Big church small church...they can all reach levels that say we will probably always stay this size or maybe get a few here and there. Be honest...are you at a place where you are satisfied? Or is there this overwhelming hunger that screams out THIS ISNT GOOD ENOUGH! What are you hopes, dreams, visions and burdens for harvest? How good do you imagine it CAN get? How has God been speaking to you about being used where you are at? Job, school, city? Share your ideas, share your burdens and desire for revival.
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Blessed are the merciful for they SHALL obtain mercy.
Except for that rare exception most churches reach a place where they top out on growth.
If a church has 50, 500 or 5000 some things remain constant.
Your average member will have a core group of friends not generally exceeding 20-25 people.
The apostles turned their world upside down. They saw great revival. And they did it from house to house and probably with small groups not so dissimilar to the core group of 20-25 people that continues to manifest itself no matter how big the "church" gets.
What could be a growth stifling element of today's church is that we don't embrace the natural element of that small group and we attempt to force the many small groups that are already intact into one larger group.
Like a hurricane... there comes a time when the mass itself begins to work against itself.
I think that revivals best chance will come when we let go of our dreams of a big "church" and embrace the concept of a big move of God and finally live what we chant all the time anyway... revival comes when we move beyond these four walls.
Because of my job I have a VERY unique opportunity to meet hundreds of people I would NEVER otherwise meet...Because of what I do it took me awhile to see it in that light.I work for a furniture rental company and I have seen and heard alot of wacked out stuff. Everything from delivering and picking up to and from crack houses, having guns pulled on me, getting cussed out, having 3 BIG guys drive up and try to yank me out of my truck to beat me up and thats just what I go through outside the office....
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Blessed are the merciful for they SHALL obtain mercy.
I like the campaign my church is in. It's called Generations. The motto is "Whoever Wants the Next Generation the Most Will Get Them!" Nothing is good enough imo. We should constantly strike to reach others.
Because of my job I have a VERY unique opportunity to meet hundreds of people I would NEVER otherwise meet...Because of what I do it took me awhile to see it in that light.I work for a furniture rental company and I have seen and heard alot of wacked out stuff. Everything from delivering and picking up to and from crack houses, having guns pulled on me, getting cussed out, having 3 BIG guys drive up and try to yank me out of my truck to beat me up and thats just what I go through outside the office....
For a while I questioned was I in the right job,the right town,did I mess up by moving us here,so many questions,but to make a very long story short we stayed and God has blessed.Not only have I stayed with a VERY difficult and stressfull job but God has helped me be in the right place and the right time to minister and reach out to them.I see people whose spouses leave them, whose husbands beat them with VERY visible results,and children who are beaten,abused and neglected.this is my missions field.
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Blessed are the merciful for they SHALL obtain mercy.
I'd also add that during the Apostles time, everyone was a soul winner. Not the Apostles only... a big difference between then and today.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Digging4Truth
It is the model that plays out.
Except for that rare exception most churches reach a place where they top out on growth.
If a church has 50, 500 or 5000 some things remain constant.
Your average member will have a core group of friends not generally exceeding 20-25 people.
The apostles turned their world upside down. They saw great revival. And they did it from house to house and probably with small groups not so dissimilar to the core group of 20-25 people that continues to manifest itself no matter how big the "church" gets.
What could be a growth stifling element of today's church is that we don't embrace the natural element of that small group and we attempt to force the many small groups that are already intact into one larger group.
Like a hurricane... there comes a time when the mass itself begins to work against itself.
I think that revivals best chance will come when we let go of our dreams of a big "church" and embrace the concept of a big move of God and finally live what we chant all the time anyway... revival comes when we move beyond these four walls.
__________________ Mrs. LPW
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
In Acts we find Peter and John heading to the temple for the hour of prayer they encounter the lame man at the gate...keep in mind that Pentecost had happened a short time earlier and the first day an estimated 3,120 souls were added to the church. Peter and John were NOT the only Holy Ghost filled Jews who passed by the lame man at the gate but they were the only ones who decided that he had been lame long enough. If you will meet their needs out THERE they WILL follow you in here!
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Blessed are the merciful for they SHALL obtain mercy.
The Church has been called a hospital for the wounded and the hurting...and also a maternity ward for new babies. But sometimes the wound cannot wait until they get to the hospital for treatment...the same with babies being born. Sometimes death is averted in the ambulance...sometimes the baby will not wait for a convienient time or place. We need to become spiritual paramedics ready to meet the needs of those we encounter whenever and wherever. the time for waiting for a good church service is over.
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Blessed are the merciful for they SHALL obtain mercy.
In Acts we find Peter and John heading to the temple for the hour of prayer they encounter the lame man at the gate...keep in mind that Pentecost had happened a short time earlier and the first day an estimated 3,120 souls were added to the church. Peter and John were NOT the only Holy Ghost filled Jews who passed by the lame man at the gate but they were the only ones who decided that he had been lame long enough. If you will meet their needs out THERE they WILL follow you in here!
They had great grace upon them and God working with them.
Acts 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Has anything changed since that time? We are the same church/the same body. We have the Spirit in us just like they did. We believe in Christ just like they did. Jesus Christ hasn't changed. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. So why don't we have the power and anointing of God to turn the world upside down like the early church had?
BTW Jedi, inspiring post!
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His banner over me is LOVE.... My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
To be a servant of God, it will cost us our total commitment to God, and God alone. His burden must be our burden... Sis Alvear
My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. 
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