This lesson is going to show that Church growth comes from the truth.  While numbers might be up in liberal congregations or denominations, there is no Church Growth.  Church growth is growth of the ONE TRUE CHURCH. 

KJV Colossians 1:18
18.  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

KJV Matthew 16:18
18.  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
 
 
 

WHAT DID CHRIST DO TO SAVE SOULS?

TOLD THEM TO BUILD THEIR FAITH ON HIS WORD
KJV Luke 6:46-49
 46.  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
 47.  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
 48.  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
 49.  But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
KJV Luke 8:4-15
 4.  And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
 5.  A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
 6.  And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
 7.  And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
 8.  And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
 9.  And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
 10.  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
 11.  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
 12.  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
 13.  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
 14.  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

WHAT DID THE APOSTLES DO TO SAVE SOULS?

THEY PREACHED AS CHRIST TOLD THEM TO
KJV Acts 2:1-47
THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT VERSES 1-4
 1.  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
 2.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
 3.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
 4.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

THEY PREACHED AT JERUSALEM (AS COMMANDED)

KJV Luke 24:44-49
 44.  And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
 45.  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
 46.  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
 47.  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
 48.  And ye are witnesses of these things.
49. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.\
VERSE 5 – 13 AMAZMENT AT HOW THE APOSTLES WERE UNDERSTOOD OF SO MANY LANGUAGES
5.  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
 6.  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
 7.  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
 8.  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
 9.  Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
 10.  Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
 11.  Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
 12.  And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
 13.  Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

PETER PREACHES WITH THE ELEVEN
14.  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
 15.  For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
 16.  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
 17.  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
 18.  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
 19.  And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
 20.  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

HE PREACHES CHRIST AND SALVATION
 21.  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
 22.  Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
 23.  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
 24.  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
 25.  For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
 26.  Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
 27.  Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
 28.  Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
 29.  Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
 30.  Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
 31.  He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
 32.  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
 33.  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
 34.  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
 35.  Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
 36.  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

THEY ARE PRICKED IN THEIR HEARTS AND ASK WHAT THEY MUST DO
37.  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
 THEY ARE TOLD TO REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED
38.  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
 39.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
THEY PREACHED WITH MANY OTHER WORDS
40.  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
THEY RECEIVED THE WORD AND WERE BAPTIZED (3000)
41.  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
 42.  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
 43.  And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
 44.  And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
 45.  And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
 46.  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
THE LORD ADDED TO THE CHURCH
 47.  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
 

PHILIP PREACHED CHRIST AND THE KINGDOM (CHURCH)
KJV Acts 8:12
12. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

THE KINGDOM IS THE CHURCH
KJV Matthew 3:2
 2.  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

KJV Mark 9:1
 1.  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

KJV Acts 1:8
 8.  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

KJV Acts 2:1-4
 1.  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
 2.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
 3.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
 4.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

KJV Colossians 1:13-18
13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
 

CHRIST DOCTRINE

KJV 2 John 1:9-11
9.  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
 10.  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
 11.  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

CHRIST WORD IS HIS DOCTRINE
KJV Matthew 7:28
 28.  And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

WHAT WAS IT - LOOK A VIEW VERSES PRIOR
KJV Matthew 7:21-27
 21.  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
 22.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
 23.  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
 24.  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
 25.  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
 26.  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
 27.  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

KJV Romans 6:17
 17.  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

THE CHURCH WILL NOT GROW BECAUSE OF OPEN FELLOWSHIP

Many will try to increase the numbers by allowing more into the Church that do not abide in the doctrine of Christ.  Again, the problem is that this addition may be to the congregation (that is no longer sound) but it is not to the Church that Christ built.  The only way into the Church is baptism into it.

THE ONLY WAY INTO THE CHURCH
KJV 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
 12.  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
 
 
 

THE ONLY WAY TO STAY IN THE CHURCH
KJV 1 John 1:3-7
 3.  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
 4.  And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
 5.  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
 6.  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

TO REMAIN FAITHFUL
KJV Revelation 2:10
10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

HAVE NO FELLOWSHIP
KJV Ephesians 5:11
11. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

BY PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD NOT MAN
KJV Galatians 1:7-12
7  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11  But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

WE ARE TO MARK AND AVOID FALSE TEACHERS NOT FELLOWSHIP THEM
KJV Romans 16:17-18
17.  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

WE ARE TO WALK AS THE SAME RULE AND SAME MIND
KJV Philippians 3:14-21
14.  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
 15.  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
 16.  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
 17.  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
 18.  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
 19.  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
 20.  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

NOT DIVIDED AND WEARING OTHER NAMES
KJV 1 Corinthians 1:10-13
10.  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
 11.  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
 12.  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
12. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

AGAIN LET US REMEMBER THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS AND NOT LEAVE OUR FIRST LOVE
KJV Revelation 2:1-7
 1.  Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
 2.  I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
 3.  And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
 4.  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
 5.  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
 6.  But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
 7.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
 

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