John 13:34, 35 (ESV) “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Recently, at a district leadership meeting, we were discussing church growth and health strategy. We agreed that the purpose of the church was to glorify God and to complete the great commission – to make disciples. Scripture is pretty clear regarding these objectives. Our church’s purpose statement reflects that well: “Perrysburg Alliance Church exists to glorify God; building, equipping and sending believers to win people to Christ.”
Often when we think about growth strategies for the church, we discuss programs and activities. Even changes to our church’s décor. We also talk about the role of music styles. That is reasonable. Over the past 40+ years, it seems to have been the way to church growth. After all, these elements appear to be an avenue for the church to connect with those outside the church. But are they really the most important considerations? Are they what we should lean on for “success?”
The role of prayer enters the discussion of church growth as well. After all, Jesus tells His disciples, “Without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, ESV). The church is a spiritual organism. It is not a business where pragmatism is necessary for success. Jesus taught that true spiritual fruit (success) comes when His children “abide in” His love and depend upon the Spirit. Prayer is one of those key disciplines that puts us in the necessary posture of dependence upon our gracious Father. After all, only He can bring real life and produce spiritual fruit in a person.
Acts 2:42 lists prayer as one of the practices that the believers had when they came together. Luke also mentions that gospel teaching, fellowship, and “breaking of bread” (communion or meals) were characteristic of their gatherings. In later verses, Luke mentions how they also gave their possessions to meet the needs of other believers. These, among other things were discipleship practices of the early church. After all, this was a life reflecting who they followed – Jesus.
As district leaders sat and discussed church growth and health, one pastor shared something he had been recently studying and reflecting on. It is why I titled this The Often-Overlooked Key to Church Growth. He mentioned the role of loving one another in the church. He wasn’t referring to doing projects to show love to people outside the church. He was talking about Christians loving Christians IN the church. Do we love like the one who saved us? Do we love like the one we claim to follow? Do we love like Jesus?
What was interesting was, this was actually the point our district superintendent wanted to make. Too many churches have made their growth strategy primarily about music styles, programs, or décor. Is that what the scriptures teach us?
I would propose that the New Testament model for church growth has more to do with how the body of Christ loves one another. Why do I say that? It is because that is the true indicator of the authenticity of the gospel we claim. We know that God is love (1 John 4:19). Our love for God is only a response to His love for us. Why else would we love like Jesus? You see the world’s kind of love is conditional. It ends when the giver doesn’t personally benefit. God’s love is different. It is unconditional.
When people visit our church, what do they experience? Yes, the Word of God needs to be unapologetically preached and music God-focused. More than the style of music, programs, or attractive church décor, we want them to experience Jesus. Jesus seen in and through His people. I mean, isn’t that who we really want them to know?
Perhaps you, like me, struggle or have struggled to love others. Let’s be honest, it’s easier to pay more attention to ourselves, right? But what if we took this to heart? What if we asked the Lord to give us more love for others? What if we stepped out in faith and initiated a conversation with someone else (beyond our ‘normal’ people) and asked them how they were doing? What if we gave them time to respond and just listened? What if we followed up later that week with a call or text to see how they are doing? What if we began to pray for them? What if we met them for coffee, lunch, or invited them to our home? What if we reminded them that God sees & loves them? What if we let God use us this way?
Sure, we have a loving community here at PAC. Most of us have experienced it. But what if our love for each other grew even more because we each intentionally submitted to God’s plan to love one another? The change would be so evident to the visitor that they would wonder, “What is it about these people?” What they would really experience is the evidence of Jesus in His people.
Let’s push that a step further. Outside the walls of the church. What if we loved our neighbor like that? In her book, “Fix Your Eyes,” author Amy Gannett asks this question, “Has it ever struck you that your role as a member of the church, the body of Christ is to bear the presence of God in the world?” Is ‘bearing the presence of God in the world’ simply not doing bad things? No. It is being who God has called us to be. People who abide in Him, pray dependent on Him, and love each other like we are one of His children!
That, my friend, would be the key to our success.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Pastor Brian