Although the church's growth is ultimately God's responsibility; as believers, we also have to do our part.
If you look in Acts 2:37-47, you will find that Peter is telling the people (early believers) how to be a biblical church. He gives 13 characteristics all churches should follow:
- Repentance
- Baptism
- The Gift of the Holy Spirit
- Devotion to Doctrine
- Devotion to Fellowship
- Devotion to Breaking Bread
- Devotion to Prayer
- Wonders & Miraculous Signs
- Generosity
- Gathering Publicly to Worship
- Glad Meal Times
- Favor with People
- Growth
To repent, means to understand your sin and be willing to change you mind-set and life-style in order to receive forgiveness from the Almighty.
"Be Baptized...in the Jesus Christ"
Being baptized in water is way of showing people around you the spiritual change inside you.
"You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit"
To receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, one must give ultimate control to God and have faith He will guide you.
"They devoted themselves... to the Apostles' Teachings"
Doctrine (the Apostles' Teachings) has been most helpful to those who need assistance in living a christian life-style despite what others think.
"They devoted themselves... to Fellowship"
To fellowship, means to get to know other believers and welcome newcomers to the church.
"They devoted themselves... to Breaking Bread"
The Breaking of Bread or Communion, is a sacramental sign of Christ being in the believers midst.
"They devoted themselves... to Prayer"
Prayer is crucial in the life of a believer, whether its praying personally, by oneself or praying all together as one.
"Everyone was filled with awe at the many Wonders & Miraculous Signs performed by the Apostles "
God proved, to the early church, the truth behind their doctrine & teaching, through miraculous things, like healings or exorcisms.
"All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need"
Believers should be willing to sacrifice for the good of the church or feel the need to help the less-fortunate.
"Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts"
Gathering publicly helped to show the non-believer the devotion of God's children, in a way they where witnessing to the non-believer.
"They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad & sincere hearts"
The early believers were happy to share their food and homes with fellow believers as an act of fellowship.
"Praising God and enjoying favor with all people"
Enjoying favor with people was and is God's gift to some churches, although some still face persecution.
"And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved"
Only God can make the church grow but it is up to us to witness.
I believe that all these things are required for God to grow a biblical church. Yet, not all churches are willing to do this or they are or unaware of these characteristics. Not all churches are devoted to the doctrine, fellowship, or communion. Today's churches have come to do this because they feel it is a requirement not out of wanting to obedient to the teachings or God's will. Devotion to prayer, seems to also be affected in much the same way. Generosity isn't commonly known, due to the fact no one wants to do it from the kindness of their hearts, but instead to see what they will receive in return. All this may stunt the growth of he church.
But growth can continue on, if we as believers confide in God and try to follow these thirteen characteristics of the biblical church. God hasn't changed and he's waiting for us to accept Him and follow his prompting. Even if we try as a group that is better than not trying at all. The work is plenty but the workers are few is a verse that comes to mind in this instance because many in the church want change but most are unwilling to see it through.
