Church Growth

praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.

He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; — read the full passage →

I also tell you that you are Peter,and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hadeswill not prevail against it.

So the assemblies throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.

how I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house, — read the full passage →

Until I come, pay attention to reading, to exhortation, and to teaching.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. — read the full passage →

He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in Yahweh.

I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you;

Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, — read the full passage →

Therefore prepare your minds for action, be sober and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ— — read the full passage →

Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.

This is a faithful saying: if a man seeks the office of an overseer, he desires a good work. — read the full passage →

being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete 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 you see the Day approaching.

But say the things which fit sound doctrine, — read the full passage →

that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come before him. Worship Yahweh in holy array.

but in his own time revealed his word in the message with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior; — read the full passage →

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

They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. — read the full passage →

Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things. — read the full passage →

I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to Yahweh’s house!”

for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;

Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you? — read the full passage →

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

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst.”

When they cast down, you shall say, ‘be lifted up.’ He will save the humble person.

More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.

Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. — read the full passage →

from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.

I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the assembly that is at Cenchreae, — read the full passage →

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that with it you may grow,

Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. — read the full passage →

When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted. — read the full passage →

Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,

until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Yahweh says to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.” — read the full passage →

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

Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.

For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food. — read the full passage →

Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,

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

Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.

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

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

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;

until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; — read the full passage →

Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.

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

He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; — read the full passage →

being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through patience and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

But the word of God grew and multiplied.

Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. — read the full passage →

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

which has come to you; even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. — read the full passage →

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

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven 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, nor turning shadow.

Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, — read the full passage →

Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.

I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the assembly that is at Cenchreae,

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;

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

Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.

that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you 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, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God, — read the full passage →

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

Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t be saved.” — read the full passage →

But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”

Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.

He said, “The Kingdom of God is as if a man should cast seed on the earth, — read the full passage →

He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; — read the full passage →

“Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you. Before you came out of the womb, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you.

For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food. — read the full passage →

But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. — read the full passage →

I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase.

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. — read the full passage →

and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth.

But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, that shines more and more until the perfect day.

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

This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John,

Don’t be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them: — read the full passage →

Don’t be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:

“To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: “He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lamp stands says these things: — read the full passage →

Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight.