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