B i b l i c a l St e p s t o
Church Growth
D OI N G I T G OD ’ S W A Y
End times
By Rev. Mark Odle
Teaching in the Church
Preaching as we go forth
Healing as Christ Commanded
So the Church can Grow
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Following Jesus’ Example
Matt. 9:35-38, 10:1a
(35) And Jesus went about all the cities and villages ---
Teaching in their synagogues
Preaching the gospel of the kingdom
Healing every sickness and every disease
Teaching --- in the church
Preaching --- all about the cities and villages
Healing --- was the result of teaching and preaching
(36) But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with
compassion on them, because ---
They fainted
Were scattered abroad
As sheep having no shepherd
(37) Then saith he unto his disciples ---
The harvest truly is plenteous
But the labourers are few
Pray ye therefore “the Lord of the Harvest”
That he will send forth labourers into his harvest
And when he had called unto him ---
His twelve disciples
He gave them power
His disciples = the church, the born again believer
Power = an ability, to act in behalf of, delegated influence.
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#1 Teaching
Matt. 9:35a
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages,
Teaching in their synagogues, ---
The church that follows Christ’s example will be actively teaching
what Jesus taught!
Jesus’ first teachings:
Matt. 5:1-16
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying ---
#1. Blessed are the poor in spirit: = Be humble
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Teach them how to get to heaven --- be humble
#2 Blessed are they that mourn: = to cry out to God
For they shall be comforted.
Teach them how to find comfort in a time of need --- mourn
#3 Blessed are the meek:= be gentle in mind, or circumstances
For they shall inherit the earth.
Teach them how to get along with others, and please God --- be
meek.
#4 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:
For they shall be filled.
Teach them to be filled with joy, peace, and happiness
Righteousness = make doing justly in the sight of God first priority.
#5 Blessed are the merciful: = be compassionate by word or
deed by divine influence.
For they shall obtain mercy.
Teach them how to obtain Gods Mercy --- be merciful.
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#6 Blessed are the pure in heart: = forgiven
For they shall see God.
Teach them how to know you will see God --- be forgiven.
#7 Blessed are the peacemakers:
For they shall be called the children of God.
#8 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake:
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
#9 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:
For great is your reward in heaven.
#10 Ye are the salt of the earth.
#11 Ye are the light of the world.
Jesus’ final teaching
Matt. 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, --- “salvation”
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you:
And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
A-MEN.
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#2 Preaching
Matt. 9:35b
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages,
Teaching in their synagogues
Preaching the gospel of the kingdom.
The church that follows Christ’ example will be actively Preaching
what Jesus preached.
Note: Jesus went about all the cities and villages, ---
Now: Matt. 10:5a
These twelve Jesus sent forth, ---
Matt. 10:7
And as ye go, preach, saying “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matt. 28:19a
Go ye therefore, ---
Preaching --- therefore is something we do as we go forth, in the
cities and villages.
John the Baptist shows the way
The Gospel of the Kingdom:
Matt. 3:1-3,
(1) In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the
wilderness of Judea,
(2) And saying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
(3) For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias,
saying, --- Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his
paths straight.
The Gospel of the Kingdom --- therefore is spreading the gospel
of salvation unto all that we meet as we go about the cities and
villages.
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#3 Healing
Matt. 9:35
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages,
Teaching in their synagogues
Preaching the gospel of the kingdom,
Healing every sickness and every disease ---
The Church that follows Christ’s example will be moved with
compassion toward the sick and afflicted, helping them to come to
Jesus for all their needs.
Jesus tells his disciples:
Matt. 10:7-8
(7) And as ye go, preach, saying , the Kingdom of heaven is at
hand.
(8) Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out
devils; freely ye have received, freely give.
The big Question:
How do we go about doing this?
In John 11:14-15, 25-26, 43-44.
Jesus gives us an illustrated example to follow.
Note: This illustration comes as a teaching to the disciples in the
greatest of all healings --- raising of the dead.
Jesus teaches his disciples:
(14) Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
(15) And I am glad for your sakes.
