The following articles are related to the topic of CHURCH GROWTH

Church Growth: By the Gospel or By Gimmicks?

On the first Pentecost following the resurrection of the Lord, the church of Christ exploded in to existence. Under the supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit, the apostles, for the very first time, proclaimed the full facts of the gospel message-namely, that Jesus of Nazareth had been crucified and buried, but that he had been raised from the dead and ... read more »

Are You an Evangelist?

The Great CommissionA former tax-collector, a political activist, and a few fisherman - eleven common Hebrew men. Having no organization and no resources but their faith in the promises of Jesus Christ, these first-century citizens of Palestine were charged by our Lord to do the impossible - go evangelize the world. What an awesome task - what an awesome responsibility! ... read more »

The Emerging Church Movement—The New Face of Heresy

Recently, Charles Colson, a leading evangelical writer, pointed out: Last June a Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life survey found rampant doctrinal ignorance among American Christians. Fifty-seven percent of evangelicals believed people who follow religions other than their own can enjoy eternal life. The results were so unexpected that Pew repeated the survey, asking more specific questions. The answers ... read more »

Did Matthew Err Regarding “Judea”?

"How is Matthew 19:1 to be explained? 'And it came to pass when Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan' (Mt. 19:1). Judea is not 'beyond the Jordan' from Galilee. Did Matthew make a geographical mistake?" One must always bear in mind that the natural presumption on behalf ... read more »

What Is the Meaning of Proverbs 14:4?

"What is the meaning of Proverbs 14:4? It seems to be out of place in the Bible." Before we address the text of Proverbs 14:4, we need consider this important point. Contrary to the opinions of many, the Bible was intended to instruct us in all areas of life. We do not find the concept of compartmentalizing one's life into ... read more »

Calvinism and the Great Commission

John Calvin (1509-64) was a religious reformer and theologian. The basic premise of his theology was the absolute sovereignty (right to reign) of God, out of which evolved his misguided theory of "predestination." The Swiss reformer believed that human "free will" was destroyed by man's "original sin"; thus, the innate power to yield to the will of God was lost ... read more »

Wilbur Smith’s Remarkable Book

On the 11th day of February, 1959, a young preacher student in Mississippi added one more volume to his fledgling library. The title of the book was Therefore Stand.The author was Wilbur M. Smith, a Professor of English Bible at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.The student who purchased (and devoured) the book was the author of this article. When ... read more »

DISgrace Institute: A Religious Disconnect

When it comes to religion, some folks have a real "disconnect." By that I mean they are strong in arguing for a particular doctrinal platform, but they see no relationship between their theological peculiarities and their conduct of life. The ancient Pharisees were of this sort. They adhered to the "strict manner of the law" (Acts 22:3). In fact, they ... read more »

Is Your Worship Becoming Disney Church?

There was a time in most churches when the services were focused upon worship that glorified God, and the preaching consisted of reverent instruction from the Scriptures. In some places, it's still that way. On the other hand, drastic changes are underway in hundreds of churches across the land. An article appearing in World magazine addressed this phenomenon. Note this ... read more »

Why Do Some Theologians Reject Biblical Inerrancy?

The Lutheran is a magazine associated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. In the January, 2000 issue, there was a brief article by Norma and Burton Everist. "The Reverend" Norma Everist, as she bills herself, is a professor of church and ministry at Warburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. Ms. Everist's photo accompanied the article-clerical collar and all. Her husband ... read more »