Spirit-Living Devotional
Apostle Osborn
A SECRET TO CHURCH GROWTH
[[Act 6:7]] KJV And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
One of the secrets to church growth is revealed in the above. As the word of God increased, the number of disciples multiplied. This shows us that church growth is directly connected to the increase in the word of God. When the word increases, disciples will be multiplied.
So the number of members and disciples in any church grows when the word of God increases. Note that the disciples didn’t increase because of miracles or peophesies. Whereas they may be nice, disciples multilies because the word of God increased. How does the word of God increase? The word of God increases when we study it more, and raise more people to teach it to others.
Rasing more leaders to teach the word in ecclesias, having more teaching meetings like church services and camps where the word is taught, and teaching people many times is the power the produces growth in the church.
Finally, note that it was the disciples that multiplied and not members. Disciples, ‘mathetes,’ means students of the word – These are matured Christians. Members and crowds will come and go through gifts. But the word of God, when it increases, will produce multiplied disciples. You ecclesia and gathering can multiply when the word of God increases first in you, and you raise more leaders also to teach it.
Prayer:
Thank you LORD for revealing secrets through your word to me. Help me cultivate the love and discipline to study more of your word. And grant me the wisdom to raise more leaders to teach the word of God. Thank you that your word will greatly increase in us in Jesus’ name.