That I am not there,
To the intent ye may believe
Nevertheless let us go unto him.
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Key Points:
Lazarus is dead --- the person’s situation is real
I am glad for your sakes --- Jesus needed to teach us
That I was not there, --- there is a purpose in all things
To the intent ye may believe --- we must believe
Nevertheless let us go --- now the lesson begins
We must believe:
(25) And Jesus said unto her,
I am the resurrection, and the life:
He that believeth in me,
Though he were dead, yet shall he live:
(26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me
Shall never die.
Believest thou this?
Key Points:
Jesus is the resurrection, and life: --- in him is power
He that believeth in me --- shall power be given
Though he were dead --- regardless the circumstances
Yet shall he live ---he will be an overcomer
Whosoever liveth and beleiveth --- this can be you
Shall never die --- shall have victory
Do you believe this? --- the ball is in your court
Christ’s power raised the dead:
(43) And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice,
Lazarus, come forth.
He cried with a loud voice --- he called out to the Father
--- that all may see and know Lazarus,
come forth --- he spoke with specific direction
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Our part in Christ’s Ministry:
(44) And he that was dead came forth,
Bound hand and foot with grave clothes:
And his face was bound about with a napkin
Jesus saith unto them,
Loose him,
And let him go.
Key Points:
And he that was dead came forth --- Healing came
Bound hand and foot with grave clothes ---
Lazarus on his own was helpless.
On our own we are helpless.
And his face was bound about with a napkin ---
He could not see what to do on his own
Jesus saith unto them --- to his disciples
Loose him, let him go --- they need our help to be free
Therefore:
The Growing Church will be ---
Teaching in the church
Preaching as they go forth
Healing will be a result of teaching and preaching
Showing Christ’s power thru you
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The First Church
Acts 2:36-47
What shall we do?
This question is asked of Peter and the rest of the Apostles.
I ask you today --- What shall we do with the Ministry of the Holy
Spirit?
The Answer:
1st Soul-winning
Repent --- be baptized --- receive the Holy Ghost
This promise is unto you --- the first Church
And to your children --- the next Church generation
And to all that are afar off --- to the last Church
2nd Discipleship
Continuing steadfast in:
The Apostles’ Doctrine
Fellowship
Breaking of Bread
In Prayers
The Church that is faithful to Soul-winning and Discipleship
sees something more
Miracles are added
Brotherly Love is experienced
Commitment is made to Christ and the Church
The Lord added to this Church daily ---
Such as should be Saved
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The Church – Following after Christ
Luke 2:40
The Childhood of Jesus:
V. 40 And the child grew,
And was waxed strong in the spirit
Filled with wisdom:
And the grace of God was upon him.
1. And the child grew, --- to grow up, mature in body, soul, & spirit
Body = physical stature
Soul = the natural life of the body --- (The invisible part of man)
That part by which man ---
Perceives
Reflects
Feels
Desires
The seat of will and purpose
Emotions
That part of mankind that is bound together in marriage
Spirit = The God likeness – breathed into us (invisible, - immaterial)
The moral qualities
Faith
Divine gifts --- where they – abide, grow, & work
The Church must grow:
In body, soul, & spirit
2. And was waxed strong --- in the spirit
Waxed strong = to empower, increase in vigor, be strengthened.
In the spirit = the moral qualities, faith, divine gifts
The Church must be empowered, increase in vigor
In moral quality
Faith
Divine gifts
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3. Filled with wisdom:
James 1:5-8
If any of you lack wisdom
Let him ask of God
That giveth to all men
Liberally and upbraideth not
And it shall be given him.
But ask in faith – nothing wavering
For:
He that wavereth
Is like a wave of the sea
Driven with the wind
For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord
The Church must be filled with wisdom
Strong in faith believing
That God giveth
Liberally and upbraideth not
4. And the grace of God was upon him.
The divine influence upon the heart and its reflection through
one’s life.
The grace of God will be upon the Church also
We need God’s influence upon the heart of the Church.
So God’s grace is seen through the life of the Church.
