Neither this article nor that one is intended to be an exhaustive list of these groups. It is only a way for me to highlight some of the groups that come to mind when discussing these issues.
The primary goal of the church is spiritual growth. There are no prescriptions in Scripture on how to “grow numerically.” We do see numerical growth as a consequence of obedience and as a blessing from God on a local body of believers.
I firmly believe that if a church is obedient to Christ, then one of the areas in which he blesses that body is through numeric growth because God wants His people to be in a place where they can grow and be discipled. However, numeric growth, or lack thereof, is not the final say on whether a local body is succeeding. The spiritual growth of a church is the best indicator of success.
Certain situations won’t permit numeric growth beyond a certain point. Certain geographical regions have limited populations, and certain areas may have far too many churches, thus diluting attendance at each place. So, the goal of these groups that contribute to church growth is spiritual growth and obedience to God’s Word.
Group #1 – The Sola Scriptura Group
This group understands that Scripture alone is the final authority in the church. While they may have a church constitution and by-laws for legal means and for areas that Scripture may not touch on, they understand that Scripture has the final say. It is the authority in the church because that is how Christ mediates His authority as Head of the church.
This group will intentionally prevent power groups from taking root and ensure that in any disagreement on how to proceed, Scripture is the deciding factor, not man. After all, it matters not what man thinks but what God has said.
Group #2 – The Intentionally Humble Group
This group takes Philippians 2 seriously when it teaches us to prefer one another over ourselves. They do not seek their glory, to be preeminent, or to have it their way. They recognize that it is not their church. One of the most sinful things one can hear in a church is “This is our church and we do it our way here!” They want to be humble, seek humility, and hate pride like God hates pride.
Group #3 – The Authentically Christian Group
This group does not “fake it to make it.” They are not intentionally hypocritical. All Christians struggle with pride from time to time and can be tempted to engage hypocritically. However, this group will readily recognize the sinful nature of hypocrisy and seek to avoid being hypocritical. They don’t want to wear a mask to church. They want to be authentic in their walk with Christ and strive daily to please Him. They do not seek their own will but the will of Christ.
Group #4 – The Engaged Group
This group knows that Christianity is not a spectator sport. They recognize that success will require active work on their spiritual growth individually and collectively. They will be engaged in discovering their gifts, developing their gifts, and using their gifts to edify the body. They will be active in ministry and serving others. They will be submitted to the leadership of their Elders and trust them to guide them as they seek the place where they can be most useful for the Kingdom.
Do you see these groups in your church? If you see all four, then you are blessed. The goal is to be obedient to Christ, to His Word, and to bring glory to God. The church is to proclaim the gospel, call all men everywhere to repent, and make disciples. Everything we do must be centered on God and the mission He has given us. It is this type of growth that the church needs to be concerned about.
