The early church in the book of Acts gives us a great model for a growing church. Acts 2:47 (NIV) tells us, "The Lord added to their number daily." That means at least 365 new people every year! Some have estimated that the early church in Jerusalem had 100,000 members - half the size of the city.
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Our churches can and should learn from the book of Acts. Over the next two issues, we'll look at seven principles from the early church that must apply to our churches today. Here are the first three.
1. We must minister in the Holy Spirit's power.
We must rely on the Holy Spirit's power to minister through us each day. No ministry paradigm, strategy, or dynamic staff can replace the power of God's Spirit. In Acts 1:8 (NIV) Jesus says. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
To have the kind of church they had in the New Testament, we need the kind of members they had in the New Testament: Spirit-controlled members. That's anyone who's making Jesus Lord of his or her life. To make Jesus Lord is to let the Spirit take control of your life.
A lot of people try to minister without the Holy Spirit, and it doesn't work. Pastor, you and I have to make sure we're teaching our congregation to rely on the Spirit to do ministry. If we don't, our people will end up exhausted. We never have enough energy to minister how we want to. But if we lean on the Holy Spirit, we'll have all we need.
Jesus knew all that was before the apostles. He knew they couldn't do it without the Spirit, so he said, "Don't leave Jerusalem without the Holy Spirit." That's where all ministry begins.
