Church Growth

praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved.

And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; — read the full passage →

And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

So the church throughout all Judæa and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied.

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself.

For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.

how I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly, and from house to house, — read the full passage →

Till I come, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching.

But I say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. — read the full passage →

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: Many shall see it, and fear, And shall trust in Jehovah.

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge;

Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: — read the full passage →

Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; — read the full passage →

Peter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him.

Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. — read the full passage →

being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:

not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.

But speak thou the things which befit the sound doctrine: — read the full passage →

to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name: Bring an offering, and come before him; Worship Jehovah in holy array.

but in his own seasons manifested his word in the message, wherewith I was intrusted according to the commandment of God our Saviour; — read the full passage →

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died; — read the full passage →

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. — read the full passage →

And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, Ye men of Athens, in all things I perceive that ye are very religious. — read the full passage →

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the house of Jehovah.

for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:

Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? — read the full passage →

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and for ever. Amen.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

When they casttheedown, thou shalt say, There is lifting up; And the humble person he will save.

and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women:

And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place. — read the full passage →

from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.

I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church that is at Cenchreæ: — read the full passage →

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things.

So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation;

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. — read the full passage →

And when they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. — read the full passage →

Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit.

Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool. — read the full passage →

Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; — read the full passage →

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.

For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. — read the full passage →

Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness:

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.

Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.

it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, — read the full passage →

preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment; — read the full passage →

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: — read the full passage →

Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, — read the full passage →

And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; — read the full passage →

giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.

But the word of God grew and multiplied.

Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want. — read the full passage →

Ye therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness. — read the full passage →

which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as it doth in you also, since the day ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. — read the full passage →

And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.

And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.

Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, — read the full passage →

Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men.

I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church that is at Cenchreæ:

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you, always striving for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.

And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered them the decrees to keep which had been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem. — read the full passage →

They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls.

that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;

I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. — read the full passage →

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, calledto bean apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, — read the full passage →

And after the uproar ceased, Paul having sent for the disciples and exhorted them, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia. — read the full passage →

And certain men came down from Judæa and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved. — read the full passage →

But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.

And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.

And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth; — read the full passage →

Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: — read the full passage →

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee; I have appointed thee a prophet unto the nations.

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit to them: for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for this were unprofitable for you.

For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. — read the full passage →

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. — read the full passage →

I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. — read the full passage →

and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God.

But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree: He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John;

Be not thou envious against evil men; Neither desire to be with them: — read the full passage →

Be not thou envious against evil men; Neither desire to be with them:

To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks: — read the full passage →

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight.