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The Objective of Church Growth

by Adam Bennett  
10/21/2008 / Church Life

There have been lots of books written about Church growth (not to mention conferences, speaking tours and twelve step programs). In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, especially chapter 4:11-16, there are some useful comments to guide our thoughts about growth.

The main objective Paul identifies in this passage is that we would reach, "to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ". (v.13) He also phrases this negatively in the following verse when he says that then we would, "no longer be children". (v.14)

Paul provides more detail about what this means. My first observation is he says that mature people are not, "tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine". (v.14)

Some would be surprised to discover that stability of doctrine is a mark of maturity. At least, teaching and doctrine do not always have the prominence in our churches that it seems Paul might have expected.

Phrased another way Paul suggested that a mark of maturity would all, "attain to the unity of the faith and of knowledge of the Son of God." (v.13)

I wonder what Paul would make of our denominational distinctives and how essential they actually are? How many of the things that divide Christians aren't about the knowledge of Christ but about other trivial differences.

Copyright Adam Bennett 2009. More articles are available at http://godward-thoughts.blogspot.com/

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