Church growth is about the Spirit at work through genuine relationships. “Our good news didn’t come to you only in words. It came with power. It came with the Holy Spirit’s help. He gave us complete faith in what we were preaching. You know how we lived among you for your good” (1 Thess 1:5).

The sermon today is titled "How Churches Grow." It is the final installment in our "Community" Series. The Scripture reading is from Acts 2:47 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on July 16, 2023. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under DISCOVER: A New Community.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.

Footnotes (Sources and References Used In Today's Podcast):

• Rodney Stark, The Rise of Christianity (San Francisco: HarperOne, 1996), p. 7.
• James Bryan Smith, The Good and Beautiful Community (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2010), p. 13-19, 30.
• Samuel Totten & William S. Parsons, Centuries of Genocide, Critical Essays and Eyewitness Accounts (New York: RoutledgeFalmer, 2009), p. 421.
• Lee Camp, Mere Discipleship (Brazos Press, 2008), p. 20.
• “Religion: The Nondenomination,” Time Magazine (Monday, August 5, 1957)
• Flavil R. Yeakley, Jr., Why Churches Grow, 3rd ed. (Broken Arrow, OK: Christian Communications, 1979, rep. 1986), pp. 57-58.
• Norman Bales, A Sense of Belonging (Nashville: 20th Century Christian, 1989), pp. 77-80.

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