"An Introduction to Puritan Church Growth"

An Introduction to Puritan Church Growth

It’s easy to fill seats:  give people something they want that they have to come and sit to receive.  However, the Church is not about filling seats, the Church is about preaching the Gospel to Jesus Christ:  God came to earth in the Person of Jesus Christ, lived a holy life under God’s Law, died for the sins of all those who would believe, physically rose from the dead, and ascended back to the Throne of the Son of God, where He reigns over all.

It’s not easy to fill the Church.  It is no longer our natural inclination to desire to worship God and be in fellowship with Him.

As Paul explains:         as it is written:

            “None is righteous, no, not one;

                        no one understands;
                        no one seeks for God.
            All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
                        no one does good,
                        not even one.”
            “Their throat is an open grave;
                        they use their tongues to deceive.”
            “The venom of asps is under their lips.”
                        “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
            “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
                        in their paths are ruin and misery,
            and the way of peace they have not known.”
                        “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:10-18, ESV).

No one – and that is no one, not a small number – no one desires God, because our natural inclination since the fall of our first parents in Eden is to hate God and to purse sin against Him.

So, how do we get people into the pews and get them to open their wallets and purses – wide?  We don’t.

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42-47, ESV).

The unpopular truth of the matter – which is why when I have told some people about my looking to write on “Puritan Church Growth Methodology,” they have responded, “There is no such thing!” – only God changes the heart – only God saves a person – only God draws a person into worship.

Acts 2:42-47 is a portrait of the early church, and we notice that the church was about the Word of God preached and taught, evangelism, hospitality/fellowship, prayer, and the Lord’s Supper.  It was – and is – God and God alone – Who adds to their – and our – numbers.

What does that mean?

It means that we are to strive for faithfulness and obedience, to be the Church, to come into the Image of Jesus through the Power of the Holy Spirit.  It means that we are to tell ourselves, our friends, our family, and strangers the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It means that we are to invite all people to the worship service that they might heard the Gospel and believe and repent – as God chooses to change their hearts.

However, the Puritans recognized – as seen in the absence of instruction – that there is no biblical method to fill the pews and fill the offering plates.  We are to call people to Jesus, and God will bring them in as He is pleased to do so.  We are called people to faithful stewardship, and through maturity and the leading of the Holy Spirit, people will give of all of their blessings.  And, as God is pleased to use us and has work for us to do, God will provide for us, day-by-day to be His Church in this place.

As we enter the Lenten season, let us be wise and yet not worry.  Let us strive for maturity.  Let us seek to understand and live with the Word of God central in our lives.  Let us open our mouths and bring people into the hearing of the Gospel through myriad means.  Let us join together in fellowship and hospitality, showing the love we have for one another – that we are One Body.  Let us pray that we would become one in mind with God that we would pray and receive everything we pray for.  Let us understand the Lord’s Supper to be a means by which God strengthens and enables us to do the work that He has set before us.  Let us grow in faith and obedience, trusting God to “add to our number.”