In reports on the expansion of faith, Luke often talks about the numerical growth of the Church and its state.
1st report? Hch 2:41 😕 Then those who accepted the word were baptized, with an increase that day of almost three thousand people.
- Before this story we can read Peter’s preaching.
- So we see in the book of Acts that various growth reports are linked to the preaching of the Word of God.
- The biblical growth of the Church is due to biblical preaching and focuses on Christ of God.
- The Word of God.
- In the power of the Holy Spirit.
- At this point Luke often says that the Word has grown up referring to the growth of the church.
Second report? Hch 2. 47 😕 Praising God and counting on the sympathy of all the people. Meanwhile, the Lord added to them, day after day, those who were saved.
This account is preceded by the way the church lived (vv. 42-46) and Luke wants to show that the growth of the church was a consequence of this. They persevered in doctrine, broke bread, prayed. Healthy church growth is a consequence. linked to the life of the church.
Third report? Acts 4. 4: However, many of those who heard the word accepted it, the number of men amounted to almost five thousand.
This account is preceded by the healing of the lame by Peter and the preaching and imprisonment of the Apostle. Luke shows here the faithfulness and will of the disciples to proclaim the gospel even if it cost them their lives and places it as one of the factors in the growth of the Church.
4th gear? Hch 4:32:? Of the multitude of those who believed, there was only one heart and one soul.
Here we read before the church’s fervent prayer against the enemies of the Church and courageously persevere in preaching the Word. This kind of incessant and fervent prayer so that he can give his church the courage and will to preach the Word of God is one of the factors in the growth of the church.
5th report? Acts 5. 14 :?And the multitude of believers, men and women, is added to the Lord?
Before this report, we read the case of the discipline of Ananiah and Safira, showing that Peter did not want the church to grow anyway. Ecclesiastical discipline can lead to a momentary decline in membership, but then “the multitude of believers has grown more and more “because it maintains the holiness and fear of the Church.
6th report? Acts 6. 7: The word of God grows, and in Jerusalem the number of disciples is multiplied; have many priests also obeyed the faith. ?
This story is preceded by the deaconos event. The church whispered about distribution to widows. The Apostles affirmed the priority of their call to pray and proclaim the Word, and a group of deachonos was created to take care of the distribution. God uses wise strategic measures to prevent conflict and help the growth of the church.
7th report? Acts 9. 31: “The Church, in fact, had peace in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, building and walking in the fear of the Lord, and, in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, grew in number. “
Now we are not only in Jerusalem, but also in Galilee and Samaria. Before history, we read Paul’s persecution of the church. After her conversion, we read that the Church was at peace and growing in number, in the comfort of the Spirit. Although the church can grow in persecuted places, continued persecution (as in North Korea) often ends up almost extinguishing faith, so I believe that we should not pray for persecution, but for religious peace, freedom, and expression.
Eighth report? Acts 12:24 😕 However, the word of the Lord has grown and multiplied.
The church prayed against the enemies of the church and Herod was one of the great enemies, even having arrested the apostles; However, God sends one angel to free the apostles and another to hurt Herod and worms to eat him; God defeats his enemies and his word continues to grow and multiply.
Ninth Story: Acts 16. 5 😕 Thus, churches were strengthened in faith and, day by day, increased in number.
Before this report, we read about the church’s second great inner problem: the acceptance of the Gentiles. Later we will read the resolution of the Jerusalem Council that brought peace. We also read the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over Mark and his decision. Internal conflict is one of the main reasons why the church does not grow. We were fighting.
Tenth story: Acts 19. 20 😕 Then the word of the Lord grew and prevailed mightily.
In this account we can read about the divine dependence of the church and how God acted supernaturally.
That we can learn from all this? We can learn that God controls everything and directs history for the good of His people and that God uses secondary causes to grow the church: the preaching of the Word, the prayer of his people, the healthy life of the church, discipline, and concentrated ministers. .