Acts 2:47 - Growing the church in the Urban Area

Acts 2:47 - Growing the church in the Urban Area

The church in Samaria grew as it continually added members to the body of Christ (Acts 8:12,13, 37). Rejoicing contributed to their growth (Acts 8:8), and their growth in turn led to rejoicing (Acts 8:37). For the church to grow, we must deliver a deeply satisfying proclamation of salvation (Acts 8:1-40). Philip proclaimed the good news of the God of the word (Acts 8:5-13), as well as the good news of the word of God (Acts 8:14).

The church in Jerusalem grew (Acts 4:4-5). The preaching of the resurrection led to growth (Acts 4:3). Therefore, we must deliver a declaration of lasting significance. The resurrection, the bedrock of eternity, is a most significant event. God embedded eternity within the fabric of humanity; He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11). There can be no eternity without a resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). Only a message of the resurrection holds eternal significance. Therefore, they preached that Jesus was raised from the dead, and many believed (Acts 4:1-4).

The church in Jerusalem grew (Acts 2:38, 47). Jesus, the person of salvation, offers Himself through a plan of salvation. Therefore, the preaching of a plan of salvation led to growth (Acts 2:21, 36-37). As a result, we must present a biblically specific plan of salvation (Acts 2:38).

Let’s not try to build a live church with people who are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-3). They need to be born (again) so they can truly live. Baptism marks the moment when those outside of Christ come alive in Christ. The lamb had been slain and the blood applied, yet they had not experienced their salvation. But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. (Exodus 14:13). Therefore, God delivered them through the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-30). The Holy Spirit’s explanation called it a baptism, For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea (1 Corinthians 10:1-2).

Early in his ministry, Peter, an apostle, taught that baptism is the moment when the unsaved receive forgiveness of sins. Near the end of his ministry, he continued to teach that baptism is the moment when the unsaved receive forgiveness of sins.

The church was and is a divine idea. Therefore, there is a church described in scripture. The church described in scripture was established near the Day of Pentecost. Before the Day of Pentecost, the church was said to be coming into existence (Isaiah 2:1-3, Luke 24:45-47, Matthew 16:18). After the Day of Pentecost, the church was said to have come into existence (Acts 2:47, 5:11, 8:1, 9:31, 11:19-22, 26).

The church described in scripture is a covenant community of forgiven believers. That church is God’s organism for carrying out His system of salvation (Luke 24:45-47, Acts 2:36-47). It is also God’s organism for executing His system of service (Acts 2:44-45, 11:22-26).

The church described in scripture is one. That church is conceptually one (Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:4, 1 Corinthians 12:12, 20) and constitutionally one (Acts 42, 1 Corinthians 4:17). God wants you to promote His one church that is described within scripture. 

The challenge within each generation is, How do we best promote that one church? It may change from one generation to another. We must intentionally seek to promote the God of the church and the church of God.

According to George Barna’s research, 79% of non-Christian people have a negative perception of the local church. The term “church” is not inherently negative but has increasingly gained negative connotations for many people due to negative experiences, perceptions of institutional failings, and disillusionment. The word evokes very different feelings depending on a person’s background, with those who have had bad experiences viewing it much more negatively than active believers. 

According to George Barna’s research, 71% of all Americans hold a positive view of Jesus. A high percentage of millennials express respect and admiration for Jesus. When we synthesize these surveys, which would you want to be associated with, the church or Jesus?

It would seem that favorability would be higher to use the nomenclature with Jesus or Christ in it than to use the nomenclature with church in it. So, what is the wisdom of removing the name ‘Christ’ and retaining the designation ‘church’? If the intent is to increase favorability among outsiders, wouldn’t it make more sense to keep Christ in and throw church out?

With conscientious intentionality, let’s seek spiritually meaningful ways to promote Christ and His church. Preach the resurrection, the person, and the plan of salvation, and guide people into the church described in scripture.