How can we apply the growth principles from Acts 6:7 in our church? “So the word of God continued to spread; the number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great many priests became obedient to the faith.” Principle Snapshot • Word of God spreads • Disciples multiply • New demographic (priests) embraces the faith Core Growth Principles Drawn from the Verse • Word-Centered Ministry – Growth begins with the clear proclamation of Scripture (Romans 10:17). • Delegated Service Frees the Word – The appointment of the Seven (Acts 6:1-6) released the apostles to focus on prayer and preaching, enabling expansion. • Multiplication, Not Maintenance – “Grew rapidly” underscores intentional disciple-making (Matthew 28:19-20). • Cross-Cultural Reach – Even priests, once opposed, were reached, showing no group is beyond the gospel’s scope (1 Timothy 2:4). • Spirit-Empowered Momentum – The verse’s passive tone (“continued to spread”) points to God’s sovereign work (Zechariah 4:6). Practical Action Steps for Our Church 1. Prioritize Bible Proclamation • Guard pulpit time for expositional preaching. • Saturate every ministry with Scripture—classes, small groups, counseling. 2. Strengthen Prayer and Leadership Focus • Elders devote prime hours weekly to prayer and teaching. • Protect leaders from administrative overload by training qualified servants (Acts 6:3). 3. Establish Deacon-Level Service Teams • Identify practical needs (facility care, benevolence, technology). • Commission trustworthy members, laying on hands publicly to affirm them. 4. Develop a Disciple-Making Pipeline • Start entry-level studies for new believers. • Pair mature mentors with younger Christians (2 Timothy 2:2). 5. Engage Overlooked Audiences • Map local “modern priests” (academics, professionals, skeptics). • Host forums that respectfully address their questions with Scripture. 6. Measure Growth by Obedience, Not Attendance • Track baptisms, small-group participation, service involvement. • Celebrate testimonies of obedience, emphasizing life transformation. 7. Rely on the Spirit, Expect Acceleration • Schedule corporate prayer nights seeking gospel advance. • Share answered prayers to build faith for continued momentum. Supporting Scripture Echoes • Acts 2:42-47 – Word-driven community leads to favor and daily conversions. • Ephesians 4:11-16 – Equipping saints results in mature, unified growth. • Colossians 1:6 – “The gospel… is bearing fruit and growing all over the world.” Putting It Together When Scripture retains first place, leaders stay laser-focused on prayer and teaching, service teams handle practical needs, and every believer owns disciple-making, God Himself propels the church forward—often drawing surprising groups into joyful obedience to the faith. |
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