Growing a Great Church
Studies from the Scriptures to Enhance Church Growth
GAGC 01: Autopsy of a Dead Church
February 5, 2023 • Jeff Gardner • Revelation 3:1–6
The first century church was vibrantly and vitally alive. Yet, in today’s church there is a certain vitality that appears to be missing in most congregations. Jesus told the church at Sardis they had a reputation of being alive, but were dead. What causes a church to die? This week we will perform a spiritual autopsy on a dead church and see three causes of church death.
GAGC 02: Revival
February 12, 2023 • Jeff Gardner • Revelation 2:1–7
One of the greatest needs of the 21st Century church is the need for revival. Churches across America have been in a free-fall since the year 2000, showing a net loss in membership. The Bible is replete with calls to revival. To grow a great church, we must be in a continual state of revival. Notice three aspects of revival in today’s study.
GAGC 03: Analysis of a Great Church
February 19, 2023 • Jeff Gardner • Acts 2:42
The Jerusalem church was a great church by any standard. What was unique about them which invited the power of God to make them great? In Acts 2:42, there are four focus points which opened them up to the power of God. We must find the same focus today.
GAGC 04: Church Growth Essentials
February 26, 2023 • Jeff Gardner • Acts 2:37–47
The one dominant characteristic of the church in the New Testament was that it grew. It is natural for the church to grow. If growth is absent, it is because we are missing God’s power or plan somewhere. Notice four essentials of church growth we can learn from the church in the book of Acts.
GAGC 05: Blueprint of a Dynamic Assembly
March 5, 2023 • Jeff Gardner • Nehemiah 8:1–10
A church that boldly worships God Almighty with no inhibitions will be blessed by God Almighty with growth. A church that worships well will do all things well. Today we will look at a biblical blueprint for a dynamic assembly in Nehemiah 8. This blueprint has seven pages which we should strive to imitate.
GAGC 06: Jesus is Lord
March 12, 2023 • Jeff Gardner • Acts 2:36, Romans 10:9
Jesus is Lord. That is indisputable. God made it so. But to grow a great church we must make sure Jesus is OUR Lord. Human nature resists the Lordship of Christ, because we don’t like to submit our wills. But actually, inviting Jesus to be Lord is full of blessings. Those blessings are found in the word L-O-R-D itself.
GAGC 07: Plugging Into the Power of Christ
March 26, 2023 • Jeff Gardner • 1 Peter
To grow a great church we must make sure we are plugged into the power of Jesus Christ. How do we get an infusion of the power of Christ into the lifeblood of a church? The secret can be found in the letter of 1 Peter: we must reverence Christ as Lord! Notice three amazing results of plugging into the power of Christ.
GAGC 08: Good Guys Always Come Last!
April 2, 2023 • Jeff Gardner • Luke 13:22–30
The mindset of the world is to seek first place in everything. That is completely opposed to the mind of Christ. A paradox of discipleship is that all people will eventually be last. It is better to choose last place voluntarily than to have it forced upon you. To grow a great church we must choose to be last voluntarily. Notice the contrast between being a draftee versus a volunteer.
GAGC 09: I’ll Give You What I Have
April 16, 2023 • Jeff Gardner • Luke 13:22–30
Peter and John encountered a crippled man who had been that way for 40 years. He asked for money. They gave him much, much more. Money they didn’t have, but Peter’s attitude of I’ll give you what I have is what we want to focus on today. This attitude sums up the meaning of being a disciple of Jesus and is the attitude we must have in order to grow a great church. Let’s notice two ways in which this attitude is the center of discipleship and central to church growth.
GAGC 10: Indicators of Growth
April 23, 2023 • Jeff Gardner • 2 Peter 3:18
Physical growth is essential to a healthy life, just as spiritual growth is essential to a healthy disciple or church. Physical growth indicators are fairly easy to spot and measure. Spiritual growth indicators, however, are more elusive and complex. It’s not just about Bible knowledge or moral correctness, large numbers of attendees or baptisms. As we continue to focus on growing a great church and growing deeper as disciples, notice what I believe to be two real indicators of spiritual growth.
GAGC 11: When You Mess Up Your Life
April 30, 2023 • Jeff Gardner • 2 Samuel 11, 2 Samuel 12:1–14
While growing a great church or growing as disciples, sometimes life gets messy. What do you need the most when you make a mess with your life? King David, known as the man after God’s own heart, made a royal mess of his life, yet somehow survived because his greatest needs in that moment were met. What David needed is what we all need when life gets messy. Notice his four needs:
GAGC 12: What Do YOU Do with Trouble?
May 14, 2023 • Jeff Gardner • Exodus 14:1–15
One constant in life and in the church that will always intrude on your day is T-R-O-U-B-L-E. It’s never welcome and always a nuisance. When our goal is growing a great church, you can be sure Satan will do his best to send trouble our way. The Israelites were a classic example of people in a constant state of trouble in the Bible. What do YOU do with trouble? Notice five classic responses to trouble.
GAGC 13: Fishless Fisherman
May 21, 2023 • Jeff Gardner • Mark 1:16–20
Jesus calls His disciples to become fishers of men. Is a person a fisherman if year after year s/he never at least tries to catch a fish? Is one following the Master Fisherman if s/he isn’t fishing? Can one be a disciple of Jesus and not fish for people? Why are so many so-called disciples not fishing for people? We will never grow a great church if we are not actively fishing for people. Today we want to make sure we know how to fish for people by studying six basic principals of fishing for fish which we can also apply to fishing for people.
GAGC 14: Keep the Saved Saved
June 11, 2023 • Jeff Gardner • 1 Corinthians 3:5–11
If we are going to grow a great church, we must keep the saved saved. How do you keep folks in Jesus once you catch them for Jesus? In today’s text, the apostle Paul likens building disciples to building a house. Just as there are three main stages to building a house (the foundation, the framing and the finish work), there are also three stages to building disciples. It is important that we complete each stage in the right order if we hope to defeat the Christian dropout syndrome. Notice three stages for building sturdy disciples of Christ.
GAGC 15: Secrets of Spiritual Success
June 18, 2023 • Jeff Gardner • Philippians 3:12–15
While searching for success, most people would like to find the easy way. The truth is there is no easy way to success. To grow a great church requires we be spiritually successful, and Paul, through inspiration, reveals for us four steps to success which will help us grow a great church and thrive for Jesus.