Growing Churches

August 7

(Acts 16:5 NIV) “So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.”

(Acts 2:46-47 NIV) “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, {47} praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

(Acts 6:7 NIV) “So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”

Sometimes ministries get out of focus and become more about numbers than about people. But the opposite is also true. There are far too many churches today that are apathetic about numbers. God wants us to grow. It’s the natural result of prayer, proclamation, and discipleship. It’s a part of organic Christianity. Scattered throughout the book of Acts are verses about continual growth in number. God wants His kingdom to grow, and when His kingdom grows, His church grows. There are some mechanics involved in this, but if every Christian in your city was praying, witnessing, loving, evangelizing, and discipling, churches in your city would be growing. Very few believers set these kinds of spiritual goals for themselves. Other things dominate our thinking and consume our time. Grow the kingdom. It’s one of the signs of life. Things must grow, or they die. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Teacher and Leader

August 6

(Acts 16:4 NIV) “As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.”

(Hebrews 5:11-6:3 NIV) “We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. {12} In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! {13} Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. {14} But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

Paul was both a teacher and a leader. He was willing to get out in front and say, “Here’s the way we should go.” He went from town to town delivering decisions, and declaring, “Thus saith the Lord.” That can be uncomfortable at times, and it can make you a target, but it was his calling. We are all called to teach and lead someone in some way. Christians are called to do more than just accumulate knowledge and faith -- God calls us to pass it on. We should all be teaching someone. We may never lead big groups or preach to large crowds, but we can all lead someone. Look for opportunities to teach and lead. God has enough reluctant believers who want to just kick back and enjoy the ride. What the Lord needs are Christians who will do more than follow and learn. Jesus needs disciples who will lead and teach. He needs disciples who will disciple. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

Disciple Maker

August 5

(Acts 16:1-3 NIV) "He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. {2} The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. {3} Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.”

(Matthew 28:19-20 NIV) "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Paul didn’t just take his salvation and run. He didn’t just “pray the prayer” and continue living like he did before. His salvation was more than just fire insurance. Paul became a disciple, and then became a disciple-maker. He became a follower, and then produced more followers. He obeyed the Great Commission, which is a command of Christ. Paul was a leader, and he produced leaders. Silas and Timothy learned to follow Jesus by following Paul. He did not invite Silas and Timothy to become students -- he called them to become disciples. The two are not necessarily the same thing. A disciple is more than just a learner -- he is a follower, an adherent, and an imitator. The goal of a disciple is not just to know what the teacher knows, but to live like the teacher lives. We should be good disciples, but in time, we should become disciple- makers. Are you a disciple-maker? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Failure is Never Final

August 4

(Acts 15:39b-41 NIV) “Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, {40} but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. {41} He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches."

(1 Peter 5:12-13 NIV) “With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. {13} She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.”

There is no doubt that Mark failed in his younger days. The biblical record is clear. But he wasn’t content to be known as a failure. Mark kept working at the faith. Over time he became a “go- to guy” in the church, and ended up writing one of the four gospels that we read today. This young man who bailed out early in his spiritual walk, ended up on the “A-List” of major apostles. Mark not only ended up on Paul’s list of friends, he became like a son to Peter. Perhaps Peter identified with Mark, as he also had a notorious failure in his past. If anyone understood overcoming failure, it would have been Peter. Failure is never final! It wasn’t for Peter. It wasn’t for Mark. And it need not be for you. The only way that failure is ever final is if you quit. Don’t do that! Don’t miss what God has for you down the road. If you have stumbled, get back up. Run again. Finish the race. Don’t give up! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day