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The Church in Body, Soul, and Spirit
Looking at the Church as well as our physical – fleshly body
Let’s understand each one:
The Body: (the carnal man)
We find it easy to understand the body --- the flesh.
Aches, pains, wrinkles, snap-crackle-and pop
Loss of hair, teeth, eye-sight, and brain cells
The Church Body:
It also is made up of the flesh – man – the body.
It has the same basic principles.
The Soul: (the natural man)
That part of man which ---
Perceives, reflects, feels, desires,
The seat of will and purpose, our emotions
Regardless if it is in the fleshly body or the Church body, this is
where Satan attacks us the most.
Here are some prime examples: Satan says ---
1. How do you perceive what God’s Word said?
Not: Thus saith the Lord God!
2. Reflect on his Word --- what do you think?
Not: Study to show thyself a workman rightly dividing the
word of Truth ---!
3. God wants you to have the desires of your heart!
Not: God desires you to have his heart!
4. It’s about your emotions, what makes you feel good ---
Not: Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven.
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Note: What man easily rejects --- is what saves the soul.
What makes man feel good --- is the by-product of
what saves the soul.
The Spirit: (the God-likeness, God-breathed)
This is the one we don’t seem to understand or agree on.
That part of man, and the Church, in which we find :
Moral qualities
Faith
Divine gifts
We are told:
Walk in the Spirit
Pray in the Spirit
Be filled with the Spirit
But how do we go about doing it?
A look in the Word --- for understanding.
John 4:23-24
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall
worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such
to worship him.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in
spirit and in truth.
Spirit --- is the opposite of what is material and earthly
Truth --- is what is in harmony with the nature and will of God.
Phil. 3:3
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and
rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Rom. 2:29
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of
the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of
men, but of God.
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Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.
Is. 11:2
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him
The spirit of wisdom --- ask for it
The spirit of understanding --- given by God
The spirit of counsel --- listen for it
The spirit of might --- stand for it
The spirit of knowledge --- study for it
The spirit of fear / reverence --- given from you
The Spirit of the Lord:
Is. 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; because the Lord hath ---
Anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek
Sent me to bind up the brokenhearted
To proclaim liberty to the captives
Opening of prison to them that are bound
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord
To proclaim --- the day of vengeance of our God
To comfort all that morn
The Church must grow:
In body, soul, and spirit.
We will be empowered, increased in vigor, strengthened ---
In the Spirit:
In order to carry out the ministry of our Lord!
In Spirit and Truth
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Bringing Your Issues To Christ
Mark 5:24-34
v.24 Jesus was on his way to heal a little girl at the point of death:
Crowds of people followed him
And thronged him = to compass on all sides
Why?
To see Jesus heal a little sick girl that was about to die.
Think about it:
What if Jesus could raise someone from the dead!
I want to see that, don’t you?
Note: I can just see the people throng Jesus, excited, talking back and
forth to each other, reciting what they envision Jesus to do, and what
if she is already dead when he gets there.
What happens when people somewhere in the world see something
that appears to like a picture of Jesus crying, on a city wall?
They throng!
v. 25 And a certain woman, which had an issue -- of blood
Had suffered many things of many physicians
Had spent all that she had
And nothing was bettered
But rather grew worse
v. 26 When she heard of Jesus
She came in the crowd behind
For she said, if I may touch but his clothes I shall be whole.
She touched his garment (just the hem)
v.29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up
She felt in her body that she was healed ---
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v.30 And Jesus, immediately knowing
That virtue had gone out of him = a miracle work
Turned about in the press
Said ‘Who touched my clothes?
v.33 But the woman fearing and trembling
Knowing what was done in her
Came and fell down before him
And told him all the truth
v.34 Jesus said unto her
Daughter
Thy faith hath made thee whole
Go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
What issues do you have that you need to touch Jesus with?
Physical
Financial
Marital
Mental
Have you tried to touch Jesus?
Do you have the faith to believe that if you do touch him you will
receive what you need?
Can Jesus call you Daughter or Son?
What does it mean to be called Daughter or Son?
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