I’m forever intrigued about the nature of how we pursue growth in christian communities!

The answer I contend is that, Christ is his own attraction, Christ is the only trumpet that we need to trumpet. Preach the gospel, and the congregation will come of themselves. The only assured way of getting the people, is to do this. “Oh!” said someone, “I cannot make it out; my chapel is always empty, and yours always crammed full.” You can look through the history of this realm and you will almost in every case find that the men who have attracted the greatest mass of people to hear them, have been men who were the most evangelical—who preached the most about Christ and him crucified.

CH Spurgeon prescribes the following methodology: nope it aint great contemporary growth theory, but it feels real gospel!! “Burn all your manuscripts, that is No. 1. Give up your notes, that is No. 2. Read your Bible and preach it as you find it in the simplicity of its language. And give up all your Latinized English!! Begin to tell the people what you have felt in your own heart, and beseech the Holy Spirit to make your heart as hot as a furnace for zeal. Then go out and talk to the people. Speak to them like their brother. Be a man amongst men. Tell them what you have felt and what you know, and tell it heartily with a good, bold face; and, my dear friend, I do not care who you are, you will get a congregation.

The gospel never was unsuccessful yet, when it was preached with the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. It is not fine orations upon the death of princes, or the movements of politics which will save souls. If we wish to have sinners saved and to have our churches increased; if we desire the spread of God’s kingdom, the only thing whereby we can hope to accomplish the end, is the lifting up of Christ; for, “I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.”

Two questions remain…..
* do you think Spurgeon is right?
* do you think i’ll look like him when i get older?!

Sp006