More Important Than Numbers

 

Some churches are so focused on numbers they will do almost anything to boost their attendance. If we love the Lord, we will certainly desire growth and bigger attendance, but not at any cost. We need to recognize there are things more important than numbers.

1.      The Favor of God

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)

No doubt, the more we try to please men, the larger the crowd will be that come. Many large churches began by sending out surveys asking what people would want in a new church. Many unscriptural processes have crept into churches this way.

It is always better to seek God’s favor than will answer only to God, not men.

13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13)

He is the one who will determine our eternal destiny.

32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. (Matthew 25:32)

34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (Matthew 25:34)

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41)

2.      Sound Preaching

1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

(2 Timothy 4:1-5)

·        Many people desire only the kind of preaching that tickles their ears—I call it “cotton candy” preaching—a lot of fluff but no real substance.

·        Our text says sound preaching includes preaching about the second coming being a herald of the oracles of God.

11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:11)

This means preaching the Word and only the Word being God’s mouthpiece, including preaching when it’s popular and when it’s not. It means to reprove, rebuke, and exhort (intellectually, morally, and emotionally). It means preaching on controversial and unpopular topics.

31 The prophets prophesy falsely,
And the priests rule by their own power;
And My people love to have it so.
But what will you do in the end? (Jeremiah 5:31)

And it means preaching with perseverance.

3.      Warning Against Sin and Error

Generally, If people are offended, they will leave. They would rather be told they are okay with their religious errors and sinful practices than be made uncomfortable by being made aware of their need to repent. The best course of action is still to warn them. Hopefully, at least a few will repent if they come to understand their need to.

8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

(2 Corinthians 7:8-10)

17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: 18 When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. (Ezekiel 3:17-18)

4.      Congressional Purity

1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even [a]named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed, Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. (1 Corinthians 5:1-7).

It might be popular to allow people to continue in their sin without guilt. But it is important to stripe to keep the church pure. The influence of sin can spread throughout the congregation. Notice the words of Revelations 2:20-23

20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:20-23)

5.      Congregational Unity

9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. (Titus 3:9-11)

·        Troublemakers can cause others to do wrong. They can split a congregation. It is better to let the troublemakers and their followers leave.

·        When there are divisions, it reveals who is “approved and who is not.”

19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. (1 Corinthians 11:19)

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. (1 John 2:19)

6.      Committed Disciples

60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”

61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (John 6:60-68)

Many people were just following Jesus for the physical benefits like food. They weren’t really interested in spiritual things. Jesus desires only those truly committed to Him.

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (Luke 9:23)

7.      Following The Narrow Way

13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? (Matthew 7:13-16)

·        The broadway is packed full, but it only leads to death and ruin. The narrow way, with only a few, leads to life, eternal life.

·        While the narrow way is more difficult, it will be more than worth it in the end.

4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

As we have seen, there are some things more important than numbers. It is better to stand with God in the minority.

(Adapted from Andy Sanders)

Definitely true of spiritual sickness. Answer by God’s providence.

·        ¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (1 John 5:15)

Our Heavenly Father hears us. But only those who can legitimately call God their Father have this assurance. Is God your Father? Have you been born again? Have you become a child of God?

If so, have you been praying to Him as you should? Have you become cold or ungrateful? He longs for you to come before Him.

 

 

 

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