Number Growth vs Spiritual Growth

[rtwo]

To make this question just a little more specific what, about a church that is focused at least 99% on spiritual growth and just a little bit on numerical (numerical in the sense of that... if someone comes out, they can ehar God's Word preached and maybe accept Christ), but then the youth group (teen group) has grown tremendously numerically, but for a large enough period of time, has suffered greatly spiritually because although there are the solemn few who care, the rest would rather focus on social aspects?

I would say this is a good thing. The purpose of a good youth group, ultimately, is the spreading of Christ's word. To that end, a youth group peopled mostly with either immature Christians or non-believers is actually doing its job. It is now up to those in charge, and those interested few, to bring Christ back to the center.

And how is that done?

Well, the youth leaders need to lead, and those teenagers who -are- spiritually more mature than the others need to step up and lead by example. The youth leaders need to be able to say when it's learning time, and be a little strict about it. The teens need to listen to the youth leaders and pay attention, showing the less mature how it's done -- not by looking down on them or "bossing them around", but by refusing to take part in conversation outside of what the youth leaders are trying to do, and by refusing to participate in less than edifying talk.

[Carol R]

Hi,

I agree its no good looking at numbers as people can get lost in a crowd, small groups are really important, we all need those. Big gatherings are fine if thats what it is a gathering, but we all need to be known to our pastors and leaders. People when they go to a church for the first time want to feel welcome thats very hard in a big impersonal church. It can also be scary.

Carol R

[apothanein kerdos]

Too many churches have adopted a corporate view of church - the bigger you get, the more successful you must be.

Unfortunately, too many are sacrificing quality in order to have quantity.

I'd much rather have 15 youth who understand the Gospel and are willing to learn than 500 youth that just want to be entertained.

[Floatingaxe]

A church who is truly Spirit-led will be a growing church, one that seeks the heart of God, and goes out and brings the lost in. If a church isn't growing, then the focus has become other than outward. Inward-focused churches remain static and can easily become Christian clubs.

Keeping one's heart open to God's command to seek the lost and disciple them, making them disciplers also, is fulfilling God's desire for His Church. He will bless it with numbers when the Spirit is there and obeyed.

[apothanein kerdos]

A church who is truly Spirit-led will be a growing church, one that seeks the heart of God, and goes out and brings the lost in. If a church isn't growing, then the focus has become other than outward. Inward-focused churches remain static and can easily become Christian clubs.

Keeping one's heart open to God's command to seek the lost and disciple them, making them disciplers also, is fulfilling God's desire for His Church. He will bless it with numbers when the Spirit is there and obeyed.

This, of course, contradicts the ideas of Scripture. At multiple points we see when the Spirit is moving within the Church or Israel, the numbers decrease. The only exception is Pentecost...but any amount of growth would have been growth.

The concept of God blessing us with numbers is purely an American-Western ideal and not a Biblical one.

If we get numbers, great, but they are not an indicator of spiritual growth. A shrinking church can often be more of an indicator of a church following God, more than a church that is growing.

If "numbers" were an indicator of success, then Mormons and Muslims would be more blessed than Christians.