Topical Sermons - Executable Outlines

Getting Ready To Grow
Mark A. Copeland
INTRODUCTION
1. Not all churches are prepared to grow in number and in spirit...
a. Consider the church at Laodicea - Re 3:15-19
b. Even if a successful evangelist had come and converted many, how many would have remained
faithful in a spiritual environment such as that?
2. For churches to grow, they must look beyond their evangelistic efforts...
a. For the mortality rate of new converts is often high
b. Unless a congregation is prepared to assimilate and nurture new converts, any success in
evangelism may be short-lived
3. To have real, enduring growth, we must get ready to grow...!
a. Preparing ourselves as a congregation
b. Preparing ourselves as individual members of a congregation
[What is necessary in “Getting Ready To Grow”? First, allow me to suggest...]
I. WHAT WE MUST DO AS A CONGREGATION
A. OFFER ASSEMBLIES THAT EDIFY...
1. The first exposure many have to the gospel is by visiting a local congregation
a. What do they see and hear? Do they see love? - cf. Jn 13:34-35
b. Does it draw them closer to God? - cf. 1 Co 14:25b
c. Do our visitors experience courtesy, warmth, and interest in spiritual matters?
-- Not all churches provide the right environment conducive for worship and spiritual
growth - e.g., 1 Co 11:17; 14:26b
2. New converts often depend heavily upon the spiritual nourishment provided by the
assemblies, and rightly so - cf. He 10:24-25
a. Excited by their newfound faith, anxious to grow quickly, they attend all the services of
the church
b. What do they find? Halfhearted services? Sparsely attended by older members?
3. If we are serious about growing...
a. Those who lead us in our assemblies will take their tasks seriously
1) Coming prepared to serve their role
2) Doing so gladly and with enthusiasm
b. Every member will do what they can to make our assemblies edifying to all
1) Arriving early to welcome and visit with visitors, other members
2) Participating wholeheartedly in the singing, prayers, etc.
3) Staying around and visiting afterward
B. ASSIMILATE AND NURTURE NEW MEMBERS...
1. As valuable as our assemblies may be, they are not always adequate by themselves
a. New members may remain on the fringe
1) Left out of the family life of the congregation (activities members do together)
2) Remain on the fringe for long, and they may begin looking elsewhere
Topical Sermons 134