What does real church growth look like? In Acts 6:7, Luke pauses his account of the early church to give a remarkable report: “The word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem.” Despite internal challenges, the reality of sin, and growing opposition from religious authorities, God was blessing His church.
In this episode, we explore the priority of the Word of God in the life and mission of the church. As the apostles devoted themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word, the gospel spread with increasing power, reaching more people, producing more disciples, and transforming lives. The growth of the church was not merely numerical; it was the fruit of the Word faithfully preached and the Holy Spirit powerfully at work.
We also consider the surprising note that “a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” Even among those closely associated with the religious establishment, the gospel was breaking through hardened hearts and bringing people to Christ.
This message reminds us that while we may long for days of extraordinary growth, our calling remains the same: to faithfully proclaim the gospel, trust God's sovereign work, and rejoice whenever even one sinner is brought to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
A radio show/podcast from Crosspoint Church produced by Manawatū People's Radio with the support of New Zealand on Air.